April 30, 2020
The government is offering free access to the education technology platforms provided by tech giants Microsoft and Google in a bid to support parents with home learning
The UK Department for Education (DfE) has announced that it intends to provide technical support to help schools use the education technology platforms provided by Microsoft and Google. This announcement follows the launch of a laptop initiative available for disadvantaged children and the introduction of BBC Bitesize resources and the Oak National Academy Project. Through a partnership with research firm The Key, the training program will consist of online resources, webinars and peer to peer support between schools.
RECOMMENDED: https://global-edtech.com/category/uk/
In a related announcement, the government unveiled the list of successful applicants from the first round of its EdTech Demonstrators programme. These schools have been awarded between £70,000 and £150,000 and are now available to provide EdTech support to other schools. A second round of applications has been opened.
List of successful applicants
- Balcarras School with National Star College
- Basingstoke College of Technology
- Beauchamp College
- Broadclyst Community Primary School
- Cheam Common Junior Academy with members of LEO Academy Trust
- Coupals Primary Academy with Thomas Gainsborough Secondary School (Unity Schools Partnership and Unity Research School)
- Danesfield School
- Darlington College
- Hambleton Primary Academy with Ribblesdale High School and Highfurlong School
- Heronsgate Primary School
- Kibworth Church of England Primary School
- King Ecgbert School with Notre Dame High School
- Lea Forest Primary Academy (Academies Enterprise Trust)
- Mount Hawke Academy, Aspire Academy Trust
- Sandringham School
- Shacklewell Primary School with Grazebrook Primary School and Woodberry Down Primary School
- Skipton Girls’ High School
- St Albans Catholic Primary with Bishop Challoner Catholic College
- St John the Baptist Catholic Comprehensive School
- Warden Park Secondary Academy (Sussex Learning Trust) with Warden Park Primary Academy and Northlands Wood Primary Academy
“ Through close partnership with the education sector and two of the world’s biggest tech companies, we are working to ensure that children can continue their studies while they are at home…Laptops and tablets for vulnerable and disadvantaged pupils are on their way and will begin being distributed in weeks, enabling those most in need to access online resources… ” Nick Gibb, Schools Minister
Two additional online learning platforms have been publicised by the DfE:
The Skills Toolkit
This platform provides free access to courses provided by various third parties to help adults and older students develop literacy and numeracy skills and workplace skills.
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/find-a-course/the-skills-toolkit
The LendED website
Free EdTech resources from over 200 companies have been publicised on a new website developed by BESA with support from the DfE. Notable free resources include those developed by Cambridge Assessment International Education, Oxford University Press, Pearson, Twinkl and many others.
The LendED website can be accessed here: https://www.lended.org.uk/
