Online lessons missed

Hundreds of pupils in Stirling may have missed out on online learning over lockdown, according to new figures.

Stirling Council said this week it would “aspire”to provide a Chromebook for all secondary school pupils and pupils in upper primary school by the autumn term.

But Tory politicians are calling for guarantees that all pupils at Stirling’s schools will have access to online learning before schools return in August - and for comprehensive support to be in place to ensure pupils engage with the digital opportunities available.

Mid Scotland and Fife MSP, Dean Lockhart and Stirling councillor Ross Oxburgh asked the council how many pupils identified as being unable to access learning online.

In April around 590 primary pupils were unable to access digital learning from home nine per cent of the total primary pupil population of 6548 - and around 150 secondary pupils (2.5 per cent of the secondary pupil population of 5934). In June the figures were 513 primary pupils (7.8 per cent) and 159 secondary (2.6 per cent).

Mr Lockhart said:“the figures speak for themselves. There are hundreds of pupils across the Stirling area who have no or limited access to any online learning.”

Councillor Oxburgh added:“all parents and pupils need to hear a firm commitment that every pupil will have access to digital learning.”

The council said this week, however, it had invested in“state-of-the-art devices”to ensure it was prepared to action contingency plans for a blended learning model, with pupils attending school on some days and learning at home on others, should this be required by the Scottish Government.

All young people in S2 and S3 in Stirling schools already have access to a Chromebook as part of a council initiative to supply technology in a rolling programme, which has been in place since the start of 2018/19 session. The council investment has also been supplemented with the Scottish Government’s Digital Inclusion Grant.

The local authority will now aim to roll out additional Chromebooks to pupils from P6 to S6, but say with the“huge demand”for laptops from schools across the UK due to the pandemic, the devices may not all be available for the resumption of school on August 12.