ICT at St Augustine's

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) forms a vital part of the curriculum here at St Augustine’s and its framework provides a supportive environment for integrated learning. In conjunction with curriculum based teaching (both practical and theoretical) transferable ICT skills are taught and encouraged. The girls can then use these skills to enhance other areas of learning.

The School’s two ICT Suites provide learning environments that support this extra curricular use and that help to develop a safe, mature and proactive approach to ICT.

Age 4- 11

Key Stage 1 & 2

ICT is introduced in the classroom from age 4, allowing the girls time to explore the basic functions of the subject. By age 8 the girls take lessons in the ICT Suite working on the School network, sending and receiving emails, using interactive educational CDs and starting to explore graphic design.

Age 11- 16

Key Stage 3

Following a solid foundation, this period of study offers the pupils the opportunity to explore and develop effective use of the Internet such as:

Online research techniques and search engines
Creating a hyperlink
Internet vocabulary
Email etiqette
Internet safety
Website design, graphics, updates, use of logos and slogans

In parallel the department introduces the following topics and software packages, with real life examples or applications:

Budgets and spreadsheets
Database creation, data capture, maintenance and usage
Creating templates
Effective word processing
Using design and graphics packages

Key Stage 4

GCSE Edexcel exam board

Pupils studying ICT for a GCSE qualification will carry out four projects (coursework) for 60% of the final marks and then sit one examination for the remaining 40% of their grade.

The girls create their own projects, using a selection of the following software:

Package	Tool
MS Word	Word Processing
Excel	Spreadsheets
Access	Databases
Dreamweaver	Web publishing

Although the girls gain software experience the main benefits of the GCSE projects are, developing project management skills, problem solving and self motivation.

Age 16-18

Key Stage 5

AS Level

ICT capability is characterised by an ability to:

Use ICT tools and information sources effectively
Analyse, process and present information
Model, measure and control external events.

The AS Level award comprises of three modules:

Module	Format	Topics	%
1	Written paper	Nature, role and context of information	30%
2	Written paper	Information management & manipulation	30%
3	Coursework	Use of software for task solution	40%

A2 Leading to a full A Level

A further three modules, with similar weighting to AS modules are:

Module	Topics
4	Information Systems in Organisations
5	Information Systems, Policy & Strategy
6	Database project, to identify, understand and solve real data handling problems

The study of ICT to this level gives the girls great scope to develop their interpersonal, problem solving and creative skills and to take their ICT skills forward for life.