Stirling Council has said that all of its secondary school pupils are being issued with Chromebooks.
It has made more than 6,200 of the devices available to young people and teachers over recent months as part of an investment in digital technology in education. By the end of this week all pupils in P7 will have a Chromebook and that all those in P5 and P6 should receive one during the current term.
In addition, the council has equipped every secondary school teacher with a laptop.
The move is part of a plan that has been accelerated since the beginning of the national lockdown, with funding from the Scottish Government’s Digital Inclusion Grant.
Councillor Susan McGill, convenor of Stirling Council’s children and young people committee, said: “The council’s continued investment in safe, reliable digital technology will enhance learning across our education settings for many years, ensuring our children and young people are able to succeed and achieve their potential.
“In the short term, crucially, it means our schools are fully prepared to negotiate the remainder of the pandemic, including the implementation of our contingency plans for a blended learning model should this be required by the Government.
“Securing the devices only tells part of the story, though, and it’s important to acknowledge all the training, specialised support and infrastructure work that has gone on behind the scenes to make this a reality – a huge well done to all involved.”
Young people in S2 and S3 in Stirling schools already had access to a Chromebook as part of a council initiative to supply the machines to all new S1 pupils in a rolling programme.
Stirling’s initiative reflects the increasing role of the devices in education, partly to support the increased need for home learning. Among the authorities to make a significant investment are Cardiff, which has said it will provide 10,000 Chromebooks for local pupils.
