Ofsted ICT schools report
04.08.2005
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ICT resources in schools are now at record levels and the competence of school staff in ICT has risen dramatically since 1997, according to a recent report by the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted).
The ICT in schools report showed that over 90 per cent of teachers are competent IT users. The quality of teaching in lessons where ICT is used has also improved, with 59 per cent of lessons rated good or better. In 77 per cent of schools the impact of IT on teaching was rated satisfactory or better.
David Bell, Chief Inspector of Schools, commented "ICT resources in schools are now at record levels and comparing well with other countries. This is a great achievement that is reaping benefits for pupils and school staff." Still a long way to go: Although funding for IT in schools rose to £150m in 2002 – 3 compared with £657m in total over the previous four years ICT in schools still has a long way to go.
The report has found that the Government’s aim that ICT should become embedded in the curriculum is still only a reality in a small number of schools. Pupils’ ICT experiences across the curriculum are sporadic and teacher-dependent and in many schools opportunities to exploit the technology across all subjects are lost daily.
Continuing professional development in ICT has also proved to be a cause of disappointment for schools and individual teachers. The National Lottery’s New Opportunities Fund (NOF) programme of in-service training for teachers and school librarians was over-ambitious and did not take sufficient account of teachers’ and schools’ current needs.
According to Bell, "What the Government, LEAs and schools must now focus on doing is ensuring that the quality, diversity and extent of pupils’ ICT experiences is consistent across all schools."
www.lapsafe.com has sourced this article from prosperity4.com
