SW/NS/123
4 March 2013
Y9 COHORT SURVEY LETTER
Dear Parent
As you may have heard, we are hoping to run an exciting eCurriculum Scheme to give all our students in
Year 9 the opportunity to learn using the latest technology, both at home and at school. We are very lucky
to have excellent ICT facilities within the Academy and understand how important it is that every student
is confident using ICT to support their learning.
We plan to set up a system where every teacher will set homework directly to the students using a virtual
learning environment. This would make it easier for students to track their coursework assignments and
homework, and make it easier for you to see the work being set. Students would also get access to
curriculum resources, past exam papers that are suitable for them, email and news items. All of this
information is personalised and delivered directly to the student. For this to work students will need
regular access to the system both in school and at home, and so every student would be provided with a
small tablet device, such as an Apple iPad Mini.
We would like to create a level playing field where every student has access to up to date ICT resources
both in school and at home. The core principal for the scheme is that no child is excluded because of their
financial circumstances. There may be the possibility of some charitable funding, specifically to help
families on low incomes. The Academy will need to work in partnership with parents to be able to fund the
scheme, without some level of financial support from parents it could not run.
To help us plan the right kind of scheme for all our students, we want to understand what technology, if
any, the students already have. I would be grateful if you could fill in this short survey, and send it back to
the Academy as soon as possible (by Wednesday 13 March at the latest), it would help give us the best
chance of gaining some charitable support and establish if we are able to run this project.
Assuming the response from the survey is positive, I would like to invite you in on Wednesday 1 May to
explain the scheme in more detail and answer any questions you might have.
Yours sincerely
Mr N. Stott
Deputy Principal
Please return this page by Wednesday 13 March
Please answer the following questions to the best of your ability (tick one box):
1. I am in favour of the Academy’s plan to introduce an eCurriculum scheme to support learning both
at home and at school?

Yes

No
If you have ticked “No” it would be helpful for us to know the reason. Can you please tell us?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2. Please choose which option below best describes your child’s access to ICT at home:
 Computer shared with ……. family members
 Computer for sole use
 Laptop shared with ……. family members
 Laptop for sole use
 Tablet shared with …… family members

Tablet for sole use. If so is it: Apple tablet
Android tablet
Windows tablet
 We do not have a computer
3. Please choose which option below best describes any internet connection you may have at home

Wireless broadband
 Non-wireless broadband
 Dial-up internet
 We do not have an internet connection
4. The eCurriculum would be funded through a partnership between parents and the Academy.
While Macmillan Academy will meet some of the costs, to make the project work, we will need a
large majority of our parents to contribute towards the cost, probably £10:00 per month for a 2 year
project.
Please indicate whether you feel you could donate monthly at this level:

Could donate the suggested £10:00 per month

Could possibly donate the suggested £10 per month

Could donate a part of this per month – e.g. £ _____

Would not be able to donate
Signed: ____________________________________
Date: _____________________
Parent/carer name: _____________________________________________________