Case Studies

Our Lady's Catholic High School

Our Lady's Catholic High School is a Specialist School in Mathematics and Computing located in Preston, Lancashire. The school has a remit to support innovation and drive forward the personalised learning agenda in the specialist subjects. As part of their community plans they set targets for improving learning outcomes in ICT in their partner primary schools and therefore need a way to measure the effectiveness of the additional provision.

Solution

In order to support the required target setting, OLCH implemented the International Grades in Open Technologies (INGOTs) certification programme. The INGOTs are vocationally related qualifications accredited by Ofqual and endorsed be e-skills. They enable primary school children to achieve entry level recognised qualification in ICT and provide progression routes to self-sufficiency in ICT tools freely available from the Internet.

Outcome

In the first full year of operation 600 pupils have been certificated and the effect on motivation has been dramatic. Mark Greenwood, Assistant Headteacher at OLCHS said "There has been higher than usual demand for places in Year 7 and we need to provide the Silver level certificates because the children are demanding that they get the opportunity to move up to the next level.

Inkululeko Technologies

Inkululeko is an innovative company in South Africa that provides solutions for many schools in the economically deprived neighbourhoods of the country. Qualifications such as the International Computer Drivers License have proved too expensive for schools and there is a very high drop out and failure rate.

Solution

Inkululeko, with support from the Shuttleworth Foundation has established the INGOT (International Grades in  Open Technologies) certification in 50 schools in South Africa. The certification lowers the barrier to entry and provides progression routes to college entrance level by lowering costs and providing a more coherent progression for those that have had limited access to these opportunities in the past.

Outcome

With 50 schools participating already there are now enquiries from other African countries including Kenya and Uganda. Inkululeko's CEO Hilton Theunissen said "INGOT qualifications provide a great opportunity for Inkululeko and our quest to improve the life chances of local people here in Africa"