School's cutting edge approach to learning

Lowton Community Sports College has become the first school in Wigan borough and just one of 217 in the country to receive a coveted national quality mark celebrating ICT excellence.

The Naacemark is a nationally recognised standard for ICT for both businesses and education. Awarded by the National Association for Advisors in Computer Education (Naace), the award recognises and celebrates the school's success in promoting the importance of ICT to the curriculum, improving the effectiveness of its teaching and sharing good practice.

To achieve the award the team at Lowton, with support from Wigan's Local Education Authority (LEA), had to satisfy a number of criteria set down by Naace. Schools usually take two years to achieve the award but Lowton managed to make the grade in half the time.

The school's ICT team, led by subject leader Yvonne Owens, will receive a special certificate from Wigan's Assistant Director of Education Gareth Williams, to celebrate the achievement.

Headteacher Sue Crosdale will accept the certificate on the school's behalf. Wigan Council's Cabinet Member for Children's Services Cllr Brian Wilson, congratulated everyone at the school for its success.

He said: "This award is about celebrating and sharing good practise as well as promoting teaching and learning of ICT.

"It is a testament to the ICT team at Lowton that they have been able to achieve this status in a relatively short period of time. It shows how well-organised, efficient and professional the team is.

"ICT is one of those subjects that is vital to all our young people in today's hi-tech, modern world and Lowton is a shining example of how we are equipping our young people with the skills needed to be successful."

Headteacher Sue Crosdale added: "We are very proud to have the excellence of our team recognised at a national level. This further confirms the outstanding report the team has just received from Ofsted."