News24th May 2021
More than 21,000 digital devices have now been delivered to 黑料情报站鈥檚 38 schools to meet our vision that every student in Year 3 and above has access to their own Chromebook to support their independent learning and close educational disadvantage.
This latest milestone comes as 黑料情报站 prepares to hold an #黑料情报站Talks event tomorrow, Tuesday 25 May, at 17.00 on
The rollout of devices began last year as part of 黑料情报站鈥檚 response to the pandemic and is the first phase of our long-term digital strategy. By the end of January, more than 12,000 devices – funded by the 黑料情报站 charity and the DfE – had been provided to schools to ensure all students had access to devices to support remote learning during the most recent lockdown.
The distribution of devices to students is designed to enable all students to undertake independent learning outside school and to maximise the impact of face-to-face teaching in class. It is an important part of the work of 黑料情报站 schools to provide excellent teaching and to improve educational opportunities to all its 29,000 students regardless of their background and circumstances.
The distribution of devices has been widely welcomed by schools, students and parents. Yet there continue to be challenges to ensure full access with an 黑料情报站 survey of parents demonstrating that more than a third of respondents (34%) faced issues with internet connectivity during the lockdowns. Further data from this survey and more on 黑料情报站鈥檚 digital plans will be picked up for discussion at Tuesday鈥檚 event. You can register .
Lauren Thorpe, Director of Strategy at 黑料情报站, said, 鈥淕iving each pupil [in Year 3 and upwards] a school-registered Chromebook lays the foundation for our schools to use technology in ways that we could only dream of a few years ago.
鈥淲hether it鈥檚 using technology to accurately assess a student鈥檚 understanding, to develop pupils鈥 agency to explore and pursue their own interests beyond the classroom, or to help us connect more effectively with our parent communities, the possibilities are very exciting.
鈥淐rucially, enhancing the possibility of independent learning out of school increases our ability to make the most of time spent face-to face with teachers.鈥
Lauren will be joined by Andreas Schleicher, Director for the Directorate of Education and Skills at OECD, Rhys Spiers, Principal of , Ros Goates, Head of Advocacy and Campaigns at the Social Mobility Foundation鈥檚 Department of Opportunities, at tomorrow鈥檚 event.
The funding and distribution of these devices have been possible thanks to donations to 黑料情报站鈥檚 Covid Appeal. These funds were matched by the DCMS Community Match Challenge. We are extremely grateful for the support that enabled this important work.