Barnham school goes hi-tech with e-learning

The distance teaching system will enable the pupils of St Philip Howard Catholic High School to have lessons wherever there is internet access.

Called the Moodle e-learning platform, the hi-tech arrangement will see teachers create interactive and technology-based materials for independent study for students to access through computers.

The harnessing of IT for education outside traditional school hours and premises is being keenly developed at the Elm Grove South school.

It forms part of the changes which will put St Philip Howard firmly in the forefront of 21st-century IT trends by next year.

Centrepiece of the improvements '“ which reflect the school's recent acceptance by the government as a specialist humanities school '“ will be a learning resource centre.

The new status is centred around English, geography and RE and is in an area of learning unique among Bognor area schools. This status brings extra money from the government. A 100,000 grant is complemented by a further 100-plus for each of the school's some 900 pupils.

Headteacher David Todd said: "Specialist status is an effective instrument for change. Humanities status will benefit all areas of our curriculum.

"The specialist subjects will act as catalysts for change and improvement, introducing new ways of teaching and learning.

"We can now create an innovative learning resource centre, housing traditional library resources in addition to a brand-new computer suite.

"This exciting development will expand the capacity for students to work independently in a supervised environment."

The centre will be available to St Philip Howard's partner schools and members of the surrounding community from next September. They will be able to use it for research and training.

Alison Baker, the deputy headteacher, said this was typical of how the effect of the status would spread out beyond the school gates.

"We will develop our partnerships with local schools and provide more initiatives within the community, sharing resources and expertise," she explained.

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