“Receiving the Digital Safety Award, ECCO Award, and re-validating our Digital School status underscores our commitment to embedding digital literacy throughout our curriculum. Mrs. Ashworth’s dedication has been instrumental in empowering our learners and staff to thrive in the evolving digital landscape.” Headteacher Matthew Hurding.
Whinhill Primary is the the first school in Inverclyde to receive a Digital Wellbeing award and a Digital Schools endorsement. The accolades recognise the pupils’ cyber resilience and internet safety and reflect the work they’ve put in over recent months to embrace new ways of learning. Ilona Dickson, P1 teacher and the school’s ICT co-ordinator said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded the Digital Wellbeing Award and Digital Schools Endorsement after our successful validation meeting. “Our staff and pupils have worked hard over the last few years on our journey to enhance our technologies curriculum, ensuring that we provide our pupils with the skills and knowledge that they need for learning, life and work. “We are very proud of our group of pupils that spoke very confidently to the validator about all the work and development that we have done.”
A North Ayrshire high school has become the first secondary in Scotland to receive a prestigious accolade for digital education. St Matthew’s Academy, Saltcoats, has achieved the Digital Schools Endorsement Award. The Digital Schools Awards (DSA) is a national awards scheme that promotes, recognises and encourages a whole-school approach to the use of digital technology. St Matthew’s has achieved the Endorsement Award in recognition of projects in the school. Headteacher Stephen Colligan said: “We are delighted to be the first secondary school in Scotland to achieve this and it is testament to the wonderful work being done across the whole school – by both teaching staff and the students themselves. “We know the importance of digital technology in education today and we are committed to preparing our pupils for further education, training and work by ensuring they have all the tools, knowledge and experience they need to thrive.”
PUPILS at two small Ross-shire primaries are blazing a trail with their use of digital technology that bodes well for the future workforce needs of the country. The Mulbuie and Ferintosh cluster has received the Digital Schools Award for its efforts embracing new ways of learning considered vital to keep pace with the rapidly changing demands of the workplace. Digital Schools Awards validator Dr Katharine Jewitt said the programme provides a “roadmap for schools” by providing a framework to integrate digital skills into the curriculum. The award is assessed against five criteria – leadership and vision; use of digital technology to deliver the curriculum; school culture; professional development and resources and infrastructure. She said: “Achieving the award helps to boost confidence and improve digital competencies in schools. A key challenge we face in Scottish schools is a decrease in learners taking computer science and digital. In Scotland, only 16 per cent taking computer science are girls, and there’s been a decline in educators.
SCHOOLS across Ayrshire are blazing a trail with their use of digital technology that bodes well for the future workforce needs of the country. Schools came together on October 23 for the South Ayrshire Learning Festival supported by HP, AMD, Digital Schools Awards and Clickview. The festival was held at Ayr Academy, and 57 schools received the Digital Schools Award for their efforts embracing new ways of learning. Dr Katharine Jewitt, Digital Schools Awards validator and keynote speaker at the event, said the programme provides a framework to integrate digital skills into the curriculum. The award is assessed against five criteria – leadership and vision, use of digital technology to deliver the curriculum, school culture, professional development and resources and infrastructure. She said: “Achieving the award helps to boost confidence and improve digital competencies in schools. “A key challenge we face in Scottish schools is a decrease in learners taking computer science and digital. “In Scotland, only 16 per cent taking computer science are girls, and there’s been a decline in educators. “The Digital Schools Awards provides a credible solution to addressing the national issues of digital skills shortages.”
SANQUHAR Primary is blazing a trail for the future workforce with its use of digital technology. The nursery’s commitment to embracing digital technology and inspiring youngsters has earned it a “Digital Learning Through Play in Early Learning and Childcare Award”. It follows in the footsteps of the school which received its Digital Schools Award in June 2024 – becoming the first nursery and school in the region to have both. Kelly Hubbard, early years practitioner digital lead, said it had benefited both staff and children. She said: “We’ve moved from doing all paperwork by hand to doing it digitally and it is so much faster and easier. Staff have become more confident using different programmes to support our children’s learning.” Colleague Levi Sharpe added: “Digital and technology is a massive part of life these days and everything seems to be moving towards digital. We’ve watched the children’s confidence grow from first being introduced to digital and not knowing how to use it to some of them even now showing their peers what to do, it’s been a really positive and successful experience.”Meanwhile, Digital Schools Awards validator Dr Katharine Jewitt praised their work, saying: “Sanquhar ELC and Primary School are inspiring examples of settings applying new ways of learning that motivate children and empower them to achieve more.“Sanquhar has showcased using three domains of knowledge – content, pedagogy and technological to set up learning that exploits technology to promote active, engaged and productive learning. We celebrate and support the work they do every day!”
Head teacher Stephanie Fisher expressed immense pride in the school’s achievement. “We are thrilled to receive the Digital Schools Award, which is a testament to the hard work of our dedicated staff and students. It’s not just about using technology for the sake of it; it’s about enhancing the educational experience and ensuring our students are equipped with the skills they need to thrive in an increasingly digital world.”
Deanston Primary is thrilled to achieve a triple digital milestone. “Receiving the Digital Safety Award, ECCO Award, and re-validating our Digital School status underscores our commitment to embedding digital literacy throughout our curriculum. Mrs. Ashworth’s dedication has been instrumental in empowering our learners and staff to thrive in the evolving digital landscape.” Matthew Hurding, Headteacher.
Catrine Early Childhood Centre has secured a first in Scotland, by earning their Digital Schools Award for Early Years. The Digital Schools Award is a national award scheme designed to promote, recognise and encourage a whole centre approach to the use of digital technology. Digital Schools Award Scotland presented the ECC with their award, praising the exceptional and sector-leading work, driven forward by Depute Manager Alana Speirs, STEM Champion Sherrie Devlin and Head Teacher Judith Govans. Councillor Elaine Cowan, Spokesperson for Education and Children and Young People, was joined at Catrine ECC by Councillors Douglas Reid, Maureen McKay, Linda Holland, Alyson Simmons, Claire Leitch and William Lennox, Chief Executive Eddie Fraser and Chief Education Officer and Head of Education, Linda McAulay-Griffiths to learn more about their Early Years Digital Schools journey. Sherrie gave a fascinating presentation and held a question and answer session. She spoke of the importance of promoting STEM throughout the ECC, supporting staff to use new technologies and about the way the children have embraced technology, increasing confidence and independence. A really interesting development was the use of QR Codes around the ECC. The staff create the QR Codes, then the children can use their chrome books or i-Pads to learn independently about topics that interest them, for example they are learning more about dinosaurs at the moment. Councillor Cowan said: “I found the visit to Catrine Early Childhood Centre fascinating. We learned so much about the role of technology and what can be achieved within our ECCs with knowledge and passion. I was very pleased to hear that the parents and carers have been very supportive of the developments and that they particularly enjoy the online Learning Journals. “I was so impressed by Sherrie and Alana’s presentation but that was nothing to actually joining the children for play and learning. I played shops, did some colouring in and some very enthusiastic children taught me how to make a short film, using a green screen background. It was incredible, their confidence and skill actually took me aback. I can’t congratulate Head Teacher Judith Govans and her whole team enough. The ECC is such a positive learning environment, as was highlighted by their recent inspection by the Care Inspectorate, where they scored ‘very good’ across all four categories; the children are happy, confident and officially the best in Scotland!” Head Teacher Judith Govans said: “I am incredibly proud of the whole team at Catrine Early Childhood Centre and particularly Alana Speirs, our Depute Manager, and Sherrie Devlin, our STEM Champion – together they have worked so hard to demonstrate our Early Years Digital journey and earn our award. “They have changed perceptions of technology for our staff and parents and carers, and have led the way in Scotland in this curricular area. Thanks to their effort, Digital Schools Award Scotland will now be developing a framework specifically for Early Childhood Centres. Moving forward, we are committed to continuing our Early Years Digital Schools journey and finding new ways to challenge and create positive learning opportunities for our children, for example the children have already started learning how to code. We are also committed to supporting colleagues who wish to work towards their own Early Years Digital Award.”
Roseburn Primary School are delighted with our Digital Schools Award, and so pleased to have our digital journey positively recognised. This has inspired us to continue to reflect, refine and progress our digital strategy. Our Award is now displayed on our achievement wall, and school website. Thank you.
