In our increasingly technological world, computers play an integral and essential part in our everyday lives. We emphasise the importance of ICT by embedding it within every aspect of the academic and social curriculum, so that our students learn to use a computer confidently as a tool that enhances their understanding of all forms of knowledge.

All pupils in KS 1 and 2 study ICT for one hour each week. The ICT curriculum follows the National Curriculum for England, with the schemes of work following the QCA schemes that are set by the Department for Education and Skills.

The aims of the curriculum for the children are as follows:

• to develop IT capability, including their knowledge and understanding of the importance of information and of how to select and prepare it;
• to develop their skills in using hardware and software to manipulate information in their processes of problem solving, recording and expressive work;
• to develop their ability to apply their IT capability and ICT to support their use of language and communication, and their learning in other areas;
• to explore their attitudes towards ICT, its value for themselves, others and society, and their awareness of its advantages and limitations.

All children including the Foundation Stage, have access to a desktop in their classroom, and most of our classrooms are fitted with Interactive Whiteboards. This ensures that children have the opportunity to use and develop their ICT skills throughout the curriculum and not just in the isolated ICT lesson. The children also have access to digital cameras, webcams, scanner and video cameras.

All students in Years 7, 8 and 9 study Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as part of a discrete timetabled programme. The curriculum is closely linked in with the National Curriculum for England, with schemes of work incorporating the QCA-produced schemes.

Where possible, students acquire and use ICT skills and knowledge in the context of other subjects, and in order for this to be fully effective, we ensure that there is good planning, collaboration and liaison between ICT and teachers.

Students can opt for GCSE ICT in Years 10 and 11. We currently offer the AQA Syllabus A GCSE ICT course. The subject content of this course continues on from the skills learnt and the work completed in Key Stages 3, and is useful as a preparation for A – Level ICT.

In Years 12 and 13 students can study the AQA A- Level syllabus in Information and Communication Technology. This is a modular course, and is designed to allow students who have a knowledge and understanding of Information Technology, and have developed skills in applying it as part of their GCSE curriculum, to continue their studies at a higher level.

Students have access to the computers and the Internet via the school network in the Library, in classrooms and in either of the two ICT suites. In addition students have access to a variety of printers, scanners, digital and video cameras.

The use of the Internet in school by students is closely monitored and supervised, and Dubai British School endeavours to ensure that suitable restrictions are placed on the ability of students to access inappropriate materials. All members of the Dubai British School community must sign a ‘Responsible Information Technology and Internet Use’ form.