“The ICT department seeks to enable students at North Birmingham Academy to achieve their potential in ICT, through good teaching and the effective use of resources”.

In Years 7-9 students have a "Core" ICT lesson once a week in which they learn the basics of the use of ICT.  These lessons are intended to allow students develop the main skills in office, web development, graphics and animation software as well as developing an awareness of the advantages and appropriate use of ICT in society. The Programme of Study for the National Curriculum in ICT is followed, but specialist staff are able to use their own interests to enhance lessons and give students a broad experience of a wide range of applications of ICT in a modern and stimulating context.

Please refer to the Key Stage 3 and 4 sections for more information.

Key Stage 3 (Years 7,8 & 9)

In Years 7, 8 and 9 students have a "Core ICT" lesson once a week. They are taught essential skills for using common applications such as word processing, desktop publishing, spreadsheets, presentation software and databases. Other units focus on digital photo editing, web design, computer control and multimedia authoring.

 Students follow new work schemes which cover the National Curriculum as well as extending ICT understanding. There are regular Forms of Assessment, including testing and coursework. Students are taught in sets in accordance to their ability.

This can be found at the following website:

http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/schemes2/secondary_ICT/?view=get

Key Stage 4

OCR Nationals in ICT Level 2

The OCR Level 2 Nationals in ICT have been developed to recognise learners' skills, knowledge and understanding of Information and Communication Technology functions, environments and operations.

The learners carry out a range of tasks that have been designed to recognise their achievements in a modern, practical way that is relevant to the workplace.

Specification aims

These qualifications specifically aim to:

• develop learner's knowledge and understanding of the Information and Communication Technology sector
• develop learner's skills, knowledge and understanding in contexts that are directly relevant to employment situations, thereby enhancing their employability within the Information and Communication Technology sector
• develop learner's ability to work autonomously and effectively in an Information and Communication Technology context
• enable learners to develop knowledge and understanding in specialist areas of Information and Communication Technology, and demonstrate the skills needed to participate in the operation and development of ICT specific or ICT non-specific business organisations
• encourage progression by assisting in the development of skills, knowledge and understanding that learners will need to access further or higher education programmes or occupational training on a full-time or part-time basis
• encourage progression by assisting in the development of skills, knowledge and understanding that learners will need to enter employment or enhance their current employment status
• promote interaction between employers, centres and learners by relating teaching and assessment to real organisations.

All units are centre-assessed and externally moderated by OCR. There are no timetabled exams for this qualification; candidates may complete units at a time that suits the centre. The full award and units from this qualification are graded as Pass, Merit or Distinction.

List of Unit Titles

• Unit 1 ICT skills for business
• Unit 2 Webpage creation
• Unit 6 Spreadsheets - design and use
• Unit 7 Databases - design and use
• Unit 22 Creating sound using ICT
• Unit 23 Creating video

Further info: www.ocr.org.uk