The PARK FEDERATION ACADEMY TRUST
Why have you embedded technology in the heart of your approach to Teaching and Learning?PF ETH 1
'We're one of the schools in the Park Federation, and each school, including us, has a digital strategy where every child in years four, five and six has their own Chromebook to use. At Godolphin, we've actually rolled it out across the whole of key stage two, and it's made learning a whole new ball game for us, the possibilities are endless. We've now got, a resource at the hands of every child where they can access various apps or software or opportunities that go beyond the traditional classroom, and they can now access scaffolds and resources that they never could before. So learning for us has transformed over the last few years'
Helen Abell
Principal - Godolphin Junior School
Examples of EdTech use in everyday Teaching and Learning? PF ETH 1a
'We have one to one strategy with the Chromebooks. Every child has a Chromebook in their classroom. They're able to access it. We opened up Google Classroom to them so they have that communication where they can look at some of the work that they've been doing in school and also revisit it at home, are able to use a thesaurus, use a dictionary, but also to build on the skills that they've learned during their computing lessons and embed that into their own learning and take their own classroom and foundation subjects further'
Riz Hussain
Vice Principal - Godolphin Junior School
'We do not have children that are SAT's robots. They are children who have a whole range of skills. And I think technology plays a part in that. We have our pupils who have special educational needs, who are now able to write and can really articulate to you a fantastic story But you can't read their handwriting, so you give them a Chromebook. Suddenly they're at the same, same level as that greater depth child who could actually write in their books'
Coral Snowden
Principal - Western House Academy
'The ingredients to make all of this possible, is an absolute belief in the vision. It is the true belief that digital technology is going to make a difference in learning and outcomes. We also felt really passionate about doing something about the digital divide. We know that there are children out there who maybe don't have the opportunities, so we felt passionate as schools to provide those opportunities. So it started with that integrity of belief and feeling, this is the right thing to do for our children'
Helen Abell
Principal - Godolphin Junior School
'I could read it on a piece of research, but actually I want to see it in action. What do the children's faces look like when they're in that classroom and they're using that part of technology, what are they doing? How much is it really influencing the teaching and learning in that school?'
Coral Snowden
Principal - Western House Academy
"We're a school and part of a collection of schools that really believes in the good of education. And if you can do something well why not share that with any other interested parties? We never forget that we were helped at the start and we still go out to schools and we still learn from each other and we know that school life is a continual journey of improvement. Anybody is welcome to come and visit and hopefully that might inspire others to do something similar, just like we were inspired.'
Helen Abell
Principal - Godolphin Junior School
'We are opening the doors because we know the power of collaboration, of seeing things in action, and we're just open to people visiting us and seeing the technology as it's been embedded. We don't want anything from it. We're more interested in other people learning from us and taking it away with them'
Riz Hussain
Vice Principal - Godolphin Junior School
How does your use of technology help raise standards and improve inclusive practice? PFETH 6
'Every child in the classroom has their own set of needs and gaps and barriers. Because the children have their own Chromebooks, they're able to use the accessibility tools. And then you've got children who might have more needs and barriers, depending on the circumstances.'
Helen Abell
Principal - Godolphin Junior School