Standards of ICT in secondary schools need improving
Estyn’s report, ‘ICT at key stage 3’, evaluates standards in information and communication technology (ICT) as a National Curriculum subject as well as considering the impact of ICT as a key skill to support pupils’ learning across the curriculum.
Ann Keane, Chief Inspector, says,
“Using digital technology is part of everyday life for many of us. However, developing competent ICT skills in secondary schools is a challenge and pupils need to have enough opportunities to apply their skills in different contexts. Although there are pockets of good practice, all secondary schools need to improve the quality of teaching, and delivering and monitoring ICT across the curriculum.
“I encourage all schools to read the report, take note of the recommendations and aspire to the good practice of those providers featured in our case studies.”
The report contains case studies that show how the teaching of ICT as a subject and as a skill across the curriculum can be improved through innovative approaches such as Ysgol Y Creuddyn school near Llandudno where pupils create digital video to support their learning of mathematics.
Whereas the quality of planning, provision and assessment for ICT as a subject is good or better in half of the schools visited, there is an issue over how effectively ICT departments and other subject departments liaise together to provide well-planned opportunities for pupils to apply skills, developed in discrete ICT lessons, in meaningful contexts across the curriculum.
‘ICT at key stage 3’ recommends that the Welsh Government implements a statutory framework for ICT from Foundation Phase to post-16 and takes into account developments in technology, subject to the review of the current curriculum review in Wales The report also highlights steps that schools and local authorities/ regional consortia should take to improve teaching, monitoring and assessment.
About the report
- This report is published in response to a request for advice from the Welsh Government in the Minister’s annual remit to Estyn for 2013-2014 and is available in full here.
- This report is the second to be produced in response to a request for advice from the Welsh Government in the Minister’s annual remit letter to Estyn for 2012-2013. This report focuses on the impact of information and communication technology (ICT) on pupils’ learning in key stage 3 in secondary schools. The first report, published in July 2013, focused on the impact of ICT on pupils’ learning in primary schools. Both these reports build on two earlier reports:
- 'Review of information and communications technology (ICT) provision in schools and its impact on raising standards’ (Estyn, 2003); and
- ‘An evaluation of the impact of the Better Schools fund on provision for ICT in schools’ (Estyn, 2007).
Best practice case studies
- Radyr Comprehensive School, Cardiff
- Ysgol Gyfun Aberaeron, Ceredigion
- Ysgol Y Creuddyn, Conwy
- Prestatyn High School, Denbighshire
- Mountain Ash Comprehensive School, RCT
- Ysgol Gyfun Cymer Rhondda, RCT
- Pen-y-Dre, Merthyr Tydfil
- The Maelor School, Wrexham
About Estyn
Estyn is the Education and Training Inspectorate for Wales. Our aim is to achieve excellence for all in learning in Wales. We do this by providing an independent, high-quality inspection and advice service.
Our vision is to be recognised through the expertise of our staff as an authoritative voice on learning in Wales.
We are independent from, but funded by the Welsh Assembly Government (under Section 104 of the Government of Wales Act 1998).
For further information please visit our website www.estyn.gov.uk