The Deanes School

Our ICT Journey

Our Starting Point• SLT residential in November

2004

• Started January 2005

• SWOT analysis

• Interviews with all staff

• Interviews with groups of students

Key Findings• Budget deficit• Ad-hoc leadership structure• Lack of training for all staff• Low morale• Staff instability and complacency• Lack of confidence in the use of ICT• Unreliable hardware• No strategic vision for ICT• Three year decline in GCSE results

The Way Forward• Shared vision

• Revised improvement plan with ICT at the centre

• Restructuring of Middle and Senior Leadership Teams

• Financial commitment to ICT as a tool for raising attainment

The Deanes School

Our Steps to Successful Change

• January 2006– Visited BETT– VTLE options are investigated

• February/March 2006– SLT attend SLICT training

• March 2006– Innovations group is created– BECTA e-Confidence matrix is

completed by faculties

• April 2006– a new ICT Development plan is

developed and presented to Governors

– RM carry out an audit of ICT infrastructure and whole school provision

• May 2006– Tablet PCs are purchased and

trialled for WCT by Innovations group

• June 2006– RM report back to SLT and Governors

Finance Committee

– Decision is made to upgrade ‘backbone’ of the network and add wireless access.

– Also decided to implement Kaleidos VTLE as school wide vehicle for ICT based Teaching and Learning delivery

• July 2006– New technician appointed

• August 2006– new servers, CC3 system, and

wireless access are installed. – Existing infrastructure is upgraded

to provide more robust service. – Library is re-modelled.

• September 2006– Staff laptops are moved across to new T&L

system (not without a few teething issues!)– Maths Department receives training in

Kaleidos and Maths Alive. Innovations group receive first day’s training in Kaleidos

– Deanes is awarded “Pioneer” status in recognition of our commitment and vision to ICT across the school – press coverage in several local newspapers

– Remodelled Learning Resource Centre opened

• November 2006– Innovations group receive 2nd day of

Kaleidos training– First RM Case Study carried out and plans for

second case study firmed up– Audit of staff competencies with ICT carried

out and HoF introduced to the new ICTAC (ICT Across the Curriculum) framework

– Staff drop in training sessions run on Tuesdays

– RM to work with the Science department to enhance Whole Class Teaching strategies

• January 2007– Visited BETT– Started discussions about Portal +– Purchased wireless laptops for

Health and Social Care

• February 2007– Trainee Technician appointed– Accepted on Field Trial for Thin

Client

• March 2007– Portal + installed– Portal + Training

Impact of ICT developments• Wireless Access

– All staff laptops are now wireless enabled.

• CC3 Network Software– Auditor – able to track usage of computers – Tutor 3 – staff control the teaching

environment– Help Desk – since the installation over 300

support calls dealt with. Some involved technicians remotely connecting to our network and rectifying problems.

– Easylink – provides access to staff and pupils’ work on the network from any computer connected to the internet.

– Management Console –the biggest development from a technicians perspective.

• Remodeling of Library– Since the opening of the library,

only 5 out of 486 sessions have not been booked

• Introduction of Kaleidos– initial feedback is very positive

• Training– Technicians– Innovations Group– Maths Faculty– Science Faculty– All staff

Whole School Impact• Staff more confident

• Improved communication

• Increased admin efficiency

• Improved GCSE results

• Positive impact on staff retention

Next Steps• E-Learning Manager• Staff restructuring of IT support (FITS)• Collaboration with Sixth Form College• Development of International links• Vision planning towards our school of

the future• Commitment to innovation