Education Becta
BECTA
BECTA (BECTA - British Educational Communications and Technology Agency) is the government agency leading the national drive to ensure the effective and innovative use of technology throughout learning.
BECTA provides some of the funding to help operate the CLC and to ensure we continue to recieve these funds the CLC works in improving ICT in schools in accordance to the BECTA guidlines, Blackpool CLC has agreed a set of Local and National priorities and is working to assist schools as indicated below. We have also issued a Local Authority statement in conjunction with the Executive Director of Childrens Services Mr David Lund, this is as follows:
As part of a well intergrated Children and Young People's Department our City Learning Centre provides essential service in supporting the wider aims of Blackpools Children and Young People's plan.
Being a geographically compact LA with 29 Primary Schools, 8 Secondary Schools and 3 Special Schools means the communication between partnerships supporting schools and young people is made easier. The CLC works successfully with a number of other departments;particulary Learning and Achievement, Culture and Communities and Corporate ICT in supporting Teaching and Learning in Blackpool schools. the close working partnership with the Learning and Achievement department particulary is the reason the CLC is able to support a greater number of national and local priorities.
Many Schools in Blackpool face particular challenges with a number forming part of the Primary Improving Schools Program and a number of secondary schools being part of the National Challenge Program. the specialist focus the CLC brings through the innovative and engaging resources are helping schools and learners to raise achievement and aspirations of our young people and make a valuable contribution to Priority 7 (Enjoy & Achieve) of the Children's and Young People's Plan.
Local Priorities April 2009 - March 2010
Suport schools in raising achievement and attainment at KS4 to 40% 5 GCSE A* - C including English and Maths. The LA has a particular focus on supporting schools raise achievement and attainment in literacy and numeracy.
For the LA, schools and partners to work with the Primary Improving Schools Program with a particular emphasis on enabling progress in literacy and numeracy both as discrete curriculum areas and across the curriculum. Numeracy support to be focused around developing teacher and pupil skills in AT1 (Using and Applying).
Developement of "test-bed" protocols and activity to support innovative learning and teaching programs that provide:
a) Support and challenge to schools involved in piloting BSF related activities using the VLE as a means of establishing good shared practice.
b) Use of existing media and other ICT facilities to support curriculum innovation.
For the CLC to be a key LA Consortium partner in ensuring the Creative and Media Diploma is an innovative and successful learning experience from its roll-out in September 2009.
To support identified schools by providing challenge for more able students to raise their attainement by three levels from KS2 to KS4.
Working with the LA and partners to provide challenge for the more able primary and secondary pupil by enhancing their curriculum experience.
To study the impact of the KS2 mobile learning and wireless technology pilot on attainment in reading and writting.
National Priorities April 2009 - March 2010
Promote the use of technology within the Foundation and Primary curriculum, in particular as outlined in the Independant Review of the Primary Curriculum.
Promote the use of technology within KS3 & KS4 with a focus on increasing the proportion of learners progressing by at least 3 levels from the end of KS2 to the end of KS4 in English and Mathematics.
Support teachers and others to make effective use of technology within curriculum delivery, information, advice and guidance for the 14-19 reforms, including Diplomas.
Support the continuity of learning at transition, particulary KS2 to KS3, through the effective use of technology.
Support local authorities visioning, planning and management of change for Building Schools for the Future and the Primary Capital Programmes.
Research, develop and trial emerging educational technologies.
Train/Support teachers in the implementation of emerging educational technologies
If you have a project that you feel may fall into one of these catogries please feel free to contact Ian Riley at the CLC (details on the contacts page) to discuss how the CLC may help you. Help from the CLC comes in a varieys of ways from funding a project, assisting with the teaching or leading a session, or simply by providing your students with a change of location to concentrate on the task at hand, also included is the use of excellent reliable ICT equipment.