ICT Register - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ICT Register?

The ICT Register is a unique resource of innovative practice about all aspects of learning with technology and it is freely available for schools around the world. It is operated by the Specialist schools and Academies Trust in partnership with Becta.

Currently, there are 631 schools and learning centres from all phases highlighting their strengths and offering support and advice via the ICT Register.

ICT Register schools cover all regions of England and we a have a growing number of schools from Wales and Ireland, and from countries across the globe. The ICT Register encourages the international interchange of expertise in ICT and eLearning and shows significant use by schools overseas.

Why was the ICT Register created?

It was set up to facilitate collaborative working and the sharing valuable experience and expertise. It helps those institutions needing advice and support with specific ICT issues to identify similar institutions who have successfully dealt with similar issues.

How do I use the ICT Register?

There is no login - the website is open and free of charge.

The Tag cloud on the right hand side of the front page takes you to keywords which are searched for most frequently, highlighting schools, strengths and links associated with the keyword.

You can use the Find menu at the top of each page, or the Search button on the home page to find a school or a specific strength or activity, offered by schools in your region or postcode area.

You can also browse the ICT Register via categories presented in six main areas, Strategic Leadership, Learning and Teaching, Technical Support, Finance/Budgeting, Special Educational Needs and Internationalism. Each of these areas has further categories within it offering a wide range of expertise. The list is adapted regularly to encompass relevant aspects of ICT.

If you find a school that you believe could help you, you can contact them directly through the ICT Register. If you need immediate help and a range of responses the Ask the Schools feature will circulate your question to all the schools and learning centres on the Register.

Please note that all questions posed to ICT Register schools via the Ask the Schools feature and all enquiries made to a specific Register school(s) are monitored by the ICT Register Team and are only released to the school(s) if they are deemed to be genuine enquiries.

What support do Register schools receive?

To reflect the national programme, Register schools are also grouped in the eleven Trust regions - London, S-Central, S-East, S-West1, S-West2, Eastern, Yorkshire-Humberside, N-East, N-West, E-Midlands and W-Midlands. One secondary and one primary Register school in each region is designated a Focus School for a year. Focus Schools work very closely with the central Register Team in supporting the other secondary and primary ICT Register schools in their region, leading the development of ICT support in their phase and assuming responsibility for the quality of the support provided in their region.