Tuned In! won the PSHE Secondary Award at the Northern Grid ICT in Education Awards 2011.

Tuned In! is a local authority wide project involving students from a number of secondary schools across the Borough of Redcar and Cleveland.

Celebrating Excellence in North East Schools

Pupils across the North East are using the latest technology to access exciting learning opportunities. The Northern Grid Awards recognise and celebrate the best examples. Pupils from primary, secondary and special schools attended the award ceremony on June 23^rd at the Gosforth Park Marriot.

Visitors had great opportunities to meet teachers and pupils and to share in their exciting projects. Today’s TV reporters and presenters should look out for their jobs as many pupils confidently use technology commonly found in TV studios.  

Pupils, as young as 4, showed how they created stop frame animations in the style of Wallace and Gromit. Older pupils presented the films they had scripted, acted in and produced. One horror film by Kilton Thorpe School involved working with local writers, actors and film makers to produce the thought provoking “Zombie Bullies”.

Schools regularly use the internet to communicate with parents to share the pupils’ work. The power of ICT to encourage collaboration is very evident. An excellent example is how pupils with autism, from Norham Community Technology College, have used online tools. Pupils that were isolated are now talking together in class and keeping in touch while they are at home.

Four exceptional teachers were presented with Teacher Awards:

• Claire Hayden from Norham Community Technology College, North Tyneside
• Myris Groom from St Aloysuis Infants, South Tyneside
• Nicola Padgett from Normanby Primary School, Redcar and Cleveland
• Stephen Ainsley from Harton Technology College, South Tyneside

They all show exceptional skill and dedication to improve their pupils’ lives, constantly exploring new technologies to open up new opportunities.  They involve pupils in evaluating technology to make sure it will be beneficial and not just an interesting gimmick. They encourage colleagues to improve their practice. Their enthusiasm is infectious.

The final award of the day was presented to Woodlawn School, North Tyneside. As winner of the Overall Excellence Award Woodlawn was recognised as a school where creative use of technology, from simple record and play devices to cutting edge gaming technologies, is being used effectively by all members of staff.  

Northern Grid’s Annual Awards play an important contribution in enabling schools to celebrate their achievements. In previous years, many Northern Grid regional winners have gone on to national fame and recognition. Information about the successful schools is available on the Northern Grid website.

For photos of the awards ceremony and exhibition visit our Flickr page.

The Successful Schools

About Northern Grid

Northern Grid for Learning’s vision is to support schools and local authorities to achieve the highest possible standards by embracing the opportunities which technology can provide for 21st century education.

Northern Grid, formed in 1999 as a direct result of the Government’s strategy to introduce broadband connectivity to schools, has been highly successful in establishing a robust, reliable regional network. All schools within Northern Grid’s partner local authorities were connected to broadband technologies two years ahead of schedule and the network is regularly upgraded to ensure schools have the broadband provision they need.

The current focus is on supporting the transformation of learning through ICT by providing technologies and resources that will allow greater personalisation of students’ learning experiences, give teachers tools that can enhance their teaching and support leaders in their drive for whole school improvement.

By collaborating regionally and nationally with schools, agencies, the commercial sector, the other nine Regional Broadband Consortia and the wider education sector, Northern Grid undertakes activities that provide best value, promote best practice and establish the region as a national centre of excellence.

Northern Grid works with schools across the North East and is a not for profit organisation owned by seven Local Authorities:

• Darlington
• Hartlepool
• Middlesbrough
• North Tyneside
• Redcar and Cleveland
• Stockton
• South Tyneside.

The latest spending review has shown that by working together and aggregating procurements Northern Grid has saved its partner Local Authorities more than £6 million over the last year.

For more information please contact Christine Jack, eLearning Manager:

christine.jack@northerngrid.org 0191 4611844 or 07799 583177

Find out about the exciting work schools in the region are doing with technology

Northern Grid will be hosting its annual awards ceremony on June 23^rd with 27 schools being recognised for their excellent use of technology to support teaching and learning. 

The Northern Grid awards were established in 2004 to celebrate the success of schools in the region.  At the ceremony highly commended schools receive certificates and the winners get a prize donated by commercial sponsors.  

All the schools are given a stand to display their entry.  The standard is always impressive and the best part of the morning is getting to walk around the exhibition and listen to these bright, enthusiastic and articulate pupils talking about what they did.