One pupil, one laptop initiative

Warrington is a hub for some of the most technologically advanced primary schools in Britain. Five primaries in the most deprived areas of the city have formed an alliance to kit out every child in their top classes with the most up-to-date laptop computers. And this week, for the second year running, the heads of the five Innov8ed Warrington schools and some of their pupils will be at the BETT technology in education show alongside PC World Education, which helped to launch the project. Two of the schools – St Bridget's and Alderman Bolton – were recently visited by Barry Sheerman, MP for Huddersfield and chair of the Commons select committee that covers education. His visit was a clear indication that there is high-level interest in the benefits of screen-based education.

Sir Jim Rose, former director of schools for Ofsted, threw yet more weight behind the use of computer technology in schools in his interim review of the primary curriculum, published last month. The report was welcomed wholeheartedly by the Schools Secretary, Ed Balls. It went so far as to say that computer skills should be given the same importance as reading, writing and arithmetic. This is the case at St Bridget's Catholic Primary School, where all children in years five and six are given their own state-of-the-art mobile PC, a small, touch-screen device that costs UK£580 and can be used for web browsing, email and other applications. The children have sole charge of the devices for the entire school year and are even allowed to take them home. Many pupils in years three and four also have access to 'netbooks,' the small laptops favoured by commuters, which cost about UK£200. Secondary schools in the area are said to be looking at the project. The St Bridget's head teacher, Gary Cunningham, is the moving spirit behind the scheme. He oversaw the generation of UK£26,000 of initial funding, made up of UK£11,800 from the e-Learning Foundation (the body that aims to give all children access to a computer at home and at school), UK£1,000 from the parents, teachers and friends association, UK£2,400 from the school budget and the balance of UK£10,800 in parental contributions.