Schools

Pupil entitlement to ICT

Pupils should be given opportunities to apply and develop their ICT capability through the use of ICT tools to support their learning in all subjects. The revised Harnessing Technology Strategy outlines the challenges and key priorities for developing a technology-confident education system. One of the challenges is for improved teaching and promoting a technology-related learner entitlement.

Evidence of current practice

Research shows that despite a strong upward trend in teachers’ use of technology to support learning, much current practice still tends to be narrowly focused, and some does not fully build on what learners bring to the experience.

"Opportunities for students to acquire higher order ICT capability through their work in other subjects were too limited in many of the schools." (ICT in primary and secondary schools – Ofsted findings 2005-7 published January 2008)

Digital Britain

Realising the vision of Digital Britain and delivering the National Curriculum entitlement makes many demands on schools and teaching professionals.

"The first step is to understand the importance of ensuring that all children and young people in education have access to the right level of learning and technical resources to enable them to develop the vital first steps of digital life skills and digital work skills without which they will be unable to play a full part in society." (Digital Britain Interim Report January 2009)

Schools need to work to close the gap for disadvantaged learners and enable all learners to access and use technology effectively, safely and purposefully in support of their learning. Becta's contribution to the Rose Review outlines our recommendations about the place of technology in the curriculum.

ICT provision in your school

Pupils' entitlement to use ICT in their subject learning is a statutory requirement within the National Curriculum documents and is exemplified through the QCA Schemes of Work.

In order to make institutional improvements you need to ensure that your school workforce is aware and confident in using technology to improve practice and that your teachers can demonstrate a wide repertoire of professional skills with technology.

Support your teachers

Teachers need support in providing engaging and meaningful learning experiences with technology and so aid the deeper and higher-order learning for all learners, including the acquisition of difficult concepts and raising the attainment of hard-to-reach children and young people.

Becta has commissioned a series of entitlement documents written in association with subject and phase experts which point to areas of the curriculum that can be truly enriched and enhanced through the use of technology.

Examples of classroom activities are given with links to resources and cameo case studies that can be used to support your subject teachers in transforming their practice with technology in subject teaching.

Primary pupil entitlement Word documents (ZIP 6.7MB)
Primary pupil entitlement PDF documents (ZIP 5.1MB)
Primary pupil entitlement Opendocument documents (ZIP 6.3MB)

Secondary pupil entitlement Word documents (ZIP 9MB)
Secondary pupil entitlement PDF documents (ZIP 5.4MB)
Secondary pupil entitlement Opendocument documents (ZIP 7.5MB)

The pupil entitlement documents are also available within each curriculum subject in this section and on the Teachernet website.

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