The introduction of 32 iPads that can be booked by teaching staff and used in all subjects has been extremely successful so far throughout 2015/16. Using a number of educational apps, the filming/photography elements and the flexibility of having the internet on your desk has proved valuable to the learning process and helped develop student independence and motivation.

 Through the Expressive Arts subjects students are encouraged to record themselves in performance and reflect on their work, then use this to make improvements and developments. Through the music curriculum, students have used Cubasis and Garage Band apps to record coursework, to research topics and create and record musical performances.

Year 7 students have been asked to create videos explaining the BIDMAS topic. The students had to create a script and give examples of how to tackle questions requiring BIDMAS.

The Global Faculty have used the technology to develop students’ independent thinking and responsibility for learning. This may take the form of independently watching Historical video clips and answering exam style questions, researching topics for controlled assessments (KS4) or topics such as volcanoes, earthquakes, the environment, women in the war and the Battle of Waterloo so students can produce hot writing in KS3.
Technology have used a number of apps such as the Autodesk123D and a variety of camera lenses for visual stimulus in Art.

Josh King in Year 9 stated that “using the iPads gives us more up to date information than text books and it just seems more interesting”

Lauren-Mae Cooke also in Year 9 highlighted that “it’s a good way for us to be able to discuss our work and collaborate especially in music”

We are looking forward to developing the use of the technology further throughout the year and give the students a good variety of stimuli to keep them motivated, engaged and to maximise their learning. - Mr P Taylor