We recently held an open evening at Aldwyn Primary School and we were amazed by how many people turned up. Parents and guardians, grandparents with grandchildren and even the local neighbours, all keen to see the new build and have a look around. What we didn't expect was the letter that appeared in the June 16th issue of the Tameside Reporter. I have included a scan of the letter, but have removed the name.
A letter from an IT professional that gives the school a pat on the back, and congratulates us on the way we are working really was a complete surprise.
But I think it’s important to focus on the points made in the letter about the north \ south skills divide. If we want to bridge it then we do need to start at primary school.
At Aldwyn Primary School we have been building digital and 21st century learning skills for over 7 years. We get lots of feedback from children and we know they enjoy using some of the more advanced technology to help complete topic and project work. I have to stress that most of the skills they learn are not part of any IT lesson but are stealthily incorporated into everyday lessons such as history, geography and science.
This builds a valuable skill set and children openly chat about their topic work and contribute to class discussions. They are also learning the important skill of becoming independent learners and finding the answers to their own questions.