Hewlett Packard (HP), Intel and IT solutions specialists XMA have awarded Leighton Park School the exciting Ripple Effect Prize. The prize recognises schools at the forefront of using technology to support student learning.
The school will be presented with an HP STEM & Creative Learning Studio, worth over £20,000. As well as specialist laptops, the Prize consists of the latest 3D scanning and immersive computing technology.
Neil Sawyer, Channel and Education Director, HP UKI, commented “The STEM worker shortfall is estimated at 40,000 in the UK. With more jobs being created to meet the shifting demands of the digital economy, this gap is only going to widen”.
“HP believes it can boost STEM learning by reinventing the way we teach these skills in schools. The careers of tomorrow will be in robotics, programming and engineering. Early access to this technology for schools, its staff and students is critical to the UK economy. By working alongside as many schools and colleges as possible – such as Leighton Park – HP hopes to inspire people to be the inventors of tomorrow.”
Leighton Park is working towards becoming a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics centre of excellence, combining particular strengths in these traditional areas with expertise in creative media and the creative arts. The Prize comes on the back of other developments at the school, such as a partnership with Pinewood Studios for film production and becoming a Yamaha Music Education Partner.
Innovative uses of learning technology at the school include the roll out of CleverTouch interactive screens to facilitate dynamic, engaging lessons, the use of Google Classroom and Chromebooks to support student learning and an exciting enabling environment to support creative media, including design, film production and music technology.
Ben Brown, Head of Schools and Further Education at IT solutions specialists XMA commented: “XMA were really happy to award the 2017 Ripple Effect Prize to Leighton Park on seeing their entry. The exciting use of technology in the school really is supporting the STEM agenda and will be preparing the pupils for life outside of the school. Hopefully the new technology will continue this work and XMA are looking forward to working with them to innovate further.”
Mark Smith, Head of Design and Technology said: “We are absolutely delighted to have won the competition and know the HP and Intel technology will be very well utilised in a school where technology is already firmly embedded within our students’ learning. On a personal note, the 28 students who attend a weekly 3-dimensional Computer-Aided Design club are incredibly excited.”
The award-winning submission took the form of a video, which was produced by students and staff – the video is available online here.