Staff at St Paul's RC Academy are clear about the benefits of removing curriculum costs and providing resources for home learning. They say that this means young people are more able to study the subjects they want to, and are good at.
“All curriculum costs are met and resources for learning at home are provided for all pupils. The PEF money has been important. We have been able to remove all costs for subjects that had previously resulted in costs for children and young people who wanted to study those, particularly Home Economics, Art and Technology subjects. Some children and young people had previously avoided studying these subjects because of the costs, even where they were good at and were enjoying those subjects. We had previously allowed departments to fund children who could not afford to study these subjects but children did not always want to ask for financial support. Now with the complete removal of all costs this means that all subjects are free to study. This has allowed us to be more equitable and to be more inclusive.”
St Paul's Academy also supplied devices for all pupils to take home. Access to devices has impacted positively on the quality of work submitted:
“All pupils were offered a device for home learning. Over 340 laptops are now with pupils at home. Many of these included access to Wifi and support for pupils and parents in using these at home. The pupils will keep these laptops for home learning, homework, and on occasion bring them in to school to continue study. These are proving extremely useful now for improving the standard and quality of homework returned and in accessing home learning during periods of absence.”
It was Covid-19 that highlighted the digital divide, and like many other establishments the Rainbow Family Centre helped families to connect by providing both devices and Wifi. Initial funding for this came from the Scottish government, and then Cash for Kids stepped in. Family Support Worker Catherine McIntyre describes how The Rainbow Centre is able to tap into various sources like this.
“We’re very fortunate with what we’ve established over the years with our connections. So we’ve had phone calls from organisations to say, ‘we have this, can you make use of it’ and usually we can.”
The work carries on and as Catherine points out, digital connection is still particularly important.
“You’re included at the end of the day, you’re not any different to a family who can afford devices and Wifi. It’s just to be included and what most people take for granted.”
Having access to devices has often been really positive for the whole family. Parents said:
“I was unsure how to use a laptop but getting one helped me learn and now I'm quite good with it."
“I couldn't afford to buy a laptop so my kids would have missed out.”
Netherburn Primary has put an ICT lending scheme in place, allowing children and their families to borrow devices like iPads, Kindles and Chromebooks to use at home. Head teacher Rachel Baxter explained why:
"We had much more technology within the classroom and it's about allowing the children to access some of the ICT they were using within the school, outwith school. So for example RM Easimaths, games that the children enjoy within school, and sometimes don’t always realise that they are learning. However it allows the children to beat those scores, practice times tables etcetera at home."
It's not just about being able to do homework, as Rachel says that pupils can become more familiar with how the technology works. At home some children have access to iPads and family laptops, but they might not have tried using a Kindle for example. Having access to this device has actually encouraged some children to sit down and read. One parent said that:
"They can borrow books, but that’s not something that my boy would be interested in, because he would take the book but he wouldn’t read it. But with the QR scans, I don’t know if he feels that it’s a different experience but it works for him. We’ve just continued with what they’ve done here at school and relax we together and read on the device."
The scheme has been promoted at parent's nights, inductions and other events that parents will be at. The school asks families to fill out a short form requesting a device, to be able to monitor uptake and make sure everyone gets a chance to borrow devices. So far the scheme has been really popular and there's been good uptake, so what do Netherburn pupils think of it? It seems that they're enthusiastic about the chance to learn more. Brannon said that:
“You can like learn more things because when you get the Chrome Book at school you’re always doing stuff on it and you don’t really have time to learn about it.”
Leona thought that it's an essential part of learning:
"I think it’s good for technology cause because it’s a part of your learning and I think you just need to know it."
The schools is very committed to equity, and this scheme fits really well with that. As Rachel explains:
"I think it’s very much for our children, for our families to feel included and part of the school. We don’t want additional pressures for families, we don’t want additional pressures for children. Where you know you’re setting some sort of home link task or you’re discussing something you could access at home, but actually they can’t do that. So it’s just about being very inclusive and ensuring that anything we’re offering , that we can back it up and support families."
Young people on the Voice project made this film to show the findings of the Big Question, this clip is all about what makes them feel ready to learn.
