Impact

At Elms School, we use the Y7 catch-up funding towards the cost of providing a laptop for each pupil, to be used while they are attending the school. 

The use of a laptop helps to prepare our pupils for the future technology driven world of college and work. It helps to teach them safe, respectful use of hardware and appropriate use of software and the world wide web.  Due to their financial disadvantage, few of our pupils have access to their own IT equipment at home and we feel it is important that they have access to their own equipment to use at school.  All adults need to develop IT skills in order to meet the demands of the modern workplace and to meet their personal needs. 

 Many of our pupils have difficulties with literacy and writing is something they find particularly difficult.  Providing a laptop means that they can write without being hampered by their difficulties with handwriting, with spell checkers available within word processing programmes.   Pupils are able to produce more writing than if it is handwritten, thus enabling better progress.  Using laptops enhances their learning experienced by having access to the Internet for research, other educational programmes. 

Although progress in maths is still higher than progress in English, the majority of pupils are making good progress in both maths and English.  it is impossible to quantify how much of this progress is due to access to a laptop, but the figures as at March 2020 for the current Years 8 – 11 are:

	Maths	English
On track to reach or exceeding target	77%	68%
Within range of (1 point below) target	15%	8%
Below target	8%	24%

 

 

Financial Year

2016 - 2017

The £14369 has been spent on laptops, laptop trolleys and the associated licenses and equipment.          

2017 - 2018

2018 - 2019

2019 - 2020

2020 - 2021