Digital Glasgow Strategy helping schools and families during lockdown

Published: 8 March 2021

The Digital Glasgow Strategy has been key to helping schools, pupils and families during lockdown.

The Strategy, which was launched in November 2018, was developed through a partnership with public, private, academic and voluntary sectors, and was already bringing economic and social benefits to the city before the pandemic.

In the city's schools, 55,000 iPads have been delivered to school children, with over 4,200 Wi-Fi hotspots now installed, Apple TV allows teachers and pupils to project to digital screens and classrooms, and there has been a major upgrade to the digital and telecommunications infrastructure.

During the lockdown, the investment into the digital technology and services delivered through the Digital Glasgow Strategy have proved invaluable in the education of the city's school children.

Councillor Angus Millar, Chair of the Digital Glasgow Board, said: "The impact of the pandemic has been heavy for all of us, but the Digital Glasgow programme has allowed many people and organisations in the city to meet some of its challenges - not least our school children.  The supply of iPads and other digital infrastructure and services has allowed our school children and teachers to continue their education as close to normal as possible."

Jennifer, a pupil from Castlemilk High School, said: "I like the iPad as it allows me to have interactions with friends and teachers even though we aren't in school. They are very easy to use and a good resource for staying connected with my teachers and asking for help if I need it. Showbie is a good app for editing and uploading my work, and my teachers can also add annotations. The iPad is also a good way for me to keep track of my work and when it's due."

Lynn Gibson, Head Teacher of Castlemilk High School, said: "At Castlemilk High School we believe that 'Nothing but the best will do', and we are lucky to have all the benefits of the Connected Learning Programme.  With our 1:1 iPad roll out, we are, through the use of digital technology, providing the best learning experience for our young people.  The iPads have exceeded all of our expectations.  All staff and learners have fully embraced the use of iPads to support learning, teaching and wellbeing.  The iPads have enabled us to fully connect with young people and parents and, throughout this year of the pandemic, we have truly valued the access that we have to digital technology."

More information on the Digital Glasgow Strategy can be found at: https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=43572&p=0.