Ribblesdale High School embraces new technology to create Activclassrooms

Ribblesdale High School, a DfES Designated Technology College in Lancashire, has undergone major development to accommodate its growing number of students. As part of their expansion, Ribblesdale applied for Specialist School status for Technology, including ICT, Maths and Science. Recognising the need to keep pace with technological advances, Ribblesdale allocated some of the specialist funding to provide new interactive whiteboard technology.

What was needed?

To reflect their new status Ribblesdale needed leading-edge technology as well as associated software tailored to secondary education. They also required a flexible system that could adapt to enable future advances.

The solution

Initially Promethean’s interactive whiteboards were installed in the core subject areas of Maths, Science and English, with a fourth placed in the Language department. These numbers have since increased, with Ribblesdale now using 58 whiteboards. Deputy Head Peter Evans says “Promethean boards were by far the best on the market.”

To use the Activboards to their full effect, Ribblesdale also installed the resource-rich Activstudio software, designed to appeal to secondary school and older students. In addition, Ribblesdale has invested in Promethean’s Activote, a wire-free hand-held student response system, and Activslate, a wire-free A5 tablet enabling pupils and teachers to take control of the board from anywhere in the classroom. With these latest additions of advance technology, Ribblesdale have truly made the step up to Activclassrooms.

The verdict

The introduction of interactive technology in the classrooms has led to a change in teaching and learning at Ribblesdale. Staff have incorporated the technology fully into their lessons, which has increased pupil participation. Peter explains: “The level of participation has increased across the board, but the most remarkable improvement has been noted in our boys. It is rewarding to see that they are now keen to get up to the front of the class and actually use the board themselves.”

Increased interaction with pupils is not the only benefit to teachers. “Now the curriculum has settled down, we have been able to reduce planning time as one lesson can be adapted for up to five different classes. Plans can then effectively be shared between teachers – saving even more time.” The new technology has also enabled Ribblesdale to access much more current information. It is very rare that core texts are bought nowadays, except for English. Online materials and CD-ROMs are utilised much more frequently, and Maths and Science now need only be supported by a skeletal framework. The beauty of having an interactive whiteboard to support this technology is that the children can see these materials live and readily interact with them.”

Ribblesdale’s investment in Promethean technology also impacts on prospective parents when they visit the school: “We are very often complimented for the level and sophistication of our resources. This in turn has a knock-on effect on parents’ perceptions of what we can help their children achieve.”

Most importantly, improvement in learning has been reflected by improved performance. Since the purchase of their first Activboards and achieving designated specialist college status in 1999, Ribblesdale exam results have risen, with nearly 70% of pupils achieving five A* to C grades at GCSE level. Peter concludes: “We are proud of our pupils and their achievements, and proud to have received awards from the Specialist Schools Trust for added value in teaching and learning, both for Keystage 2–4 and Keystage 2–3.”