Digital Learning Update

The use of technology within Wycombe Abbey has increased emphatically this year. Pupils have returned to School in September and are confidently using laptops or tablets in most lessons. Staff are teaching lessons in the classroom whilst simultaneously delivering remote lessons, allowing those away from School to access learning. There is much better use of the Microsoft Office 365 software; classes are being run on Microsoft Teams and many teachers are using OneNote to deliver, collect and mark work in a safe way. New UIII pupils have received extra Digital Resilience sessions to help them use this technology in the classroom, and other year groups will receive this training in the coming weeks. It has been a steep learning curve and there is still much to do, but the School has made remarkable progress.  We are continuing to improve the way we teach and learn in our current hybrid model and this will, undoubtedly, have a long term impact on education.

Vision and Strategy

The School aims to harness digital technologies to empower every pupil to achieve their full potential. It is important we continually review and refine the way digital skills are developed throughout our curriculum. Independent learning can be enhanced by use of technology; the learner can connect with the world around them, with the tools they need, and make sense of that world, through a guided system of study.

Further, future careers will reward those who can use technology to communicate effectively, collaborate with others and be creative. All pupils can be effective digital citizens, able to navigate a complex digital world and be safe and responsible online. The technology of today might be very different to that of 2030, and pupils should be encouraged to be resilient and adaptable in their learning of digital skills. We continue to place justified importance on handwritten work; examining boards predominantly ask pupils to handwrite in examinations and the technology we use must support this.

The School is looking at how pupils should be equipped with devices that enable them to develop these skills. As pupils use more technology, there is a need for greater uniformity of device used by pupils and staff. This will allow much more effective and efficient use of technology in and beyond the classroom.

Central to the success of this vision are three things: continued training and development of all members of the School community; significant investment in our infrastructure and development of high quality classrooms equipped for digital learning; a continued understanding that this digital vision connects with virtually everything that happens at Wycombe Abbey.

I look forward to updating you with plans as we move forward.

Mr Binit Shah
Director of Digital Learning