Staffordshire school revealed as national award finalist for “outstanding” provision

A Staffordshire high school has been revealed as a finalist for a national award for the “outstanding” ICT it offers to its pupils.

Located on the edge of Cannock Chase, The Hart School, in Rugeley, is one of only five schools to be named on the shortlist for the National Education Business Award for ICT.

It’s also the only Midland school to be a finalist – standing out against high schools in neighbouring cities, towns and villages, including in Lichfield and Barton-under-Needwood.

The National Education ICT Facility Award recognises educational establishments in the UK that have “made outstanding progress in the provision of a first class environment for the teaching of ICT and its related subjects”.

£2million of improvements made at The Hart School – including two new ICT suites.

The school is part of Creative Education Trust which has invested £2million in making improvements to the Penkridge Bank Road school over the last five years.

The Hart’s ICT current facilities boast a Chromebook scheme, Promethean interactive boards, and it has just invested in the creation of two new ICT suites, which will be open for the new academic year in September.

Principal Miss Rachael Sandham said: “We’re delighted to share that we’ve been shortlisted for this award. It bears testament to all that we have been doing in the school in recent years, and continue to do, to ensure that our pupil provision and our facilities are first class.

“With a vision that ‘We Can, We Will, We Do’, we’re extremely passionate about providing the best possible learning opportunities, so it’s great to see us recognised as a leader in this particular field -and not only in Staffordshire but also in the wider Midlands area and UK.

Creating stimulating and rich opportunities for pupils

“Our students are at the heart of everything we do, and we aim for their education to be inspiring, stimulating and challenging as well as create rich opportunities for their transition into the world of work, where a breadth of knowledge in ICT is an integral strength.”

The other four schools shortlisted in the national awards are in Middlesex, Kent, Norfolk and Suffolk and the winner will be revealed later this month.