About Us
The “Portsmouth: The Digital City” Project was established pre-pandemic but came to life in response to the lockdowns and the need to support remote learning. At this point we were looking at how to narrow the digital divide by ensuring that children could get online and that learning could continue beyond the classroom.
Building on this, the project was redeveloped after the appointment of the Head of Digital Learning, Education and Innovation in September 2022 so that all 62 schools in the city (consisting of 17 LA maintained schools and 45 academies (covered by 14 different MATs) have a shared vision and three clear strands: technology for children, technology for adults, technology for all.
The project has benefited from funding from the DfE Connect the Classroom (CTC) Project and the Priority Education Investment Area (PEIA) programme, alongside the partnerships the Head of Digital has formed with organisations such as:
- Arbor
- Canopy Education
- Classroom.Cloud
- Crick Software
- ESports
- The Global Equality Collective (GEC)
- Google for Education
- Primary Goal
- Quizizz
- STEM Learning
- Teach Computing
- TTS
To name but a few.
Since then, the project has been recognised both within the UK and internationally for it’s innovative approach to transforming education and for developing skills at all levels through effective leadership.
A recent (July 2024) visit from the DfE enabled the city to showcase their journey and impact so far through round table discussions and visits to a range of schools. The round table discussions with key stakeholders, heads, and trust representatives were particularly impactful because these provided insights into how the Digital City Project is supporting local schools and trusts. The open dialogue helped the DfE gain a better understanding of the challenges and successes the city is experiencing.
“Visiting Copnor Primary School and St Paul’s and observing the impact of the Connect the Classroom initiative was a highlight of our visit. It was impressive to see how a reliable connection is supporting teaching and learning not only in classrooms but also in other areas, such as the playground!”
Portsmouth are now in a position to support other Local Authorities, cities or trusts to develop their own Digital Vision and Strategy.
