Kidsmeet

The Isle of Portland Aldridge Community Academy recently played host to a special event showcasing digital excellence among pupils. The event entitled ‘Kidsmeet’ saw First School pupils from Frome Valley, Damers, Milborne St. Andrew, Cerne Abbas, Cheselbourne and St Mary's Middle School students join together at the Portland Academy.

Host, Academy Director for Digital Learning and Innovation, Gary Spracklen explains how, ‘The event was an opportunity to celebrate and share how Digital Technology is being used to engage, innovate and inspire learning. For over a year now we have been working with schools from the Dorchester Area Schools Partnership to prepare for the new Computer Science Curriculum, together we have shared best practice as teachers and sought effective methods of introducing assessment and moderation into this new curriculum area. The Kidsmeet event today was a celebration of that partnership and an opportunity for our learners to share exciting tools they use to support their learning’.

Speaking about the event, Y5 pupil Finley Short said, ‘It was a fantastic day! We got to share all the exciting work we are doing here at IPACA with other children from around Dorset. My group shared how we can invent imaginative solutions to problems using a ‘Makey Makey’ board. Mr Spracklen explains further, ‘A Makey Makey board is a device which can turn everyday items into an input device. Today you can see how the children have turned fruit into a working electric piano. This technology can be applied in lots of different circumstances to solve an array of problems and when linked to coding can support A-Level and Degree-Level studies and research'.

Bob Duffin, Headteacher of Cheselbourne First School and Leader of the Dorchester Area Schools Partnership ICT Group said, ‘We want to thank Gary Spracklen and his team at IPACA for all their efforts to organise the Kidsmeet today. Everyone has said what a fabulous day it was and it was great to see more of what happens down at IPACA. We look forward to welcoming IPACA students to future events in Dorchester’.