Governors' Report to Parents

Key Stage 3

The provision of dedicated lessons at Key stage 3, 1 hour per week for each pupil, has proved to be very successful. Students have sat their first ICT Key Stage 3 examinations this year. We look to build on this foundation next year and develop further the range of experiences and skills developed.

Examinations

At GCSE examination results showed a marked improvement on those from previous years as student focus and course delivery improves. The department aims to raise the GCSE pass level for all future students from previous levels to those more commensurate with pupils from Pantycelyn.

The first cohort of students have sat GCE examinations and whilst all achieved pass grades. These grades will improve with greater focus and application from students in this practically based subject.

ICT Engineer

Mr Williams continues to be an enormous asset to the school, being fully conversant in the various network and computer systems and showing an open minded, innovative and enthusiastic approach to the development of new ICT systems and all with a pleasant, patient disposition and amiable ‘bed side manner'.

Developments

The school's main ICT suite is now approaching 5 years old and a rolling programme of upgrading machines is underway, with approximately one third having been replaced. We should aim to replace the remainder this year. The upgrade involves the tower unit only as the monitors remain serviceable. We would hope to consider a further upgrade from CRT to TFT screens in the near future. This would improve operator comfort and reduce heat output.

The temperature in the ICT suites - H3 and T2 - can be unpleasant at best and unhealthy at times for both pupils and equipment. Both rooms need air conditioning installed. A modest solution for which has been estimated to cost about £1500 per room.

The allocation of funds for ICT restricts development within the school. The current allocation of £12,000, which includes £3,000 for the Lisol contract, leaves only £9,000 for all maintenance and development programmes within the school, which is not enough.

We have investigated the possibility of introducing media facilities in the main hall, with a view to installing a dedicated, networked projector and motorised large screen. The costs of this development are currently prohibitive for the school budget and as such we will have to look elsewhere for support. This development would allow a more dynamic approach to presentations during assembly, possibly lunch time, and any gathering of pupils/public.

Departmental hardware

Currently all departments have ICT hardware funded outside their capitation allowance. In the present climate it may be necessary to ask for a contribution from capitation for future departmental ICT investments.

Printing consumables

The recent introduction of the Konica Minolta colour photocopier in the science/technology block, has created exciting opportunities for departments. The copier is networked and as such doubles as a printer, so staff and students can print to the machine directly from their PCs. The facility for A3 colour printing, banner printing, double sided printing, enlargement and reduction from a PC has opened up new avenues for student presentation. In addition the cost of a full colour print from the copier is just 5p, compared to up to 35p or more for ink jet printers. A second black & white copier has been installed in the front of the school and has similar potential capabilities.

It is hoped that the new copiers with their printing functionality will significantly reduce consumable costs, particularly as these print jobs are assigned to departmental capitation and unit print costs are a fraction of the inkjet and laser printer costs.

Previously all printing consumables were paid for centrally. These costs have escalated over the years and last year were £7,266. Hence our decision to pilot, for this term in the first instance, that departments cover the costs of all consumables.

Progress File

An enjoyable evening was shared amongst a ‘packed house' recently where Y11 and Y13 students received progress files, year book sheets and year book and enjoyed entertainment from talented students within the school and a display of first class technology work. Once again Y13 students have worked to develop a DVD year book which is due for publication and distribution shortly. My sincere thanks to all that contributed to the success of the evening especially to our guest speaker Mr Huw Davies and to Mr Mark Durbridge for his planning of such a pleasant evening.

...Back to previous page