St Colman’s help students homeschool with iPads

St Colman’s help students homeschool with iPads

10 February 2021

ST Colman’s High School and Sixth Form College in Ballynahinch has risen to the challenge of teaching children remotely through the pandemic.

By ensuring each student in Year 7 to Year 12 had their own iPad, supported by a subsidised parent purchase scheme, pupils have continued with their education at home during the school closures since March last year.

The teaching staff had to adapt quickly to a variety of changes in education – from the closure of school and remote learning, to teaching in bubbles and back to remote learning again.

The school, which has over 500 pupils, has been able to react to the challenges presented by the Covid-19 virus due investing in the integration of iPad technology as an educational tool since 2013.

Through careful management of its school budget and fully supported by parent contributions, St Colman’s has spearheaded driving digital learning.

A ‘bring your own device’ policy, supported by a subsidised parent purchase scheme, has helped sixth form students in continuing with their digital learning.

Mrs Jennifer King, vice-principal, said: “The overall rationale for our 1:1 iPad for Learning initiative, which earned us our prestigious NAACE ICT mark, was always to improve the life chances of all pupils by offering them personal access to innovative learning materials beyond the classroom, and for them to be creative and best prepared to excel in the job market of the future.

“Over seven years’ experience using this technology has put our teachers and pupils ahead of many other schools for Remote Learning.”

With the integration of ICT embedded in the school development plan, facilitation of staff professional development and experience from the initial lockdown, teaching staff competently and confidently provided a smooth transition for all Year 8 to Post 16 students when remote learning returned in January 2021.

The principal, Mr Mark Morgan, said: “Whilst there is no replacement for the interaction that comes from being physically in lessons, St Colman’s High and Sixth Form College educators have embraced the value of live lessons and communication with pupils via e-learning platforms.

“A cohesively structured remote learning timetable has been hugely beneficial in facilitating scheduled subject sessions throughout the school day, with the pupil iPad ensuring that there are no clashes in device needs for families who may have several children with us.

“This coupled, with the use of clear communication links via our school website, parent app and social media platforms, means we have successfully maintained the strong working relationship between students, teachers and parents and guardians.”

The teaching staff have placed an emphasis on live teaching as they believe that it helps to benefit the whole child both academically and pastorally whilst taking some strain away from parents and guardians.

A recent survey found that 93% of parent and guardians were very satisfied with the collaboration with the school during this period of remote learning, and 88% of parent and guardians were very satisfied with the school’s remote learning arrangements.

One parent commented: “I fully understand that remote learning has been difficult to adapt to and I want to thank each and every teacher at St Colman’s for all of their hard work and dedication throughout this pandemic.”

The school believes that engagement and participation with remote learning is important, but motivation with aid of additional support is key.

The considerable investment in ICT in St Colman’s has enhanced home-links as teaching assistants have also continued to build a rapport and practically support individual pupils daily.

Whilst a recent survey found that 40% of students have felt lonely and 60% of students have felt anxious or stressed in the past few weeks, 93% of these students are happy with the support that they have received from St Colman’s.

A Year 12 pupil said: “Personally, I don’t think the school could do any better. The school has provided a lot of help during this time and I am grateful.”

E-learning platforms such as Google Classroom and Zoom, have presented opportunities for all students to have conversations with their pastoral group during Form Time and year group Assemblies, discuss their learning via break out rooms and share their ideas through virtual interactions.

Pupils have also participated in whole school daily challenges, fitness activities and involvement with external agencies has continued to minimise disruption to their education whilst supporting positive mental health.

Funding secured through the Department of Education’s Engage programme has allowed for two extra teachers to offer additional online lessons to support pupils in Maths & English and also pastorally, building on self-esteem and tackling loneliness and stress. Careers lessons and workshops are also continuing to help pupils continue to plan for their future in these uncertain times.

A parent said of the new way of learning: “Live lessons, one-to-one with teachers and teacher support is a success. Teachers are always available to help with questions and feedback on work which is submitted. St Colman’s staff have been great – it has eased pressure off of me.”

The school’s digital learning manager, Mr Cathal Rice, said: “St Colman’s High and Sixth Form College has invested heavily over the last eight years to bridge the digital divide being experienced by students, prioritising the purchase of iPad technology for all students in Year 8 to Year 12, and meaning that they all have these at home with them during the period of remote learning.”

“However, Northern Ireland’s patchy broadband infrastructure is having a negative impact on remote teaching as we remain closed due to Covid-19 restrictions.”

“According to Ofcom’s most recent Connected Nations report, the average download speed delivered to Northern Ireland homes is 55Mbps.

Our recent survey of Year 10 students’ broadband speeds found 68% of our students’ homes have a download speed under the Northern Ireland average. Our own average amongst these students was 41Mbps, but we still have 27% of students working with speeds less than 30Mbps with one student trying to follow their online video lessons on a 2.79Mbps download speed.”

He added: “We hope that these issues could be significantly improved by the Department for the Economy’s Project Stratum scheme, which could do with some of Stormont’s £300 million underspend invested in improving connectivity to homes still unable to access broadband services of 30Mbps or higher.”