No child left behind in plans to narrow the digital divide in education

Schools across the country are being supported by the government to close the digital divide in classrooms with a £45 million investment to improve connectivity and further plans to make digital standards a requirement for all schools.  

The boost for schools will mean no learner is left behind in a modernised education system – as the government delivers on its Plan for Change to break the link between children's background and their success.

In classrooms, effective use of technology is proven to boost pupil performance, improve outcomes for children with additional needs and help students develop digital skills needed for modern life. But some children are at risk of being left behind, with too many schools still lacking strong digital foundations – good connectivity, digital security and professional confidence. 

Research by the Education Endowment Foundation found effective use of tech can accelerate learning and we know that reliable, fast and secure internet in the classroom is essential before schools can consider fully incorporating technology into their lessons. But the 2023 Technology in Schools Survey found just 63% of schools reported having a fully functional Wi-Fi signal throughout the school.

A consultation launched today will gather views on a long-term ambition for all schools and colleges to meet six core digital standards by 2030, which cover the foundations of good tech – ensuring essential technology infrastructure and connectivity, digital security and leadership.  

To back schools to deliver this, the government is investing £45 million to boost school infrastructure, including £25 million to upgrade wireless networks this year – helping get classrooms online and boosting standards where it is most needed. It's the latest phase of funding for the programme that has so far improved connectivity for more than 1.3 million pupils in 3,700 schools. That's on top of £20 million to complete delivery of fibre upgrades to 833 schools.  

It follows the government's wide-reaching Digital Inclusion Action Plan which will give the most digitally-excluded groups the confidence and skills to benefit from digitisation – a key driver of growth under the Plan for Change.  

Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said: 

“We are modernising our education system with a digital revolution in classrooms - improving children's life chances through higher standards of teaching and learning. 

“I won't tolerate a system where some children benefit from innovation whilst others are left disconnected, and I am determined to level the playing field. That means secure and accessible technology for every school and the right support for teachers and leaders to help us break the link between background and success as we deliver on our Plan for Change.” 

The core standards schools outlined in the consultation are: 

• Broadband internet  
• Wireless networks  
• Network switches  
• Digital leadership and governance  
• Filtering and monitoring 
• Cyber security  

These make up part of the eleven digital and technology standards, published by the Department from 2022, to support schools and colleges to use the right digital infrastructure and technology. But despite 72% of school IT leads being aware of the standards, only 16% reported meeting them.  

The consultation, which is open for eight weeks, puts educators at the heart of decision making by inviting those working in and supporting the education sector to share their views on the proposals - including their readiness to meet the six standards and additional support they might need.  

For pupils at New Bridge Multi Academy Trust, a SEND Trust in Oldham and Tameside, improved connectivity through £250,000 Connect the Classroom investment has empowered them to foster independence by using technology to remove barriers to learning.  

The school has an Assistive Technology Coordinator who is using 3D printing technology to adapt access methods for individuals, and to produce completely new pieces of hardware. Examples include custom-printed joysticks and personalised switches to navigate their iPad and support their learning and communication. 

Richard Bright, Executive Advisor for Technology across New Bridge Multi Academy Trust, said:  

“Our vision is to use tech that is meaningful for every individual and support them to achieve their aspirational destination – whether they are undertaking qualifications and have aspirations of independence, or whether they have complex cognitive, physical or sensory needs and their destination is to be involved in their communities. Technology transforms our ability to personalise our approach, meet learners where they are, break down any barriers and provide access to the curriculum, communication and leisure." 

“Tech gives our young people a voice, and through reliable connectivity we can consistently give them that voice. Tech supports improved attainment and benefits attendance, behaviour and wellbeing.”   

These announcements support the government's mission to grow the economy and raise living standards for working people. In addition to this work with schools and colleges, the government is committed to ensuring that everyone has access, skills, support, and confidence to engage in our modern digital society and economy.  

Note to editors: 

• Research shows that effective use of technology drives pupil performance. The Education Endowment Foundation found that when used effectively, digital technology can accelerate learning by two to five months. Separately, the Department for Education's Technology in Schools Survey shows over two thirds of school leaders reported that pupil attainment has been bolstered by use of technology in education. 
• The Department's aim is that every school should have the right infrastructure to allow them to make the most of modern digital technology, including generative AI, for their students. The current approach to helping schools with their technology focuses around:   

o    Setting standards and providing support  

o    Targeted investment on connectivity   

• Our digital and technology standards for schools and colleges, Plan Technology For Your School tool and accompanying support services have been co-designed in partnership with IT network managers, teachers, leaders, cyber security experts and technology suppliers, to tackle the barriers to progress together.
• When used effectively, technology can reduce workload, increase inclusivity and support students to develop digital skills needed for opportunity and growth. Too many schools still that lack the digital infrastructure to embed basic technology use. We must go further and set milestones to tackle this digital divide, so that everyone in schools has access to the benefits of technology, including new opportunities offered by AI. 
• We are launching our strategy and public consultation for narrowing the digital divide in schools and colleges by 2030. We are asking for the views and expertise of the education sector to tackle this problem together. The consultation is open for 8 weeks.   https://consult.education.gov.uk/reliable-and-safe-technology/narrowing-the-digital-divide-in-schools/
• We understand that the digital divide exists beyond the gates of a school and college, so we are working with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) on their ambitious national plans for digital inclusion. 

Case study – South Wirral High on improving connectivity

Connect the Classroom has had a huge impact on South Wirral High School. Before the installation, our Wi-Fi was unreliable, which negatively impacted teaching and learning. Teachers were often frustrated, and it was challenging to use digital resources effectively. Our IT team was often troubleshooting, leaving little room for strategic planning.

Since the installation in January 2024, the transformation has been remarkable. We now have reliable Wi-Fi coverage throughout the school, including every classroom, staff rooms and faculty offices. As a result, staff are now able to access resources and do their lesson planning anywhere in the school and technology can be embedded into any lesson.

External access points provide connectivity in the playground and sports field. This has been brilliant for increasing the use of technology in PE lessons and has enabled us to change our morning registration process. This has been a big-time saver in the morning, supporting punctuality and allowing heads of year to give announcements to the full year group in one place.

For our pupils with SEND, the new Wi-Fi has been a game-changer. They have greater independence as they can utilise accessibility software and complete tasks digitally in all classrooms. These students can also print their work via their device, again increasing independence and allowing teaching assistants to spend more time supporting the students' learning. 

To support our school budget, we rent out parts of the school site in the evenings and holidays. Since the Connect the Classroom upgrades, guest access to Wi-Fi has been greatly simplified and we can provide secure, time-limited access as part of our rental package.

Reliable wi-fi supports the smooth running of our school and improves the overall learning experience for our students as we explore new ways to use technology in our school.