Hundreds of laptops given to Middleton Technology School

Brendan Loughran, CEO Great Academies Education Trust with Janine Kellett, Principal Middleton Technology School

Hundreds of laptops have been given to pupils at Middleton Technology School by the Great Academies Education Trust.

Great Academies Education Trust has provided the school with additional 486 laptops, in addition to 138 provided by the Department of Education.

Schools have adapted during the lockdown to make sure that learning has continued, and the trust is hopeful that the acquisition of the laptops and tablets, in addition to existing school resources, is another step forward.

Overall, the trust has bought over 1,200 new laptops and iPads for children at its schools, which includes three academy schools in Tameside.

The laptops have been given to families identified by principals at each of the trust's schools to continue remote education at home.

Brendan Loughran, CEO of Great Academies Education Trust, said: “We know that remote education can be far more stressful if the technology is not good enough.

“For instance, in recent months some families with one computer have suddenly found everyone in the household needs it, and some of our families didn't have a computer at all.

“We needed to do something, as letting children fall behind just because they cannot easily access lessons is simply not an option.”