Press Release
NI schools named as leaders in digital excellence at the 2024 ICT Excellence Awards Ceremony
26 June 2024
Capita and the Education Authority Northern Ireland have announced the winners of the eighth annual 'NI Schools ICT Excellence’ Awards.
The awards celebrate the innovative use of technology in transforming teaching and learning, while improving educational outcomes in Northern Ireland. Primary, post-primary, special schools and EOTAS centres were invited to apply for an award in 2 categories:
- Partnerships, optimised by the application of digital technologies.
- The leadership of Teacher Professional Learning applying digital technology to optimise a selected goal.
An awards ceremony was held on the 25th of June in the Merchant Hotel, Belfast where schools were recognised for their achievement.
The winning schools in the Partnerships, optimised by the application of digital technologies category are Naíscoil agus Bunscoil Bheanna Boriche and St Malachy’s College - Digital Hub for the North Belfast Area Learning Community, with their partners Belfast Boys’ Model School, Dominican College and The Belfast Model School for Girls.
The winning schools in The Leadership of Teacher Professional Learning category are Dromore Central Primary School and Rowandale Integrated Primary School.
Schools were also recognised with highly commended and finalist status and a special award for innovation was given to St Comgall’s Primary School, Antrim for their use of AI in teaching and learning.
Speaking on behalf of sponsors at the awards ceremony, Managing Director, Capita Education and Learning, Marianne Betts, said:
“We are delighted to sponsor the ICT Excellence Awards. In the eight years that we have been involved in the awards, we have experienced insights into the innovative practices of using IT in teaching and learning. This year all the finalists have showcased the creative use of digital technology, collaboration with schools and their communities, teacher professional development and the positive impact this has on achieving educational outcomes and improving pupil skills – a massive congratulations to all the finalists for this much-deserved recognition.”
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Professor John Anderson, Chair of the Innovation Forum said:
“In this eighth year of the ICT Excellence Awards there are dramatic improvements in the use of digital technologies to support learning for the benefit of pupils, teachers, and parents. With the two themes this year that of Partnerships was aced by the radical change across all 27 post-primary EOTAS (Education Other Than At School) acting together to introduce ‘state of the art’ devices, online collaboration and new digital qualifications.”
Linsey Farrell, Deputy Secretary for Education Policy, and Children's Services, Department of Education also speaking at the event, said:
“I am pleased to be here to celebrate the continuing technology-enhanced excellence in our classrooms as we move into the next generation of applications. My department is committed to working with schools and our education partners to ensure that, in this ever-changing digital age, our children and young people develop the skills and acquire the knowledge to enable them to navigate the digital world successfully.”
Richard Pengelly, Chief Executive, Education Authority, said at the event:
“Developing skills in critical thinking and technology, as well as the personal capabilities to work together to solve problems, could not be more important for our young people as schools prepare them to face a rapidly evolving digital world. I am delighted to see this practice in the use of digital technologies not only from the finalist schools nominated for the ICT Excellence Awards, but in many more classrooms across Northern Ireland.”
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