Case Study for ECDL & IT User 1 & 2 in Schools

Continued:

I envisage all of Year 11 completing Level 1. This means that by Year 11 students will have achieved a Grade B equivalent in Short Course. If any take the Level 2 in that time it means that they will have achieved a B in a Full Course GCSE. This allows for most levels of ability to leave School with an ICT vocational qualification of worth.

The Benefits

• It’s taken seriously by businesses. It is the number one training qualification in over 125 countries and is used by the NHS, MOD, Boots, Sainsbury’s etc. Businesses tend to find that employees with the GCSE ICT are not as skilled as the grade suggests and send employees on the ECDL anyway.
• The students can train at home and school.
• Tests are taken throughout the year which eases exam pressure and the result is automatically known.
• No coursework pressure.
• It prepares the school for the pilot online testing year for Year 9 due in May this year.
• KS4 ICT will be useful to the student and their future.
• As we will be accredited we can use the ECDL to train the following…
• Staff from our School
• Weaknesses in NOF would be addressed
• Would create an ICT competent staff base
• Staff from other schools
• Sixth Form students
• As students register once they could complete level 2 whilst doing AS.
• Individuals from the local community
• The School as a community resource.
• Employees of local businesses
• Enhance the School's role as a community training provider.

The Problems?

There are two issues…

• Parental perception

• Parental perception may be that the ECDL is a lower qualification and this notion will be addressed. Of the students I have discussed this with all are very positive.

• Cost

• The ECDL is more expensive than the current price of normal GCSE examination.
• I would like to cover the costs through a mix of the normal examinations budget, the SSI bid and income from external training provision.

In considering the costs, I would just like to point out that this qualification would allow for a significant proportion of students to leave school with a worthwhile vocational qualification, valued by employers, and allows us to become a training provider to the rest of the community. If that does not sway you then I could mention that it is in the SSI bid.

I am excited by the prospect of being able to fulfil the needs of all students with the time available with this qualification and the possibilities it offers in terms of community provision. "