Digital accolades for 10 Courier Country schools

EDUCATION: Recognition for inclusion of technology in curriculum

A total of 10 primaries in Tayside and Fife have become Digital Schools.

They are among 35 primaries and three high schools which have been officially recognised for their excellence in digital teaching and learning.

Inverbrothock (Arbroath), Seaview (Monifieth), Craigiebarns, Fintry (both Dundee), Blairhall (west Fife), St Marie’s, Torbain (both Kirkcaldy), Tulliallan (Kincardine), Milnathort and Portmoak (both Kinross-shire) join 43 primary schools awarded Digital School accreditation last year.

Launched in 2016, the programme was developed to support and recognise schools in their efforts to integrate digital technology across the curriculum.

Free to all schools, it offers resources to schools which aim to do more with technology in their classrooms.

Industry partners HP, Microsoft and Intel operate the programme and are providing £600,000 over five years.

It is run in partnership with Education Scotland and Skills Development Scotland and is supported by the Department of Education and Lifelong Learning.

A quarter of Scottish schools have already registered to take part.

Science Minister Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “It is encouraging to see so many schools embracing digital and supporting teacher professional learning to enrich their pupils’ education.”

“With digital technology making a significant contribution to jobs and economic growth, Scotland must ensure young people are prepared with the skills needed.

“That was why the Stem – science, technology, engineering and maths – strategy included a commitment to support digital skills development in early learning settings and primary schools,” she said.

That was vital, according to George Brasher, the UK managing director of HP.

Careers are increasingly found in sectors like robotics, programming and engineering.

But with recent reports showing employers were struggling to fill 43% of Stem-related jobs, he said that showed the UK was “clearly unprepared”.

“HP believes it has a responsibility to partner with industry leaders and help close this skills gap.

“Programmes such as the Digital Schools Award do just this – reinventing how schools teach Stem skills, better equipping the next generation for the digital economy,” he added.

“Scotland must ensure young people are prepared with the skills needed.

SHIRLEY-ANNE SOMERVILLE MSP

Picture: Stewart Attwood. Tech-savvy Tulliallan Primary School pupils, from left: Donnie Johnstone, Josh Duffin, Sophie Kennedy, Lilly Stewart and Taylor Diazmac.