Inverness primary school's tech wizards are top of the class
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Pupils from Muirtown Primary have shared their experiences with digital innovation in learning and teaching with Highland councillors.
The Inverness school was a silver winner at the Pearson National Teaching Awards in recognition of their digital work.
Head teacher Janice MacRae said: “The last four years has seen a transformation in the ways in which we have utilised digital technology with Muirtown Primary School.
“The allocation of Chromebooks, along with the unprecedented lockdown in 2020, provided us with the means and impetus to broaden our digital skills as a school, in order to provide a rounded and meaningful home learning experience for our pupils, in exceptional and often turbulent circumstances.
“Not only did staff dedicate time to undertaking an intensive programme of online training sessions throughout the lockdown period, but we also sought to use digital technology to streamline administrative processes so that pupils could participate in the life and culture of the school, even from a distance.”
One of the ways the school utilised digital tools to maintain the sense of community at school during lockdown was by encouraging pupils to share their out-of-school achievements through submitting a digital form with videos and photos. These achievements were then shown and celebrated by all at virtual assemblies.
The school’s annual Muirtown’s Got Talent Competition also made the move to digital during this time as pupils again submitted their entries and then voted for their favourite act.
This digital initiative was recently recognised by Google during its World Teacher’s Day announcement.
Miss MacRae added: “We quickly recognised the potential of this means of data collection and have used Google Forms as means of parental engagement, staff feedback and pupil voice throughout the lockdown period and beyond.
“In the absence of shows and concerts, Muirtown Primary endeavoured to provide entertainment using digital platforms.
“This provided a sense of community, particularly for pupils and classes who were isolating intermittently throughout the term.”
Highland Council’s education committee chairman John Finlayson said: “Muirtown Primary School is a great example of the potential that digital innovation has to enhance learning and teaching in schools when used creatively.
“The embedding of digital technology into the classroom has been particularly beneficial for all children and young people, and in particular ASN [additional support needs] pupils. I would like to thank the staff and pupils of Muirtown Primary School for sharing their experiences with us, it is not surprising that they have received national recognition for their innovation of these tools and are the deserving recipients of several national awards.”
Muirtown Primary has received a number of national awards in recognition of their work to promote digital learning. These include the Digital Schools Scotland Award, the Digital Wellbeing Award, the Cyber Resilience and Internet Safety Award and they have been appointed as a Mentor School for Digital Schools Scotland, supporting other schools across the country on their digital journey.
Beth Fuller, principal teacher at the school, has been awarded the Scottish education award for digital innovation and went on to win a silver UK Pearsons award for digital innovation. She is also a finalist in this Friday’s Highland Heroes awards, along with the school.
