Highlight of the Week

Girls are doing it for themselves

Business partnership sees increase in girls studying ICT

The Cathedral School has overcome a gender stereotype and reversed the decline in the number of girls studying Information Communication technology (ICT) as a GSCE subject - thanks to a partnership with local businesses.

Linking up with Cardiff-based technology specialist Circle IT and Warwick Emanuel PR and Film, the School has seen the percentage of girls taking ICT soar from 6 per cent to 89 per cent in just one year.

Head of ICT at the School Nic Patterson said, "We needed to show pupils how important ICT is to their future working lives. We wanted to dispel the myth that it is a difficult subject and show how vital computer skills are for popular jobs - such as in the media and PR.

"It worked a treat and the change was immediate. The number of girls applying to study the subject leapt from one to sixteen and the total intake for ICT in the 2010-11 academic year has more than doubled to 46 out of 60 pupils."

Warwick Emanuel account director, Nicola Roberts said: "Studying ICT is such a beneficial subject, no matter what career pupils decide to pursue.  It's essential in my job, and what's more it's fun to know how to get the best out of technology and social media.

"There's too often a misconception that ICT is just for boys and geeks and that its only really beneficial to pupils looking to be ICT professionals., Visiting the school and giving girls the realities of ICT seemed to be an eye-opener for many."

Sophie B and Emily M, Year 9 pupils are two pupils who attended the various school-led sessions. They said: "With technology growing and changing so rapidly and with more and more careers highlighting how important ICT skills are, we have both chosen ICT as one of our GCSE option subjects, even though we have a few more years to go before looking for a job!

"We were really inspired by the presentation from Circle IT and Warwick Emanuel and it made us realise that ICT isn't just for boys."