Birminghamcouncil has won a £5.7m
grant to provide disadvantaged secondary school pupils with
computers and web access at home.
The central government "Computers for Pupils" grant aims to
improve the life chances of the most disadvantaged pupils and their
families through ICT access at home.
It will be used across all Birmingham secondary schools as part
of a wider programme called "Universal Home Access".
This programme aims to provide cheaper computers and internet
connections into homes for learning purposes.
This should extend opportunities for learners as part of the
overall "Transforming Education" agenda within the city.
Parents will also be able to find out what is going on in school
and how their child is doing through this programme.
The programme is already under way, with three early adopter
schools and small numbers at others testing out technical and
learning solutions to ensure that the process can be more widely
rolled out during the next twelve months and later.
Whilst this programme is aimed at the secondary sector, plans to
extend it to primary schools are also being considered.
Councillor Les Lawrence, cabinet member for children, young
people and families, said, "We anticipate that this £5.7m grant
will have a positive impact on up to 10,000 families in Birmingham,
by providing young people with access to ICT equipment at
home."