Hemlington Hall Primary School, Middlesbrough is this year's winner of the Overall Excellence in ICT Award. This category is a chance for Local Authority staff to nominate schools that have demonstrated the positive impact ICT has had on all aspects of school life.  LAs were asked to submit a brief overview of the ways ICT has benefited the school including how it is used to support teaching and learning.

A team of 3 judges visited the school and produced the following report:

It was immediately apparent that Hemlington Hall Primary School has fully embraced ICT. As we walked around the school young children were sitting in small groups around laptops, getting on with their work as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Many examples of the pupils’ work were demonstrated and all of it was at a high standard. Activities demonstrated included photography, animation (both 3D and Stop Motion), video (including the use of a green screen) and data-logging.

We were impressed that none of the pupils or teachers seemed fazed by ICT, it is just accepted as an incredibly useful tool to aid learning.

A clear vision for the school and organised,  supportive management from the Headteacher and ICT Coordinator are major factors in producing an environment  supporting embedded and integrated use of ICT.

ICT is extended beyond the normal school day with access for pupils and parents and through partnerships and initiatives involving local communities , further education and  museums.

Overall - An outstanding example of how a clear long-term strategy of organic growth in infrastructure and staff training has created an environment where ICT is fully embedded in curriculum, and which is highly creative and innovative.  A superb portfolio of evidence showing clearly how - from the nursery onwards - ICT is at the heart of children's creative expression and subject learning.

This award was sponsored by Easynet who provided a prize of £4000.

You can view images and a quote from Hemlington Hall on the Middlesbrough Grid for Learning portal.