RISO Education Solutions

Batley Girls High School

Batley Girls High School is a large secondary school with its own sixth form. The school provides education for more than 1200 girls as well as a wide range of arts, activities and courses for the wider communities of Batley and Birstall. In September 2004, following outstanding examination results in Art and Design, Batley Girls High School was awarded specialist status in visual arts.

Achieving specialist status meant the school could draw on substantial extra funding to raise standards across the curriculum by developing exciting and creative learning activities which include new arts courses in digital media, photography, textiles and graphics. The school has invested heavily in ICT equipment and boasts five fully equipped ICT suites, including a 35-station facility within the arts and textiles faculty.

The faculty also has its own RISO colour production printer. The device, which provides a fast, high quality print and copy facility, is networked for easy access by students and staff wishing to reproduce artwork and other study material. Although the RISO can print in black and white, virtually all output is in colour, reflecting demand from pupils and staff for vibrant, colourful material with real-world impact.

Tracy Wharam, the school’s bursar, says that wide use is made of colour in lessons: “Colour appeals more to children than black and white. Everything from the TV to the internet is in colour. We use colour because it stops children from switching off.” English provides an example of how colour is used to improve the effectiveness of lessons. Children studying Shakespeare research the dress worn by characters, printing images in colour.

The RISO printer can be used by students without supervision. With easy access, print volumes are high. Cost was a concern because as Tracy explained, “printers are cheap to buy but toner can be expensive”. Unlike conventional toner based printers, the RISO uses ink technology to produce high quality output at low cost. According to Tracy, the RISO saves around £400 per term on toner.

The school’s head teacher, Jackie Eames, is quoted on the school web site: “What parents want from a school are quality education, the highest level of qualifications which their daughters can achieve and the knowledge that the school is a happy and safe place.” Colour print from the RISO is adding impact to lessons and helping the school provide the stimulating and memorable learning experience that parents expect.
 

For more information call 0800 917 2020
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