Helping Cardiff Local Authority meet their Digital Strategy!

Elementary Technology is proud to announce that we have secured a landmark contract as sole supplier of front-of class technology to all Cardiff local authority schools. We are supplying the technology after winning the tender via the Crown Commercial Service RM6103 framework.

As part of this new partnership, Elementary Technology will be a key player in helping the local authority deliver its Cardiff Schools Digital Learning Strategy, which advocates technology being used to improve educational outcomes and embedding digital skills in the region’s future workforce.

The Head of Curriculum & E-Learning at Cardiff local authority, the individual responsible for the Cardiff Digital Strategy, comments;

“It’s our duty to the future of Cardiff to support our young people, and technology is an essential part of that support. The classroom technology we had simply wasn’t up to the standard we need”

Chris Deeley, Managing Director of Elementary Technology, comments; “It’ll be our privilege to support schools throughout Cardiff to help deliver their Digital Strategy. Our whole team works incredibly hard to deliver the best service possible to schools, and it’s excellent we have the opportunity to deliver this service in Cardiff. We’re also delighted to be working with SMART on delivery of this prestigious project”.

The technology supplied into classrooms throughout the city will be SMART, supported by SMART software including Lumio and our long-term provision of education-led training and CPD.

As with the majority of our projects, the first step is delivering our Classroom Healthcheck® – a service gathering detailed information across every classroom of all 127 schools.

Our Classroom Healthcheck® provides a comprehensive review of where a school is now with their technology – hardware, software, training needs and pupil and teacher experience. It means planning, forecasting and decision making on procurement is informed by data and evidence.

Prior to starting work with Elementary Technology on upgrading their classroom displays, it was clear that change was needed to achieve Cardiff’s ambitious plans to transform education using digital, to launch their new Computing curriculum and also to provide young people with the best possible groundwork to excel as they grow into adults.

In the upgrades we have undertaken so far, the comments we have received from school leaders, teachers and also pupils have been fabulous.

For example, the Deputy Headteacher at Ysgol Gymraeg Nant Caerau commented; “Mae wedi newid ein byd”, which translates to “It’s changed our world”.

Dylan Hughes, Headteacher at Ysgol Gymraeg Nant Caerau, said: “We’re extremely grateful to have already benefited from a technology upgrade at our school with installation of SMART Boards. This has been a huge step in helping us meet the demands of the new curriculum. Our staff are confident using the technology thanks to the training provided and subsequently the children are showing great enthusiasm for learning using the technology. Cardiff schools have a lot to look forward to!.”

For Elementary Technology this project does not stop after installation. We are passionate about ensuring the technology we supply is utilised to its fullest potential and truly enriches the teaching and learning experience for staff and students.

To this end, we have provided access to our own Get Set Go® online training platform, which gives access to a long list of bitesize technology training videos – easy for teachers to take in and consume at a pace that suits them. This will be supported by school level training, personalised to the needs of each individual school, and be further reinforced by a growing network of Cardiff teachers who can ensure their peers embed the full benefits the education technology brings to teaching.

Complementing this will be a programme of CPD activities at local authority level, where all schools will have access to a calendar of workshops which address different needs and specialisms. These are tailored to the needs of Cardiff schools, an example being a workshop on how Lumio, a teaching platform by SMART, can be used to teach Cardiff’s new Computing curriculum being launched in September 2022.

The Head of Curriculum & E-Learning added: “This partnership is significant in supporting us to implement our Digital Learning Strategy across the Local Authority. We know first-hand that when used effectively, education technology makes a huge difference to teaching and learning outcomes. We’re excited to continue to work with schools to support them in delivering an excellent education to our young people.”

We will be capturing and sharing the journey of this project as it progresses, via case studies, interviews, photography and more. This includes some of the countless magical stories which happen on a daily basis when schools use fully-embedded technology in the classroom.

Watch this space.