managing ict
A hands-on education
Pudsey
Grangefield
was one of the
first schools
to open as part of the
government’s Building
Schools for the Future
initiative. Intent on
pushing the boundaries
of teaching and learning,
the school invested £1.2
million in advanced ICT
solutions. Principal Ken
Cornforth explains
Interactive: A Pudsey
Grangefield student enjoys
rom the outset, our aim was to the school’s ‘hands-on’
F
transform teaching and learning. Going approach to education
beyond bricks and mortar, we looked
to make a systematic change in the new
school, and establish an environment well as develop outstanding pedagogical practice. the areas with more conventional layouts where students Alongside ensuring lessons ran smoothly on the
that encouraged pupil-led learning, outcome of this planning process was the decision to could carry out further research or process results. first day of opening, we recognised the importance
enabled more flexible teaching, and create a variety of spaces or “zones” for the different From the off, our vision was based on the of comprehensive teacher training in achieving the
crucially, would adapt to reflect the evolving needs of aspects of teaching and learning and curriculum philosophy that students learn through doing, and key systematic change we wanted for the new school.
our student community. subjects. each subject would have its own zone, with to this is creating a holistic working environment that to ensure all teachers were fully prepared and
As part of the initial planning stages, teachers designated “discussion” spaces without tables and corresponds to a specific activity. For example, if a confident in using the new tools they would have at
discussed ways to enhance the school environment as chairs (to encourage the sharing of ideas), and other student is conducting a science experiment, they should their disposal, the school invested a further £50,000 on
be in a laboratory, dressed like a scientist, and thinking staff training. Part of this investment went towards a
like a scientist. tailor-made programme for interactive technologies.
Key to creating this kind of environment and With the school set to open in September 2008,
ensuring the functionality of these spaces, however, during the summer term key members of staff received
was making sure the correct infrastructure, including face-to-face training from the technology provider;
ICt, was firmly in place. this was then cascaded to other members of staff. the
SecEddigital
provider-led sessions were also bespoke in content.
Developing a vision
It meant, for example, that the maths department
As confident and frequent users of collaborative learnt skills they could readily apply in lessons.
technologies – interactive whiteboards were Furthermore, teachers had the opportunity to complete
implemented throughout our former school building free introductory courses online so they could continue
– we recognised the importance of integrated and to develop skills at their own pace.
SecEd, the only weekly newspaper for
effective ICt. In addition to ensuring the practicality of
a learning space, these technologies also help create an
Teaching today’s learners
secondary teachers, is now available
environment that appeals and engages today’s digital While the school only opened its doors in September,
learners. the impact of the new building and approach to
straight to your inbox, as a free of charge
having a clear vision and objectives for the school’s pedagogy has already exceeded expectations. Students
ICt provision from the outset was essential. So early are able to be more independent in their learning and
email digital edition
on in the planning process, we completed a review we are achieving our aim of an innovative, flexible
of all technologies available, and took advantage of environment that prepares learners for their future
the visioning services available from one interactive careers.
You can:
technology provider. As well as being critical in helping students to
this visioning session was the real deciding factor to obtain essential ICt skills that can be applied in later
• Search the issue for keywords invest in the technologies, as we saw how the solutions life, the increased use of interactive technologies has
• Access archived editions
would help us to develop the flexible learning zones helped staff to raise pupils’ attention levels and in turn
we wanted in the new school. For instance, because drive attainment. the widespread adoption of ICt also
• Bookmark and annotate pages for colleagues
we wanted no “fixed” classrooms, we needed to make fully supports the style of teaching and learning that
sure interactive whiteboards would be accessible to all sets Pudsey Grangefield apart, by getting to the heart of
• Email issues and news directly to the editor
learners; selecting height-adjustable boards meant we a topic by addressing it from a number of dimensions
could ensure the learning spaces would be functional and angles.
• Search the latest teaching jobs
for all cohorts. For instance, using the interactive response system,
We also wanted a number of the areas within the teachers can establish opinions and gather everyone’s
new school to be larger than the average classroom viewpoints immediately at the start of a session, and then
– holding up to 50 students at a time – so special use results to stimulate open and lively discussion.
attention was given to acoustics and sound to ensure to research the topic further, the class can use
If you want to receive
the teacher, as well as students, can hear and always be interactive software to access a variety of multimedia,
SecEddigital free
heard. During the visioning session we saw how this or the internet. to close the session, again using the
could be achieved by installing an audio enhancement interactive response system, the teacher can question
every week, email
system that amplifies the teacher’s voice. the system pupils to see if opinion has changed, or evaluate
editor@sec-ed.co.uk
also has a pass-around microphone, so is ideal for the individual understanding.
discussion areas. In addition to supporting this multi-dimensional
or register online at the real “wow” factor from the visioning session approach to learning, the solutions – on a more basic
www.sec-ed.co.uk
was interactive response systems, or voting systems level – engage a generation of pupils who have grown
as they are known. By allowing students to contribute up using technology. By taking the types of technology
words, phrases and numerical answers as feedback, used by learners on a daily basis into the classroom, the
it opens up interactivity across the whole curriculum. challenge to sustain a pupil’s attention and willingness
Also, because this specific system can be transported to contribute is easier.
from classroom to classroom, or space to space, it is a the effective selection, implementation and
natural fit with our vision for a flexible learning space. integration of interactive technologies has made a
significant contribution to the overall success of the new
Realising the vision
school, and supported Pudsey Grangefield in achieving
While selecting solutions was to some extent the easy the ultimate aim – the creation of a transformational
part, realising our vision and ambitions for the school learning environment. SecEd
was more challenging.
During planning, we gave a lot of consideration to • Ken Cornforth is principal of Pudsey Grangefield
staff training, especially as we were migrating from one in Leeds, which uses a range of Promethean
brand of interactive whiteboard to another. Activclassroom technologies.
DigitalAd quarter.indd 1 25/2/09 09:40:09
10 SecEd • march 12 2009
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24