The Dukeries Academy
Serving the community of Newark, Nottinghamshire, the 1070 pupil Dukeries Academy (11-18) is part of the Academy Transformation Trust (ATT) community of 19 academies.
As a specialist technology academy pupils have access to the latest technology delivering a wide range of learning opportunities and experiences ensuring individual students reach their full potential. Previously known as the Dukeries Comprehensive School, it converted to academy status in 2013 to become the Dukeries Academy and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2014. The Dukeries Academy is a leading member of the ATT Trust ICT Steering Group, supporting and guiding 18 other academies in their use of ICT.
Visit The Dukeries Academy website here - Dukeries.ATTrust.org.uk
The Dukeries Academy is proud to be a reference site for Acer & Gaia Technologies and has expanded its academy wide provision of Windows devices in 2015. In addition, the academy and its strategic partners have invested in 2015 to build a new innovation centre. The centre will act as a beacon of innovation within Dukeries and the wider community.
Gaia Technologies Provides a Leading Innovation Room
The Acer/Windows Innovation Centre at The Dukeries Academy.The “Official” opening is on 6th November 2015 by Mark Spencer MP
A large room has been converted into a versatile learning space enabling students, community groups and partner institutions to use the latest Windows devices, software and projection technology. The innovation centre has a key role in providing the facilities to train teachers and pupils in the use of latest technology within all aspects of the curriculum. The development of these new teachers’ skills will support the wider use of ICT in the academy and community.
The Dukeries Academy innovation room - including green screen and filming provision.
The room has flexible furniture which can be adapted depending on the use of the room at any particular time, either by the school or the local community. One wall has a drop down green screen powered by an Acer Windows PC with professional lighting to allow students to produce their own films.
There is also a large interactive projector used as a teaching wall, again powered by one of the 20 Acer PCs. Up to 60 mobile Windows devices, the Acer Switch 10E tablets are being issued flexibly by students not only within this room but out in the wider academy environment and field trips. Gaia Technologies are also supporting the academy with, lighting, 3D cameras & a 3D printer for this project as well as a 3D setup in the new drama hall.
The Dukeries Academy, Gaia Technologies and Acer use Window desktops and tablets to create innovative projects, including animated comic book strips and an interactive virtual construction site;
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The Dukeries Academy and Discovery Channel Partnership
The Discovery Channel is also working in partnership developing the digital learning environment at The Dukeries.
The partnership involves bespoke training programmes within the innovation room, developing the use of both content and technology, with CPD to digital leaders, teachers and students to maximise the impact on teaching and learning.
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Forging Strong Links with, and between, Manufacturer and Academy
Gaia Technologies has a long history of successful partnerships within the education sector. Key to this is Gaia Technologies relationships with the leading manufacturers and suppliers, ensuring that Gaia Technologies is able to consistently provide its customers with a market leading ICT provision. The key benefits of partnership with Gaia Technologies for The Dukeries Academy are;
- Working with a trusted ICT partner - Gaia Technologies has been on each and every DfE ICT Services Framework (formerly the Becta framework). - one of only five ICT companies to do so.
- Creative, innovative solutions using hardware and software from trusted brands — ensuring the Academy had the best hardware and software from market leading providers, such as Microsoft and Acer
- Predictable costs — The Dukeries knows how much the service will cost year on year
- Reliable service - ensuring a continuity of service, allowing teachers to teach.
“The Dukeries Academy benefits from Gaia’s strategic relationship with both Acer and Microsoft. The close links between the Academy and Gaia has a real impact on widening the opportunities for our student and staff. Gaia’s friendly and flexible managed service, infrastructure and installation service enables us to concentrate on the delivery of outstanding teaching and learning to all of our students”
Ian Barton
Principal Dukeries Academy
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Innovative Software Demands Innovative Devices
Gaia Technologies also provided the Academy with a whole site licence of the Gaia3D curriculum matched software. The Gaia3D software is an incredibly powerful piece of education software, which requires a powerful device to run. Gaia Technologies supplied all the necessary hardware and licences required. At the heart of this was the Acer Veriton small form factor desktop and NVidia graphics card.
Visit the Gaia3D website - Gaia3D.co.uk
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The Dukeries Academy - A Successful, 21st Century School
The Dukeries, thanks in part to their improved ICT provision, the hardware and software solutions provided and the ongoing partnership with Gaia Technologies, was described by Former Secretary of State for Children Schools and Families, Ed Balls, as "the kind of school we would like to see across the country, I call it the 21st Century School".
The Dukeries Academy also recently celebrated their best ever A Level results in August 2015. The Principal of The Dukeries Academy, Ian Barton, said: “These are incredible results and they are a credit to the hard work of our pupils and staff. You should all be very proud of your achievements and you should feel confident as you look to pursue your future aspirations. Congratulations.”
Gaia Technologies had once again successfully demonstrated the ability to provide exciting and innovative solutions to customers.
