CHARITY
THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGISTS
WCIT Projects & Pro-Bono
Panel
Information Technologists Provide IT Support for
The Collett School
T
he Collett School is a special
educational needs (SEN)
school providing a very
supportive and caring environment for
young people from nursery age
through to secondary. The school is
the only SEN school in Hertfordshire,
catering for 4 to 17 year olds, and the
lowest funded.
predict the propagation of radio waves
and detect the presence of interfering
signals without the use of test
equipment. As a result, it's often
necessary to perform a RF site survey
to fully understand the behaviour of
radio waves within a facility before
challenging if they are given a chance
installing wireless network access
to ‘play on a level field’. IT gives the
points.
pupils just that - a level playing field.
More resources were needed to
enable the pupils to have the best
chance to access learning and
hopefully, in the future, the world of
work. IT provides captivating learning
experiences and supports a full range
of learning settings, including
whole-class, individual, duo,
small-team and multi-team.
Stephen Hoult-Allen, Headteacher,
The Collett School said "WCIT's
extraordinary donation of time and
equipment coupled with invaluable
advice that we could trust has made a
lasting impact on the children's ability
to engage with learning. One of the
challenges for school Heads is the
need for business acumen in areas
we are not expert in and so can easily
be misled.
“I returned to carry out the survey and
confirmed that the original proposal
was approximately double what was
actually required. I provided the school
with an outline design for their
incumbent to re-quote. This happily
halved the cost of delivering the
proposed solution…then…just as I
was about to leave, I was whisked into
the assembly hall to take part in a
The school had contacted WCIT P&P Karaoke assembly – a rendition of
member Steve Smith with a request
‘You Can Rule The World’ Take That
for pro-bono IT assistance to help with would have been proud of!”
improving the schools wireless
All in a day’s work for a volunteer….
network which wasn’t working to the
best of its ability. The project would
With the plans in place for a site-wide
enable the pupils to better access
wireless network, the school needed
learning resources, the internet and
some learning tablets. However, with
social media in a structured and
funds being extremely limited the
supportive environment.
school were faced with the decision of
buying the tablets and not being able
Steve recalled “I contacted the school to afford the wireless network or vice
and made arrangements to visit the
versa. Given this dilemma, the school
school to look at their requirements
applied to the WCIT Charity for
first hand. I was asked to review a
funding for both projects and were
wireless proposal presented to them
fortunate enough to be granted
by their incumbents. It all appeared
funding for a LearnPad Tablet
technically sound but a bit excessive
classroom bundle including eight
for the school’s requirements,
LearnPads with accessories.
however, without any Radio
Frequency (RF) survey results I was
Information Technology is a fantastic
not in a position to comment.
leveller for anyone with special needs
but especially in an education
After returning to the school to meet
environment. The LearnPad tablets,
with a very helpful representative from combined with the new wireless
the incumbent suppliers, he confirmed network, provide access to curricular
that the proposal was based on a
subjects and provide levels of
typical design for a secondary school communication that would otherwise
rather than based on a specific RF
be unattainable for some of the pupils.
survey.”
The pupils at the school already have
challenging lives ahead of them but
With wireless systems, it's difficult to
life can be significantly less
It has been wonderful to work with
Steve, who has fully engaged with the
whole school and bought into our
community, providing unbiased
support and clarity. Thank you!"
"This is brilliant, I can find stuff myself"
Pupil Year 8
"It makes me happy"
Pupil Year 6
"Thank you for all your support and
belief in what we are trying to achieve
for the children - now and for their
adult futures. Steve has made a
significant difference to the lives of
many.
Teachers notice children, previously
resistant to learning, now engaging
and being inspired and enthused by
having access to working media!"
Gillian Lawton, Project Manager, The
Collett School.
Contributed by WCIT Freeman Steve Smith,
P&P volunteer
Thank you Steve and thank you to all donors to
the WCIT Charity for making this project
possible for The Collect School.
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