Fife pupils allowed to use phones in classrooms

The Anywhere, Anytime programme, piloted ay St Andrews and Inverkeithing High Schools, is the first step forward to embed technology in classrooms.

The poroject learning aims to make the use of digital technology a central consideration in all curricular areas, enriching learning and teaching and helping to raise levels of attainment and close the attainment gap.

At the education and children’s services committee on Tuesday, councillors welcomed its success.

Cllr James Calder said: “There has bee a very positive response from this and it is the way that learning should be.”

They also questioned if it would be rolled out to primary schools.

Jason Omond, solutions specialist, said: “It is currently only in high schools. There has been talk about allowing senior primary pupils – primary six and seven – to access as well.”

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However, concerns were raised about children who don’t have their own devices getting left behind.

Young people consulted said that digital technology was an important learning aid in the classroom and a good tool for revision.

Mr Omond said that pupils could borrow devices in classrooms, but could not take them home.

Cllr Ryan Smart agreed, saying: “As the workload moves digital, might some kids not be able to access this? I wouldn’t want to hear about kids going home and having no access to work.”

Mr Omond said: “If they don’t have devices at home, there’s not really much we can do.”

Both Madras College in St Andrews and Inverkeithing High, are in the top five least deprived areas in Fife.

Buckhaven, which Cllr Smart represents, is one of the most deprived areas in Scotland.