Sitemap
Disclaimer
Contact Us
IQ Media
IQ Education
Education News
IQ Directory
Features
Interviews
Science Education
Design & Technology
Special Needs Education
Primary Years
I.C.T.
Exhibitions
Recruitment & Training
PTA's
IQ Days Out & Travel
IQ TV
Contact
LOGIN
‘Real-time’ reporting for parents
Schools Minister, Jim Knight, announced that all secondary schools will be expected to have electronic reports for parents up and running by 2010 with primary schools following two years later.
Knight made the announcement about the ‘real-time’ reporting systems whilst opening BETT 2008, the world’s largest educational technology trade show. ‘Real-time’ reporting gives parents a more frequent update on their child’s progress than a traditional annual school report. It will allow parents to frequently access updated information on their child’s progress, attendance, behaviour and special needs using a secure online system. Many schools already have these systems in place.
Becta, the Government’s schools technology agency will be helping schools to adapt their existing technology and will advise them on how to improve.
Talking about ‘real-time’ reporting, Mr Knight said: “We know from schools around the country that if families are going to be involved in their child’s education really effectively, they need a good two way flow of information – a channel which is more efficient and more frequent than a once a year written report, or a letter home when there is a problem or something to celebrate….Real-time reporting will deepen the school-parent relations…..but it has to be manageable for individual schools and meaningful for parents.”
Knight also announced a further £30 million over the next three years targeted at low-income families to buy computers and connect to broadband internet for school work. He also launched a £600,000 pilot, run by Becta with key industry players, specifically looking at lowering the cost of devices and connectivity and informing parents about the educational benefits of having a computer at home. This was coupled with confirmation that the Government’s Home Access Taskforce will make recommendations in April on making universal home access a reality and how to provide the technical and maintenance support to back it up.
Talking about this, Knight said: “We have to find a way to make access universal, or else it’s not fair…I want a home computer to be as important as having a calculator or pencil case is. It means children will be able to access their school work and resources for their learning – and even download or store homework and get feedback from schools, wherever they want, whenever they want.”
However, Knight also stressed that internet access and a home computer should be joined with protection for children from inappropriate and potentially harmful material.
Latest Edition