Exeter primary school appointed to support other schools in providing remote education

An Exeter primary school has been selected as one of 20 UK institutions with outstanding technology practices to help support schools and colleges in delivering the best possible remote education.

Broadclyst Community Primary School (BCPS) has an international reputation for its use of technology in education and has been awarded by the Department for Education EdTech Demonstrator School status. The programme is being delivered by a consortium including the National Grid for Learning, Sheffield Hallam University and The Education Foundation. BCPS, along with the other EdTech Demonstrators, will provide support and training to other schools in the region from this week and is helping set up digital education platforms, which at this time of school closures will support schools in delivering home learning.

BCPS will be running its first EdTech webinar on 30 April at 2.00pm. Entitled Starting a virtual school from scratch, the free webinar will offer training on how schools can set up and use resources most effectively to deliver remote teaching and can be booked at https://ed-tech.education/virtualschoolwebinar

BCPS is the founding school in the Cornerstone Academy Trust. Its CEO, Jonathan Bishop, commented: “The EdTech Demonstrator School programme targets schools and colleges who are most in need of support; for example, those getting to grips with using a new online learning platform and those with the most disadvantaged learners. We are delighted that BCPS will be using its extensive knowledge and experience to help schools to build their own digital strategies and select their learning platforms. We will be supporting governors and trustees, advising on the procurement and set-up of digital devices, as well as providing training for teachers on the use of Edtech in their teaching, keeping children safe online, giving the best support to children with Special Education Needs and offering advice on wider curriculum opportunities.”

With the news that the Government has pledged to provide laptops and tablets for vulnerable and disadvantaged young people and to boost remote education across England during the closure of schools due to the Covid-19 lockdown, thousands of schools stand to benefit from the EdTech Demonstrator School initiative together with the Government’s ground-breaking partnership with the tech giants to gain access to education platforms.

Schools can register their interest in receiving support through the EdTech Demonstrator Programme online.