ICT Mark - Fast Track Assessment!

A "fast-track" route has been put in place to recognise those schools who are national leaders in the use of ICT who have not, as yet, been making full use of the self-review framework as a school development tool. This is in line with the ICT Mark representing a standard in the maturity of ICT use across a school, rather than an award that a school gains for completing a process (however useful that process is for school development). The fast track assessment route not only recognises the leading schools who have reached the threshold levels but places them within the framework and provides an incentive for them to use self-review as a way of progressing towards levels of excellence.
 
Can any school use the fast track route?

No, schools can only be nominated if there is evidence, from a trusted source, of the school currently leading in the use of ICT and engaging in self-review, evaluation or ICT driven school improvement. Nominations and submissions must be approved by Becta before a fast track assessment can proceed and only leading schools who are confident and secure in their whole
school ICT practice will be approved for fast track assessment. Evidence and information, including self-review framework evidence, should be available to support assessment.
 
How will consistent standards be maintained?

Assessment of a fast track school still requires that a school can demonstrate to an accredited assessor that the ICT Mark threshold has been reached in any or all of the elements of the self-review framework. An assessor should still apply the levels and thresholds of the self-review framework in making a professional judgement about whether the threshold has
been reached. An assessment visit of a fast track school should be no different and no less rigorous than a normal assessment visit and the quality assurance process of accompanied visits will work in the same way.

Is a fast track assessment easier for a school?

No, fast track nominated schools who have not completed the self-review framework will find it harder to respond to assessors and demonstrate appropriate practice and evidence. Fast track assessment is NOT an easy option for schools and therefore they should be secure and confident in their ICT practice before submitting for assessment. The interviews, observations,
evidence and expected responses to questions made as part of the assessment of a fast track school should be no different to that of another school.
 
Will a fast track assessment require more work from assessors?

No, but it will require assessors to have an in depth working knowledge of the self-review framework and good competencies in challenging schools. A fast track school will not have submitted a fully completed self-review framework and therefore there is a greater emphasis on the knowledge, understanding and interpretation of the self-review framework by assessors.

Will all fast track assessed schools achieve the ICT Mark?

No, if a fast track school does not meet the threshold standards then the assessor should provide feedback to the school on the areas of development within the self-review framework that they should engage in. The schools strengths should be celebrated and recognition should be given to the investment and work that the school has made in progressing towards the ICT
Mark.

Of course a successful fast track school should also be provided with feedback about their areas of development within the self-review framework and encouraged to use the self-review framework to progress towards levels of excellence.

As a reminder to colleagues, if you have any schools that could be assessed before the Easter holidays, please get in touch - we have some capacity to offer free assessments in return for promotional activities around the self-review framework and the ICT Mark, but they will need to be done soon!
Published Thursday, March 22, 2007 9:12 PM by AlanDay
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