INFORMATION and COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY

We are very committed to ICT at Brentside. Some of the highlights are:

• As well as our main ICT suites there are also satellite suites in all the curriculum departments plus a PC in every classroom.
• A dedicated PC suite above the library allows the 6th Form greater opportunities for research and independent learning.
• The school has been connected to the London Grid for Learning, bringing high speed Broadband Internet access to the School, and also a learning specific E-mail account for each student.
• Curriculum areas contain interactive whiteboards and data projectors to provide an inclusive learning experience for every class.

The school network is a fully managed 21st Century ICT solution utilising Windows2003 server virtualised servers running the latest educational software.

The Multimedia Suite
As a result of our Arts College status we are also able to provide a Multimedia Suite, which contains a network of 24 Apple Macintosh workstations. These are used in conjunction with scanners, digital stills cameras and digital video cameras.

The Internet
Brentside High School has a high speed Broadband Internet connection. The School's policy is to allow students to use the internet only under the direct supervision of a teacher. Our service provider is LGFL, the leading educational internet service provider, and they provide a filtered service tailored to the needs of schools. In addition, we require all students and their parents to sign an Acceptance Use Policy in order to use the School's computers.

ICT at Key Stage 3
Students at Key Stage 3 take part in ICT skills lessons as well as using ICT across the curriculum. Seven week skills modules are taught to Years 7 to 9 students who receive one lesson a week. The modules have been developed from the National ICT strategy to meet the needs of all Brentside students.

ICT at Key Stage 4
ICT is offered as an optional subject at KS4 where students learn a range of ICT skills which they use extensively, applying them to solve real problems. In addition, all students at KS4 study ICT for 1 hour per week as part of their core studies.

ICT in the Sixth Form
AS and A2 ('A' level) ICT courses are offered to sixth form students. The syllabus followed is AQA 5521/6521. Students study 4 examined units and practical, project-based units. All units are based on the role ICT plays in organisations, from implementing ICT solutions to the legal and procedural frameworks in which it operates.