Hall Mead School

Hall Mead School,
Marlborough Gardens,
Upminster, Essex,
RM14 1SF.

Tel 01708 225684
or 01708 229655
Fax 01708 220232

TECHNOLOGY COLLEGE STATUS

Hall Mead was designated by the Department for Education and Employment as a Technology College with effect from 1st September 1997; this resulted in an investment in the school approaching half a million pounds over three years.
In September 2000 we were granted specialist status for the second time with a further grant of approximately œ360,000. In 2003 we were awarded specialist status for a further four years.

As a Specialist School, Hall Mead is expected to act as a Centre of Good Practice, developing initiatives and raising standards in Technology, Science and Mathematics, whilst continuing to pursue excellence in the full range of subjects.

When we were awarded Technology Status, we pledged that all subjects would benefit from Technology Status through the use of ICT (Information Communication Technology), we continue to fulfil this pledge.

Hall Mead has continued to meet the targets for Technology Status. Listed are just some of the targets met.

We have continued to provide:

Saturday morning classes in Computer Aided Design for students and staff from other secondary schools;
Masterclasses in Maths, ICT and D & T for primary schools;
Training for students and local businesses in Web Design;
KS4 masterclasses in Science;
Entering Year 10 students for Intermediate Maths at GCSE;
Maths, Science, D & T and ICT masterclasses for our main feeder primary schools.
Fast Track Design & Technology GCSE.

In addition to the tarqets we have;

Purchased interactive schemes of work for all KS4 subjects;
Increased the number of networked computers to a ratio of 1 computer to every 4 students;
Introduced ECDL to parents;
Provided PSE with a suite of computers;
Provided the Library with computers;
Connected the Library to the network and Internet;
Provided Design and Technology with a further 12 computers connected to the network and the Internet;
Provided the School with 23 interactive whiteboards;
Refurbished ICT 2 and ICT 3 computer rooms into one larger room;
provided the Music Department with a soundproof recording studio;
Continued to assist other schools in their quest for specialist status;
Provided faculties with wireless laptops for use in classrooms;
Networked all classrooms in the School;
Installed an upgraded firewall protection system for the internet;
Provided extra training for staff in the use of ICT for report writing;
Continued to fast-track Year 10 pupils for GCSE Design and Technology;
Purchased a digital video camera and a digital camera for the Creative Arts Faculty and Media Studies Department;
Provided fast track GCSE lessons in Music;
Networked computers in the new Learning Support Suite;
Provided training in Maths, ICT and Design and Technology for staff in other secondary schools;
Provided Languages and Music with sets of laptop computers;

For the future we will be aiming to:

Provide industry standard CAD (Autocad) classes for the community;
Where possible, increase the number of computers in each faculty from 12 to 24;
Connect to and broadcast lessons to our partner schools;
Provide courses in the European Computer Driving Licence;
Open our new Learning Centre in 2006 containing 75 computers;

Technology Colleges Trust

Hall Mead is a
DfES designated Technology College