Impact of The EdTech hubs Programme
Senior Leaders from the East of England describe the programme's impact as they transition from
support recipients into lead schools offering their support for others.
What impact did the East of England Digital Discovery Day have?
'I've been completely blown away, inspired and motivated by the impact that Edtech has had on the children at Lawford Primary School. I want to go home and write my long-term action plan. And what's really surprised me is the simplicity of some of the ideas, and how achievable some of them could be in a short term. But I want to go away and share it with my members of staff. So I'll definitely be booking my members of staff for the November EdTech event. I want to share it with everybody because I think this is the way forward. It's a way to inspire, and motivate children in the learning, and make learning accessible for all. I think the children have been the highlight, the way they've spoken with such confidence and enthusiasm about their learning. It's really clear the impact it's had on them.
Gemma Chester, Headteacher
Dedham Primary School - Colchester, Essex
What are the benefits of visiting other schools in the programme?
'Any time you can spend chatting with other educators about how they use technology in the classroom is incredibly valuable. It's always great to hear what other people are doing, whatever their context. The EdTech Hubs programme gives you the opportunity to speak to people from all walks of education, whether it's primary, secondary, state or independent, special schools; you can learn so many valuable lessons from them and what they're doing that you can then take back and share with other people at your own school.'
Mark Vickers, Head of Digital Learning & Teacher of Media
Royal Hospital School - Holbrook, Suffolk
What are the benefits of study tour events?
'The EdTech programme is really important to meet other like minded professionals and talk about their journeys, their challenges and just learning from mistakes as well as successes. I think you can always gain little bits of information and useful points from anyone that you speak to, regardless of whether they're in primary or secondary or special school. There are always little tidbits of information that you can take back and learn from each other'
Natasha Warren - Deputy Headteacher
Exning Primary School, Newmarket
What are the benefits of visiting lead schools with other staff members with you from your own school?
'You need to go and see it in action and have that opportunity to talk to children, talk to staff, see how its technology is embedded into the school, is hugely valuable and it is time well spent.
I think it has the most impact if you can go either with a curriculum lead or another member of SLT that has the biggest impact because you can reflect upon what you've seen, and then you've got that open dialogue to go back to school. And certainly, where that's been the case, and I've gone with another member of staff, we've been able to have that professional dialogue back at school, and been able to move things on more quickly than had I have perhaps been just gone on my own'
Katie Usher - Deputy Headteacher
Lawford C of E Primary School - Manningtree, North Essex
