Claire Willis, principal of Murrayfield Primary in Ipswich
- Credit: Paradigm Trust
A school in Ipswich has given computers to two out of every five of its pupils - allowing it to make a dramatic shift to holding 75% of its lessons live online.
Murrayfield Primary had not been able to run live video lessons when the coronavirus crisis broke last March, with principal Claire Willis saying: One of the significant challenges we faced in the first lockdown was the digital divide.
Murrayfield Primary pupils now take part in live lessons online every day
- Credit: Paradigm Trust
While many young people have laptops and tablets to enable them to learn effectively at home, others have been forced to share devices with parents and siblings or have been stuck with using mobile phones - hence the term digital divide .
Details of the laptop donation scheme are expected to be unveiled next week.
Schools have also been undertaking Herculean efforts to ensure their pupils have the necessary equipment, which has continued since the first lockdown in March 2020.
Chantry Academy principal Craig D Cunha said a programme for all students to have laptops by Easter was underway
- Credit: Archant
Craig D’Cunha, Chantry Academy principal, said the school identified pupils who did not have access to computers during the first lockdown to provide them with the necessary kit.
It is also rolling out a programme of purchasing a device for every single pupil – around 900 in total – which they will be able to use both in lessons and at home for learning and homework.