Council aims to provide computers for all secondary pupils in Flintshire to improve digital access

Flintshire Council is aiming to provide computers for all secondary-age pupils in a bid to improve digital access. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Since 2019, thousands of items of equipment have been allocated to schools across Flintshire, including laptops, desktop PCs, iPads and Chromebooks, in a bid to enhance digital learning. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

It follows £4m being made available to the local authority as part of the Hwb programme – a countrywide initiative by the Welsh Government to invest in the IT infrastructure of schools. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Officials have now set out their ambition to ensure every secondary school pupil in the county has their own device, as well as younger children in years 5 to 6. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

They are also hoping to achieve a ratio of one device between two pupils for years 3 and 4 and one between three in the foundation phase. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Overall, it’s estimated that a further 6,225 computers will need to be bought to reach the council’s goal. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

In a report to councillors, Claire Homard, the authority’s chief officer for education, said the Covid-19 pandemic had added an extra layer of urgency to the roll out following the closure of schools and move to online learning. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

She said: “The programme provides consistent access to a range of infrastructure, tools and resources to transform digital classroom practices. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Equipment is allocated through a fair formula across Wales to support schools to meet the aims of ‘Our National Mission’, the roadmap set out by Welsh Government, which includes a strong focus on digital learning. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“During the lockdown period schools and the council responded swiftly to concerns about digital disadvantage. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Any learners without access to a device were identified and all additional resources from council stock and agreed donations were delegated towards those pupils, a total of 340 devices.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

She added: “The Covid-19 pandemic has also added to the complexity, urgency and focus for some of the work. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Schedules were impacted by; the inability to be able to access face to face training for the new technology, supply chain issues with technology providers and ensuring safe methods of work for colleagues.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

In addition to the Hwb programme, the Welsh Government has also funded the procurement of an extra 50,000 Chromebooks for students. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Flintshire will be receiving 2,682 of the devices later this spring, with a further £750,000 being made available to invest under the latest phase of the Hwb scheme. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Mrs Homard said: “We have undertaken significant consultation with schools to complete a gap analysis which looks at the devices a school currently has, number of pupils on roll and aspirations around device ratios for pupils in Flintshire schools. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The aspirational device ratio for schools has been set following discussions with headteachers and learning leads. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“We are awaiting the release of the latest version of the national catalogue before we can fully model these requirements but estimate that by using an average cost of £350 per device against the latest HWB funding we will be able to purchase approximately 2,101 devices.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The report will be considered by members of the council’s education and youth scrutiny committee at a meeting being held tomorrow (Thursday, 18 March). ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Liam Randall – Local Democracy Reporter (more here). ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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