A THIRD of headteachers will be offered in-depth computer training to help them bring their schools up-to-date with technology, it was revealed yesterday.
Heather Du Quesnay, chief executive of the National College for School Leadership, told the Education Show in Birmingham that the college would provide 10,000 ICT training places over the next three years.
The announcement follows complaints from teachers that their attempts to update technology have been thwarted by senior managers with little understanding of computers.
The Strategic Leadership in ICT programme, which starts with a two-and-a-half day residential course, has been piloted with 300 heads and will cost participants pound;350.
More than 17,000 people were due to attend the annual three-day Education Show at the National Exhibition Centre, which ends tomorrow. Highlights include the unveiling of a range of prototype school furniture created for the Design Council, and the Big Bug Show which has been introducing exotic invertebrates to pupils throughout Europe.
Teachers who visit the exhibition today can taste such delicacies as pan-fried black African crickets and chocolate-covered meal-worms.
The Office for Standards in Education was due to launch a new system allowing teachers and parents to receive email alerts about reports on schools in their areas. Parents can specify what types of reports they wish to see by visiting www.ofsted.gov.ukmailinglist.
The final keynote speech will be given tomorrow by Lord Puttnam, who will argue that schools and developers need to raise their game when it comes to educational technology.
www.education-show.com
