ICT & Technology

Why do we need all of this technology?

Today's students are at ease with technology and we cannot ignore its existence. Technology increases our potential to improve learning and teaching in education. It has the capacity to assist learners to expand their studies. Access to information and data is no longer the privilege of the advantaged and is available to everyone.

Today there are technological facilities, which allow students to catch up on learning that is lost due to illness or absence; allows them to extend their learning beyond the classroom; enables them to prepare their work in a professional fashion and helps them communicate with other students across the world thereby broadening their perspectives and attitudes. Technology helps and leads students towards self-dependence. The use of the Internet will, of course, be monitored and access to undesirable sites prevented.

Teachers are able to use technology to perform many bureaucratic functions enabling them to increase their level of contact with their students. Technology enables more efficient and effective communications with students and their parents. It brings the school nearer to its parents and improves access to the Academy and its staff. E-mail addresses will be allocated to parents allowing them rapid access to people, who can respond equally speedily to important questions or queries.

Technology enhances the quality of the educational experiences of our students and is an absolutely essential resource for an up to date modern learning facility. The ICT and technology facilities at Saint Paul's are being upgraded and at Abbey Road will include:

• Technology to help and support learning;
• Open study with computing resources;
• Sound and TV recording studios;
• Electronic whiteboards;
• Electronic attendance recording systems.

All of these and other technological features will also enable students to:

• Catch-up on learning that is lost due to illness or absence;
• Extend their learning beyond the classroom;
• Prepare their work in a professional and presentable fashion;
• Communicate with other students across the world thereby broadening their perspectives and attitudes;
• Plan and prepare their work in advance of lessons by reviewing the learning plans that are available on the Academy's extranet.

Smart cards in the Academy

All students and staff own a smart card, which displays their name, photograph and a microchip that is unique to them. These cards are essential to support the Academy's management and administration systems. They fulfil the following functions:

• Personal identity and security protection;
• Payment for breakfast and lunches;
• Payment for photocopying and other facilities;
• Accessing computers and other equipment.