Twelve schools from the Galashiels area of the Scottish Borders have become the first school cluster in Scotland to achieve Digital Schools Award status by working together
The Digital Schools Awards Scotland is a national award to promote, recognise and encourage a whole-school approach to the use of digital technology in nursery, primary, special education, and secondary schools.
Galashiels Academy, Balmoral Primary School, Burgh Primary School, Clovenfords Primary, Fountainhall Primary School, Glendinning Terrace Primary, Heriot Primary School, Langlee Primary School, St Margarets RC Primary School, St Peters Primary School, Stow Primary School, and Tweedbank Primary School received the nationally recognised education award via a cluster initiative that distinguishes schools that set out to share resources, mentor and guide each other.
Lesley Munro, Director of Education and Children’s Services
“The goal was to establish ourselves as innovative leaders, creating opportunities for accessing resources, fostering partnerships, and enhancing morale, all of which support the continuous improvement of digital learning across the cluster.
“This included ensuring that digital technology was a central consideration in all areas of curriculum to enhance learning and teaching and assessment delivery”.
Additionally, Galashiels Academy also received the Digital Wellbeing Award for Cyber Resilience and Internet Safety, as well as both Burgh Primary ELC and Tweedbank Primary ELC being awarded the Digital Learning through Play Award which recognises excellence in integrating technologies into children’s play and learning experiences, both indoors and outdoors.
When evaluating the 11 primary schools, the validators commented on how positively learning extended beyond the school day into the home, with children using technology to research, discuss their learning, and practice skills. Digital technologies are integral to these schools' approaches to learning, teaching, and assessment, fostering strong collegiality, inclusion, and parental engagement, while enabling pupils to have choice, flexibility, control, and independence in their learning.
Anna Doody, Digital Schools Awards
“This is a great example in collaboration which saw neighbouring schools work closely together to better prepare pupils for the digital world. The ability to pull resources, collaborate on ideas and provide guidance to each other only offers another level of support to learners and we are delighted to celebrate and recognise these schools for their excellent work through this special cluster award.”
Participating schools are required to self-assess their developments in digital technology under common practice areas of Leadership and Vision, Digital Technology for Learning and Teaching, School Culture, Professional Development and Resources and Infrastructure.
Upon joining the initiative and completing an online self-review framework, schools within a cluster are assigned a validator who will propose a matrix system of support aimed at addressing learning gaps.