Heaton Manor, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

“Heaton Manor is a successful 11-18 urban comprehensive specialist
technology college in Newcastle upon Tyne. It currently operates on a
split site, with KS3/5 on one site and KS4 on the other.

From 2000 to 2003 the Maths SATS results have continued to improve and
currently stand at 76%  5+  which is well above national averages.  

ALS is different in many ways from other software packages. Its
simplistic design, bite-size lessons and easily understood progress
reports continue to motivate pupils even after 3 years of use. In effect
the Advanced Learning System pushes all the right buttons with the pupils.”

Alan Herald
Heaton Manor School

 

Stourminster School

“Purchasing Numeracy and Literacy Pathways has given a great boost to
learning at Stourminster Special School. Teachers and pupils are
equally enthusiastic about the benefits of using this software and we
now have documentary evidence of pupils ability to support teacher
assessment. Many pupils use the software for self-study and lunchtime
activities.    
The format has been so successful that the school wants to expand the
range of subjects available and make Learning Pathways software the
foundation for teaching and assessment in as many subjects as
possible.”

Paul McGuire
ICT Coordinator

 

Matthew Boulton College of Further and Higher Education
HMP Morton Hall

“I have been delighted with the response from our students to the Advanced Learning System which we have installed. They thoroughly enjoy the lessons.

Not only is there a vast range of ability here but also we have a roll of approximately 75% foreign nationals. I have found that the programme is ideal for tailoring lessons to suit a student's particular needs. The tracking system, too, allows us to keep a close eye on progress so that we can forward a report if a student is moved to another prison without much warning.”

Rick Crowe
Education Department

 

Comments from Stoke schools:

Harpfield Primary School

“The literacy software had a major impact on pupils in our school who have English as an additional language (EAL). I was able to design individual learning programmes to support each pupil that introduced and reinforced their National Curriculum work. It enabled me to identify several pupils who had attained higher SATs scores moving up from level three to level four and other pupils were even higher.”

Avril Vaughan
Deputy Head

 

Oakhill Primary School

“Oakhill Primary School is part of the Microsoft AAL (Anytime, Anywhere Learning) Initiative set up by the Rainbow Education Action Zone. My whole class has access to a laptop 24/7 and I have found the Numeracy and Literacy Pathways to work very successfully with my special needs pupils, particularly the boys. Their skills and knowledge have been greatly enhanced by the fact that I can easily plan an individual set of lessons for each child (IEP). This means that they are able to work at their own pace and the inclusion of the ‘hangman games' gives them an extra incentive to complete the tasks. The fact that you can set the level of achievement for each lesson also gives me the opportunity to raise their self-esteem. I find the A+ ASSESS program is also a valuable tool for assessing my pupil's performance.”

Linda Alliband
Year 6 Teacher

 

Heron Cross Primary School

“My speech and language students have found A+LS both useful and motivating in developing their basic literacy and numeracy skills. They are able to assess their own work and set personal targets for improvement.”

Bill Coley
Speech & Language Centre

 

Christchurch (CE) Primary School

“A+LS allows me to track individual pupils and set appropriate targets and objectives. I can also use A+LS as a whole class, group or individual tool to achieve my aims for the class and pupils.”

Bobbie Caisley

 

Blurton High School

“We use ALS at Blurton because we see it makes a difference to the pupils who use it.  They learn, they enjoy the lessons, love the tests - determined to get 10 out of 10!

For the teacher it is versatile - you can use it for individual pupils, small groups or the whole class.  You are in control all of the time - you can even change the lessons if you wish or play "Who wants to be a Millionaire."

The diagnostic side of the program is good and the support from the ALS team is first class.

We have recently added Key Stage 3 and 4 History to Maths English and Science and hope to see more subjects added on in the future.  All the subjects use the same management system so once you have mastered it for one the rest is easy.”

Dave Amos

 

Etruscan Primary School

“Once children know how to use the software, they can work independently through the lessons as the software is self correcting. I had a child who was working well below the rest of the class, A+LS meant they could do something productive and work independently while I worked with the rest of the class.”

Rebecca Rudolf