Case Study

The Valley School

School No: 619

Video Conferencing Case Study

The Valley school is a Special School in Stevenage, catering for secondary aged pupils with Moderate Learning Difficulties. There are 166 pupils on role.

The school has used Video Conferencing in different ways and has established links with other schools in Hertfordshire and the Hertfordshire Library Service.

The Valley’s link with Lonsdale School (a school in Stevenage for pupils with Physical and Neurological Impairments) has been used to enable the learners to discuss books they have read. The ‘Children’s Choice Book Club’ meets weekly at The Valley to read and discuss books, and then the pupils are able to meet with peers at Lonsdale via video conference to share their points of view.

“I enjoyed the video conference we had with Lonsdale. I was interesting finding out what they thought about the books. I saw a boy there that I meet at the youth club, so it was fun seeing him on the television.” 

“I thought the video-conference with Lonsdale was great, we swapped ideas about the books and got to know each other.”

The Valley has also been linking to St. Luke’s School, a similar Special School in Redbourn. Year 11 students have been exchanging information about their schools. This exchange enhances the speaking and listening component of the Entry Level and GCSE exams. Staff at The Valley have also used the video-conferencing facility to receive help and training from St. Luke’s staff on the use of the conferencing equipment.

The Valley is continuing to develop the use of video-conferencing, and from January 2007 will be linking their ICT Department with Lonsdale School’s ICT Department.

For more information contact The Valley School on 01438 219051