Friday 09 February 2024
A new Digital Skills Award is being launched across the island's States-maintained secondary schools to allow students to demonstrate what they have learned in ICT.
The developers of the award now are seeking businesses to come forward to support it, through potential sponsorship, with creative input, and to look at the criteria within the award and give input on what ICT skills they think students need to learn before they move into the world of work.
The award will certify what Year 9 students have achieved throughout Key Stage 3, by asking them to complete a project that tests their Information and Communication Technology skills across areas such as spreadsheets, word documents, digital images and more. All of these skills will be assessed as part of one project, which sees them undertake digital work to meet the requirements of a fictional client.
The award has been developed collaboratively by the new Curriculum Alignment Lead for ICT across the Secondary School Partnership alongside other ICT teachers. The Curriculum Alignment process has been implemented by the Secondary School Partnership to align the curricula across the island's schools and ensure every student receives an equitable education - a key part of the Education Strategy.
The new award will have three levels - gold, silver and bronze - and will be certified for students to put on their CVs when they finish school.
Mathew Chesters, Curriculum Alignment Lead for ICT in the Secondary School Partnership, said:
"We are very excited about launching this award as it will give students clear milestones to work towards in ICT that are not only exam focused, but also focused on what skills they will need in the world of work. I have already run the scheme with my class in Year 9 to test the curriculum, where they have been creating marketing, spreadsheets and more for a Guernsey Photography Business. The students have found it really engaging and I am encouraged that this is the right approach to teach them basic digital skills we all need in 2024."
Liz Coffey, Executive Principal of the Secondary School Partnership, said:
"Mat Chesters has been working with our ICT specialists across the Secondary School Partnership as part of his role as the Curriculum Alignment Lead (CAL). The ICT and Computing CAL is one of 12 roles that have been created to lead the considerable curriculum planning to align the curriculum across our schools. By working together and sharing resources, we can ensure that all of our students, no matter where they go to school, have access to the best possible curriculum. With the curriculum planning and bank of shared resources in place, our aligned curriculum also aims to reduce staff workload.
"Well done to Mat and the staff involved. It is important that their initiative is supported by local businesses, so that the Digital Skills Award is recognised by employers when it is seen on CVs."
Any businesses interested in finding out more, or being involved in the new award scheme should contact Mathew.chesters@sch.gg.
