15 April 2005

BOLDONSCHOOL.COM GOES LIVE

After months of design, development and anticipation Boldon School's website was launched on Friday 15 April.

THE process began back in July 2004 when the school decided the next step in improving standards, access to information and learning was to develop a school website.

Urban River, a local company based in South Shields, was chosen to design the site and over subsequent months ideas and templates were looked at, information was collected, and the design and structure of the site was finalised.

Since January all the information and images have been added to the site, which took a long time, and we still have more to add!

The launch was photographed by the Gazette, which was also attended by Carl Buckley, the Managing Director of Urban River. Mr Whitfield was extremely pleased with the final design and added, "The website is major step in ensuring that everyone can access information whenever it is required and wherever they are. It is part of our continuing drive to revise standards and improve all aspects of school life."

The school liased closely with Urban River throughout the development phase in order to make sure the design was focused towards the pupils and their parents. Ian Gilsenan (Data Manager) and Craig Smith (Gifted and Talented Co-ordinator) managed the project throughout its development. Ian added, "It was important that we developed the website from a user's perspective taking accessibility issues in to consideration. The website is a source of information for students, parents and the local community, keeping them up to date with what is going on, showing details of current events and allowing quick and easy access to school documents. The subject pages are an extension of the classroom giving pupils online access to homework, revision and help material for Key Stages 3 and 4.

Looking to future online development we are hoping to expand the revision and homework pages providing further help to our students. Moving to our new school will allow us to develop the schools intranet to include interactive lessons and online activities providing further methods of learning to our students."

Mr Smith added, "It has taken a lot of hard work from staff at Boldon and Urban River to reach this point. I view the launch of our school website as a beginning rather than an end. Our aim at the start was to have a site that is of benefit to all our pupils and that is what we are still working towards. I hope the site will continue to evolve and help improve learning at Boldon School.”