Estyn: ALL secondary schools need to improve the quality of ICT teaching

A report published today by Estyn ,the education and training inspectorate for Wales, has set out a list of recommendations aimed at improving information and communication technology (ICT) teaching in secondary schools across Wales.

The report looks at standards of ICT teaching and considers the impact of ICT as a key skill on pupils’ learning across the curriculum at key stage 3 in secondary schools in Wales.

The report also looks at the impact of ICT on developing pupils’ core literacy and numeracy skills.

The need to improve the quality of teaching is highlighted as is the focus on delivery and monitoring of ICT across the curriculum.

The forty seven page report also recommends that teachers receive more professional development with ICT and improved accuracy of teacher assessments.

Other recommendations include:

• Schools liaise effectively with feeder primary schools to ensure continuity in the delivery of ICT 

• Improve the liaison between the ICT department and other subject departments so that pupils have more contexts in which to apply and develop their skills.

• Local authorities should ensure that ICT curriculum support is available to all secondary schools, monitor the standards and provision of ICT as a subject and the effectiveness of its use across the curriculum and support schools to improve the accuracy and reliability of teacher assessment.

• The Welsh Government to implement a relevant statutory framework for ICT from Foundation Phase to post-16 and review the National Curriculum subject orders to reflect current developments in technology; and assist local authorities with the technical issues that constrain access to ICT resources in secondary schools.

Estyn Chief Inspector Anne Keane said:

“Using digital technology is part of everyday life for many of us. However, developing competent ICT skills in secondary schools is a challenge and pupils need to have enough opportunities to apply their skills in different contexts. Although there are pockets of good practice, all secondary schools need to improve the quality of teaching, and delivering and monitoring ICT across the curriculum.

“I encourage all schools to read the report, take note of the recommendations and aspire to the good practice of those providers featured in our case studies.”

A full copy of the report can be found here: estyn.gov.uk