Agenda item

     I.        The Education Digital Strategy was approved in its entirety.

    II.        It was agreed to joint-fund up to half the cost of renewing the devices by committing £2 million from Council balances, with an expectation for schools to pay the other half.

  III.        It was agreed that Gwynedd schools will receive technical support from the Authority's Information Technology service from April 2022 onwards

  IV.        It was agreed to fund £145,000 in order to offer technical support up to April 2022, in order to speed-up the timetable of delivering the devices to schools.

The report was submitted by Cllr Cemlyn Williams.  

DECISION

                    I.            The Education Digital Strategy was approved in its entirety.

                 II.            It was agreed to joint-fund up to half the cost of renewing the devices by committing £2 million from Council balances, with an expectation for schools to pay the other half.

              III.            It was agreed that Gwynedd schools will receive technical support from the Authority's Information Technology service from April 2022 onwards.

              IV.            It was agreed to fund £145,000 in order to offer technical support up to April 2022, in order to speed-up the timetable of delivering the devices to schools.

DISCUSSION

The report was submitted and the pleasure of being able to submit this innovative strategy was noted. It was stressed that this had been a cross-departmental scheme between the Education Department and Information Technology and appreciation of the close collaboration that had occurred to create the Strategy was noted. It was noted that the purpose of the Strategy was to use the best digital provision to support pupils and school staff to ensure consistent opportunities across the county. It was explained that this proposal highlighted the ambition that existed to use information technology to improve education and escalate the use to all parts of the curriculum.

The Head of Education Department added that the pandemic had highlighted the need to ensure that pupils could use technology confidently. It was stressed that the work on the strategy had started prior to the lockdown but that the pandemic had pushed the scheme forward.

The Dwyfor / Meirion Area Education Officer guided the members through the report and noted that digital skills were now at the same level as literacy and numeracy and therefore there was a need to ensure that pupils had the required digital skills. It was explained that Welsh Government had provided funds to improve the provision and had placed the responsibility on the local authorities to lead and the work of ensuring collaboration between the schools.

It was explained that, currently, many devices were dated and schools were using a variety of different systems. It was noted that the strategy would ensure consistency across schools. It was emphasised that lockdown had highlighted the lack of suitable devices and that it was striking how many households that did not have suitable devices. It was noted that almost 2000 devices had been shared during lockdown but that there had been a need to share more because many families were sharing devices rather than having one for each pupil. It was noted that the strategy ensured that every pupil and teacher had a device, and that they would be chosen in accordance with the age of the pupils and would be set to Welsh across the county.

Attention was drawn to the costs and renewing these as several thousand devices were on the way to the pupils with a lifespan of approximately five years. It was explained that £3.9million would be needed to renew them. It was stressed that the devices would need to be maintained effectively in order to ensure that not one pupil would miss education. The current procedure to support pupils was highlighted and it was noted that, in the short-term, the support would be drawn in to the Council's information technology service while the department ensures the long-term support system.

Observations arising from the discussion:

¾     It was noted that the scheme was an ambitious one and gave opportunities and the best and most consistent experiences across the county. It was noted that they would work extremely well in the schools but it was asked what support would be available for individuals without internet connection. It was explained that the pandemic had highlighted problems but that schools had assisted by providing internet boxes from the schools but some continued to have problems because some houses did not have a phone signal. In order to respond to this, the department would look at every possible option and schools would be available to apply for grants.

¾     After the five-year period, the devices would be upgraded and therefore it was asked how the devices would be recycled or could they be reused. In terms of the devices, specifically at the end of secondary school, an offer would be made for the pupils to keep their devices at the end of the five-year period, but it was explained that other devices would be recycled in Britain.

¾     In terms of equality, it was noted that consideration would need to be given to the pupils that were placed out of county. Discussions were held to ensure that these children, together with children with profound disabilities, would be a part of the scheme.

¾     Attention was also drawn to pupils that are home-educated as there was an increase in these numbers as a result of the pandemic. It was explained that support was available for those families through the welfare team.

¾     The financial context was provided and it was stressed that the Council had received grant funding but that renewal costs would have to be funded. It was noted that, subject to schools funding half the costs, £2million would need to be committed from the Council's balances to renew the devices in five years' time.