King's Cross Education Zone wins a Leading Aspect Award
Schools within the King’s Cross Education Zone have each won a ‘Leading Aspect
Award in the Creative Use of New Technologies’ for the innovative use of ICT
in their school*. Leading Aspect Awards are given by educational practitioners
to recognise leading practice that exists in schools, families of schools, and
Higher and Further Education Institutions.
An independent assessor from the Leading Aspect Awards visited the Zone’s
schools in November 2005 and was overwhelmed by the innovative use of ICT in
the schools and the positive effect that technology was having on the
curriculum.
Since 2001 ICT development has been instrumental in school improvement. The
Zone’s schools have achieved some amazing results including the UK’s first
laser-linked network whereby seven schools and 2,500 pupils have access to
state-of-the-art resources. Each school has a video library, multi-media
software, electronic whiteboards, all supported by customised training and
technical backup. The schools have also developed their own ICT pupil profiles
and audits of staff skills.
King’s Cross schools also showcased the UK’s first virtual opera,
Carmen@King’s Cross, in which the students contributed by rehearsing and
performing scenes from Carmen. This footage was linked live by the lasers to
real Opera singers who were performing on stage simultaneously. The event was
streamed live on the Internet and received glowing reports in national
education press.
Derek Smith, Director of King’s Cross Education Zone said: “Congratulations to
all the schools in the Zone on their new Leading Aspect status. Before the
start of the King’s Cross Education Zone in 2000 parents were invited to
suggest how a Zone could best contribute to the educational success of King’s
Cross pupils. The clear outcome of this survey was that parents felt
information and communications technologies would be crucial to their
children’s educational success. The Leading Aspect Award is testament to how
successful we have been in achieving this outcome.”
Councillor James Kempton, Executive Member for Children said: "Islington's
schools are improving and we are determined to use the potential of ICT to
build upon past success in the future, whether that be in the delivery of the
curriculum in the classroom or on the performing arts stage.
“Most parents agree that new technology can have a positive influence on their
child's learning - and it's not just about sitting them in front of computers,
as this award shows."
For more information, please contact CEA@Islington's Communications Department: