Pupils at Grove Park primary school were showing off their new information and communication technology (ICT) suite this week.

Following the theft of the schools’ laptops last year, Grove Park Primary School was found by Ofsted to be providing unsatisfactory ICT facilities.

After some hard fundraising, the parent teacher association contributed £15,000 to the school to buy new equipment. Not only have the laptops been replaced but a new suite with 30 PCs has been added. Security has been improved to ensure the new equipment will support the children’s learning for the future.

Headteacher Marion Lee said “It’s fantastic how eager the children are to learn using modern technology.

“We now have wireless technology throughout the school that complements our existing interactive whiteboards and pod voting system.

“The software in the suite allows for complete interaction between children and the teacher, who can monitor each students screen and give them instant feedback about how they are progressing.“

A new intranet facility has been set up which includes a special area for staff to share news and resources. A new website is being developed which is hoped will offer children the ability to access work from home.

Cllr Dr Robert Kinghorn, Executive Member for Children and Education at the London Borough of Hounslow, said “Today’s children need to be more familiar with computers than any previous generation. Besides being an everyday part of life, computers in school are not an alternative to, but an adjunct to, conventional teaching methods. We have a duty to ensure the pupils are equipped with the skills they need to make the best use of the technology they have at their disposal.

“The whole school community, including the parent teacher association, is to be congratulated on its commitment to providing the pupils with the resources they need, and the new suite will provide a welcome boost to ICT provision in the school.”

June 13, 2006