Pupils across Devon have benefitted from more than 7,200 new laptops and tablets to date, as the government has hit an important milestone in its roll-out of devices to support disadvantaged young people. More than one million devices have now been delivered to schools and local authorities across England as part of a £400million investment that will support schools and young people for years to come. A further 300,000 have been committed to support even more pupils.
A total of 31,147 devices have been delivered across the South West, including 7,258 in Devon – more than any other county in the region. The figures exclude devices delivered directly to multi-academy trusts, so the actual number would be even higher.
Central Devon MP Mel Stride said:
“The investment in a million laptops and tablets in our schools, with 300,000 more to come, is not just an important move in the short-term to ensure pupils can continue their education during lockdown but an investment in valuable pieces of equipment that will be used for years to come.”
The devices sit alongside a package of extensive support for the most disadvantaged children which includes a £1billion Covid Catch Up Fund, £300million of investment in tutoring programmes and the provision of free phone data to disadvantaged families through a partnership with the UK’s leading mobile network operators.
