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Tuesday 11 May 2021

Hexham school benefits from Network Rail’s digital donation

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Pupils at a Hexham school are driving up their digital literacy thanks to a donation of 20 laptops from Network Rail.

Hexham Middle School has taken delivery of 20 recycled machines as part of an initiative being run by a team of volunteers at Network Rail who plan to distribute at least 8,000 refurbished laptops that are no longer required by the company to schools across Britain.

The scheme was initially designed to improve remote access to learning during lockdown. But now schools have re-opened some are also being used to provide new digital opportunities in the classroom.

Hexham Middle School was selected at random in the latest Network Rail laptop for schools draw.

Lesley Eagan, a service desk analyst at Network Rail who persuaded the school to put their name in the hat, said: “It’s just fantastic to hear that the pupils are getting good use out of the devices. We’re asking colleagues across Network Rail to nominate schools in need of laptops and we hope to help as many as we can.”

Hattie Curry, Associate Assistant Headteacher at Hexham Middle School, added: “It’s a fantastic scheme and we’re really grateful for the donation.

“At the moment the laptops are on a special charging station and can be booked out by teachers to explore digital teaching with their pupils. However, if we have to go back into a lockdown situation, they will be a lifeline for some of our more disadvantaged children who don’t have access to their own machine at home.”

ENDS