Pupils given free iPad minis

Cherry Ridgeway, headteacher at Pleckgate High School in Blackburn, said it was hoped that the iPad mini scheme would improve results at the comprehensive by "bridging the gap between the classroom and home study". 

Parents will be asked to make a £30 contribution to insure their child's iPad and for a case, which usually retails at £40, to keep it protected. The rest of the money is coming from the school's reserves and this year's budget. Extra funding may also come from grants. 

When children leave the school, if the iPad is more than two years old and the pupil has good behaviour and attendance, they will be allowed to make a contribution and keep the tablet. 

Mrs Ridgeway said: "Rest assured, this is not a gimmick. 

"We are giving our pupils access to modern technologies that will allow them to learn independently and prepare them for life in the modern world. 

"iPads offer huge potential in terms of a child's educational development. 

"They will improve student and teacher interaction and this alone has been proven to accelerate learning." 

Simon Jones, the National Union of Teachers representative for Blackburn with Darwen, said it was initialy concerned that the scheme could cost teachers jobs. 

"But we have been in touch with the school and spoken to the head and we have been reassured that that is not the case," he added. 

"I am sure the children will still be doing plenty of writing." 

The scheme is thought to be the largest in the country. Other schools have given pupils iPads or iPad Minis, but not on the same scale. 

In 2010, the independent Cedars School of Excellence in Greenock, Scotland, gave iPads to its 50 pupils while Warden Park, a comprehensive in West Sussex, plans to give an iPad to every pupil in Years 7, 8 and 9 from September. 

In Brighton, the Hove Park School runs a variety of buy-as-you-use schemes to ensure its 1,500 pupils have the use of an iPad or iPad Mini. 

As well as giving out the iPads, Pleckgate - rated as 'good' at its last Ofsted inspection in 2011 - will become an Apple regional training centre which means they will be supported by the company and teachers will be trained in how to use the products. 

In a letter to parents, Mrs Ridgeway said: "We recognise students today learn and engage in education differently than students in the past. 

"We must use technology, where appropriate, to promote active and engaged learning to enable your child to learn effectively. Effective use of technology in the classroom can result in higher levels of student achievement." 

She said the iPad mini was chosen following consideration of the cost, portability, as well as feedback from staff and students. 

"The iPad Mini will be one of the students' main learning resources and will be brought into school each day and taken home for use in the evenings and at weekends," she added. 

"Each student with their own device means that they take real ownership of the device and look after it, learn how to use it effectively and develop appropriate skills in its usage. 

"The link between home and school learning means that projects can take on much greater depth and not be restrained by the 55 minutes in the classroom that are available to work on them." 

Shiraj Vali, chair of governors at Pleckgate - a specialist mathematics and computing college , said the idea had been trialled in two classrooms and would be rolled out in September. 

He said: "We are committed to raising standards of teaching and learning. 

"We are really proud to be the leading school in Blackburn with Darwen, and probably the first school in Lancashire, to embark on such a great initiative. 

"The pupils are really, really excited. We are actually seeing a marked improvement in pupil behaviour. They feel they now have the necessary tools to be able to help them with their learning. 

"We have not applied for any grants as yet, but we had some money in our school budget which was ring fenced for the development or introduction of new technology." Telegraph