Although our ICT lessons loosely follow the National Curriculum, our aim is to go beyond teaching pure ICT skills and we expect pupils to acquire the ability to think laterally about how and when computers can be used effectively in different situations. We teach effective Internet research skills for example, which pupils find invaluable when working on their own projects and we subscribe to a touch typing program which is available to all pupils.

In the Lower School, children start by honing their mouse control skills using simple games and drawing software and move on to use increasingly sophisticated applications while becoming familiar with the keyboard and basic computer functions. By the time pupils have reached the top of the school, they are able to use Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Publisher, work with digital cameras and image manipulation software, use databases, create graphs, design websites and are familiar with file management and Windows syntax. The ICT department makes every effort to work synergistically with other curriculum areas and strives to keep abreast of technological developments and innovations. Recently for example, we have been recording and editing ‘podcasts’, the scripts of which were written in English lessons.