Thousands of schools to receive technical support to start using Google and Microsoft’s education platforms
Thousands of schools will benefit from a ground-breaking partnership with tech giants to gain access to education platforms.
Expert technical support to access Google and Microsoft’s education platforms, along with free training on how to use the resources most effectively, will be available for schools immediately. This will include online resources, support getting set up, webinars and peer to peer support between schools.
This follows the Government’s pledge to provide laptops and tablets for vulnerable and disadvantaged young people across England.
The Government has committed over £100 million to boost remote education, including by providing devices and internet access for those who need it most, ensuring every school that wants it has access to free, expert technical support to get set up on Google for Education or Microsoft’s Office 365 Education, and offering peer support from schools and colleges leading the way with the use of education technology.
Today (24 April), the Government has written to local authorities, trusts and other relevant organisations overseeing schools and children’s social care outlining the process for ordering the devices. The Government has already placed a bulk order and organisations will be able to register to receive their allocation from today, while institutions that administer the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund will be able to apply for a top-up.
Schools Minister Nick Gibb said:
To further support schools and colleges in delivering the best possible remote education, twenty institutions with outstanding technology practices have been awarded between £70,000 and £150,000 through the EdTech Demonstrators programme.
The programme was announced last year to boost peer-to-peer support on the effective use of technology and has now been tailored to help schools and colleges provide education remotely. The reach of this programme will be expanded over the coming weeks, and schools and colleges can register their interest in receiving support from today.
Guidance for schools on choosing the right education platform to meet their needs will be hosted by The Key, including best practice case studies and myth-busting. The guidance will walk schools through the key assets of both Google and Microsoft’s platforms and provide an option to register for Government-funded expert support in getting these platforms set up.
Liz Sproat, Head of Education, Google EMEA:
Cindy Rose, CEO Microsoft UK, said: