Nether Stowe students receive new iPads in Learning Futures project

Learning has been revolutionised for students and staff at Lichfield’s Nether Stowe School after hundreds of brand-new iPads were handed out as part of an ambitious project.

The school is the latest within the Arthur Terry Learning Partnership (ATLP) to take delivery of iPads as part of the Learning Futures scheme.

Learning Futures will ultimately see more than 10,000 ATLP pupils receive iPads, as well as all of the Trust’s 1,000-plus child-facing staff, to support their learning both at school and at home.

Students and teachers at the school in St Chad’s Road are finding the devices are already transforming their approach to education.

Assistant Headteacher Steve Peace said: “We have been working on this since last July, when we issued the devices to teachers first so they could begin to use them in lessons.

“Then, just before Christmas, we had a small student pilot, with some sixth-formers being given them. By the end of January, every single one of our students had an iPad.

“Each of our colleges got to receive their iPads on different mornings, which meant that excitement spread throughout the school over the space of a week. There was a real buzz around the building.

“The roll-out means that we are now what is referred to as a one-to-one school and all of our teachers are Apple Teacher-qualified as well, which is a huge help.”

Mr Peace said the iPads were already proving to be ‘transformative’ for the school. 

He said: “The children really value it as it personalises their learning. The devices provide access to resources and provide a dynamic and inclusive way of learning.

“Equity is really important with this. It means everybody has the same access to quality technology. It’s a level playing field for everybody.”

Students take the devices home each night and are responsible for looking after them and ensuring they are fully charged.

Mr Peace said: “We’re taking time to educate them in how to use their devices appropriately and prepare them to be responsible digital citizens.

“We are also working with parents to give them additional controls and support. Through our parental app, Jamf Parent, parents and carers will be able to set time limits, app restrictions and other features to support appropriate usage.

“It has been transformative, but to be honest we don’t know the full potential of this at the moment. They are amazing devices that can tap into the creativity of teenagers and give them the opportunity to prepare for living in the digital world.”

Staff are being given training on how to get the most out of the project, along with action plans to support children with special needs and those with English as an additional language.

Richard Anderton, ATLP’s Digital Transformation Lead, explained: “There are a multitude of ways that the children can use these devices but it’s also really important to remember the idea is not to replace writing and reading and books, it’s to form part of a wider learning experience.

“By the end of January, we will be around 50 per cent of the way through the transformation of ATLP’s schools.

“That means that more than 5,500 children will have their own devices as well as around 450 staff. The remaining 13 ATLP schools will get their iPads in September.

“The scheme will ensure that all Nether Stowe students have access to high-quality technology, to enhance opportunities and outcomes for all.”

ATLP’s other Lichfield schools – Greysbrooke, Scotch Orchard, St Chad’s and St Michael’s primaries and the soon-to-open Anna Seward Primary – are all set to benefit from Learning Futures.

Mr Anderton added: “The impact of COVID-19 and the need to learn from home really highlighted the difference between students who had access to technology and those who didn’t, so being able to provide children with iPads, without parents having to pay for them, became very important to ATLP.

“Learning Futures is a real game-changer that will reduce the digital divide between students and help them develop the skills they will all need growing up in a digital world.”

The Learning Futures project is being delivered at ATLP schools from reception through to sixth form. There will be one device shared between two in reception and pupils in years 1 to 13 will all receive one each. 

New cabling has been laid, wireless systems have been upgraded and internet speeds increased as part of a significant investment in information technology infrastructure across all schools to ensure equity for pupils and staff and enable continual access to 21^st century learning.

Main picture: The iPads have already transformed learning in the classroom.