AREAS
Information Technology
To read Robert Clack School's acceptable ICT use policy please click here
it careers academy
Career Academy is a two-year programme, for 16 to 19-year-olds, supported by some of the biggest names in British business. Students joining a Career Academy within Robert Clack benefit from:
• Support for their learning, leading to national qualifications.
• A six week paid internship with a local employer during the summer
.• Special employer-led lectures, seminars and company visits.
• One-to-one mentoring by an experienced employee volunteer.
• Networking opportunities with other Career Academy students around the UK.
After a fiercely competitive application process the ten successful students for 2011-2012 were:
- Jack Wilson
- Collins Kahingu
- Charlie Searle
- Luke Van Gelder
- Ryan Martin
- Laimonas Andriejauskas
- Colin Chafer
- Luke Phillips
- Matthew Campbell
- Adam Letch
The students first visit was to the company Xchanging, one of Britain’s most influential outsourcing organisations, where they had a ‘behind the scenes’ look at how the organisation works, including a workplace tour and lectures from employees within the company.
After the visit, in the afternoon, the students made their way to the Royal Festival Hall, where they got to network with 1400 other young people from across the country also taking part in the programme.
During the afternoon, the students received valuable advice from speakers including Channel 4’s Fairy Jobmother Hayley Taylor and author Lee Jackson. The afternoon was led by Master of Ceremonies David McQueen, motivational speaker and founder of Magnificent Minds.
latest news
November 2010
Students get hands on building personal computers.
Sixth form students from Robert Clack studying the BTEC National 2010 ICT course had the opportunity to build personal computers from scratch this term. Students were given access to brand new computer components including new Intel Core i7 processors and state of the art hard drives before being asked to put them together. The fun didn’t end there; students were then given new copies of Windows 7 to install to get the computers up and running for their clients.
Teaching Staff
Mr S Richardson
Mr S Henry
Mr R Hylton
Mr Essex
Mr Wilkes
Miss C Philbin
ICT Technical Department
Mr S Camilleri (Network Manager)
Mr D Akinrinmade (Senior ICT Technician)
Mr S Case
Mrs T Ahammed
Ms T Gurden
The department aims to provide the students with a wide ranging and balanced ICT experience. This entitlement supports the pupils in gaining ICT knowledge, functional skills and the understanding required for examinations success and life after school.
In year 7, 8 & 9, ICT is a discrete subject of 50 minutes per week, delivering modules designed to follow the National Curriculum and allow assessment of pupils' levels.
At Key Stage 4 we offer a BTEC First Certificate (2 GCSE equivalent) or a BTEC First Diploma (4 GCSE equivalent) as an option. We currently have over 150 people each year opting for this subject, making it one of the most popular choices in the school. The BTEC First course is designed to meet the needs of industry and education. BTEC courses are highly recognized and will allow direct progression into BTEC National courses or traditional A-Level courses upon completion. The course will educate students in the following areas of ICT:
- Graphics and image manipulation
- Website design and management
- Spreadsheets
- Database
- Presenting Information (Desktop publishing)
- Software installation
- Computer systems.
At Key Stage 5 we offer a BTEC National Award (1 A-Level equivalent). Again this is a very popular option choice with over 70 students opting for this in 2008. The course builds upon the skills and knowledge acquired during key stage 4 and looks in more depth at areas such as:
- Graphics
- Computer animation
- Information Systems
- Computer Systems
- Spreadsheets
- Communication and Employability Skills for ICT
Examination Success
The results achieved by ICT students at all levels exceed national standards. Staff have high expectations and students are encouraged to set themselves high standards. In 2008, 98% of students achieved 4 A*-C’s at BTEC. The department received an Alps score of 2 at Key Stage 5 with 60% of students gaining an A grade at this level.
Accommodation and resources
Robert Clack School is a split site school blessed with more than 791 fixed computers on a local network. At the moment we have 663 fixed workstations (computers) at least 118 laptops, video conferencing facilities, digital cameras, Apple Macintosh workstations for Music and Media Studies and multiple projection facilities across both sites.
Our 8 main computer rooms have interactive white boards and projectors as do the majority of classrooms throughout the school.
All workstations have Broadband Internet access provided and maintained by the School and the local authority under the London Grid for Learning scheme.
Pupils are able to logon and gain access to their work in all areas of the school and use a wide variety of software.
Our 8 main Computer Rooms have 24-32 computers in each and these are used mainly for promoting the ICT element of key subjects. There are also clusters located within Maths, Graphics, Art, Music and Learning Support. The School Libraries on both sites have a modern feel with the emphasis being on promoting a good balance between the reading of books and Information Technology for research.
The remaining computers are available in classrooms across the school.
The school maintains nearly 300 printers, the majority of which are networked. All students will have either a laser or a colour printer available to them.
Every computer is capable of supporting a number of 'Integrated Learning Packages',
Some of the other facilities available allow pupils and staff to:
- use Office Professional software.
- save work centrally on the file servers.
- print in colour, laser b/w and laser colour.
- produce pictures using the digital cameras.
- have fast internet access at every workstation.
- use careers and revision software.
- develop on-line curriculum materials and use curriculum support materials.
- use video motion analysis using digital video.
- use interactive whiteboard technology in every department.
There is a rolling programme of laptops for teachers to support staff development and enhance teaching and learning. Other exciting initiatives include development of video conferencing, development of the school website and working with other consortium schools
We have a Network Manager and four full time ICT Technicians.
gifted and talented pupils in ict
How do we identify Gifted and Talented students?
We look for students who:
- are able to understand and apply different ICT functions to various real life scenarios
- ability to complete tasks faster than the rest of the members of the class
- transfer skills across different programs
- seeking to independently further their understanding of the subject
- have semi- advanced knowledge of using development applications
- are able to develop their understanding independently through the use of tutorials (follow complex written instructions)
- demonstrate good HCI principles with an and design skills
How are gifted students supported in ICT?
- After school and lunch time teacher support
- Being asked to assist with extra curricular projects after school
- Differentiated lessons
- Work produced meets and sometimes exceeds the highest possible grade
- which is all that can be met in class time
- Given independent study tasks that can be carried out at home
- Encouraged to complete KS4 early to start KS5 assignments in year 11
- Given feedback on completed coursework as if it was a KS5 piece
What can gifted students do to pursue their interest in technology?
- Clubs, such as the Jaguar Maths Challenge, which uses ICT to model Grand Prix racing
- Trips
- Visits to see ICT in the real world
- Produce development tasks at home
- Have both hardware and software based ICT resources at home or extended access before and after school.
- Have a library of tutorials for independent studies accessibly
Related Links
The curriculum is outstanding and meets the needs of students extremely well. A wide range of vocational courses and work-related opportunities at Key Stage 4 offer helpful pathways into training and employment. Provision for personal, health, social and citizenship education is excellent and supports students' personal development successfully as well as providing exciting opportunities for developing enterprise and work-related skills.
