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ViewSonic Unveils Hybrid Learning Innovations with Stunning 105” 5K Interactive Display at BETT 2023

ViewSonic Corp., a leading global provider of visual solutions, is launching a range of comprehensive education technology (EdTech) solutions, with the new addition to ViewSonic’s revolutionary 5K 105” ViewBoard interactive display. In terms of software, highlights include ViewSonic’s rich digital learning tools from the myViewBoard software suite, and the UNIVERSE by ViewSonic—a 3D virtual campus for online learning. The solutions will be exhibited in in-class, online, and hybrid learning scenarios at the BETT Show 2023 (British Educational Training and Technology Show) in London from 29 to 31, March.

“ViewSonic is dedicated to offering innovative visual solutions from hardware, software, service, to digital content. We will continue to implement our Ecosystem as a Service (EaaS) strategy and work with partners across the industry to create a digital education ecosystem that is truly transformative,” said Clifford Chen, General Manager of the Presentation Group at ViewSonic. “At ViewSonic, we believe that technology can expand what’s possible in classrooms. The digital transition is the key to the future of education, which is why we’ve designed a range of advanced solutions that can be seamlessly integrated into learning environments of all kinds.“

As a leading EdTech solutions provider, ViewSonic’s ViewBoard interactive displays and myViewBoard software suites are being adopted by educational institutions around the world. Ranging in size from 24” to 105”, the company’s ViewBoard is one of the most popular interactive displays in the world ; in Q4 of 2022, ViewSonic was ranked first in the global interactive display market, while the beginning of 2023 saw the myViewBoard ecosystem swell to over 8 million users.

ViewSonic’s display at BETT 2023 will offer attendees the ability to experience a range of EdTech solutions across different scenarios:

Taking In-class Learning with Digital Content into the Future

A teacher will use ViewSonic’s ViewBoard IFP8652 4K display and the company’s whiteboarding software to showcase how diverse pre-made digital lesson content from ViewSonic Originals, an online resource exclusively designed for interactive displays, can be used to create engaging learning experiences in the classroom. While more and more educational institutions are digitising, ViewSonic Originals makes planning and running lessons easier by offering thousands of pieces of content within a user-friendly database.

The company’s latest environmental sensor, Sensor Box, will show how educational institutions can harness technology to optimise conditions such as air quality, humidity, temperature, and automatically switch displays on and off, allowing schools to adhere to the UK Green Building Council guidelines. Additionally, demonstrations of myViewBoard Manager Advanced software will provide insights into how IT departments can remotely manage an entire school’s displays—including multimedia broadcasting, permission management, and addressing technical issues, all of which avoid interrupting classes and allow students to focus on learning.

A New “UNIVERSE” in Online Learning
Recognised by two distinguished EdTech Awards recently, ViewSonic’s innovative UNIVERSE virtual learning platform opens up new opportunities in online learning. Attendees at BETT 2023 will be able to experience how UNIVERSE allows participants to engage in interactive classrooms with new 3D educational content and create unique learning spaces. The platform addresses some of the key challenges faced during online learning by increasing student engagement, encouraging collaboration, and fostering a sense of belonging among students.

Going Hybrid in with Advanced Audiovisuals
To show how higher education can be advanced using hybrid setups to ensure the best learning outcome, ViewSonic will be displaying the 5K 105” ViewBoard IFP105S, which features a 21:9 ratio display and multi-touch capabilities. Attendees will be able to see how students in-class and in other locations can collaborate simultaneously with a breeze.

Further, the series is flawlessly complemented by ViewSonic’s new Live Mosaic View feature for their latest VB-CAM-201-2. Powered by AI technology, Live Mosaic View can provide close-ups of participants and readjust the view based on each attendee’s activity, ensuring that attendees and speakers are automatically framed and focused, offering a more immersive experience for hybrid meetings.

Visit ViewSonic at BETT 2023, North Hall, Booth NL21, ExCeL London. To find more info and arrange a meeting with ViewSonic’s educational experts at BETT 2023, please visit: https://www.viewsonic.com/uk/bett2023

 

About ViewSonic
Founded in California, ViewSonic is a leading global provider of visual solutions with a presence in over 100 cities around the world. As an innovator and visionary, ViewSonic is committed to providing comprehensive hardware and software solutions that include monitors, projectors, digital signage, ViewBoard interactive displays, and myViewBoard software ecosystem. With over 30 years of expertise in visual displays, ViewSonic has established a strong position for delivering innovative and reliable solutions for education, enterprise, consumer, and professional markets and helping customers “See the Difference”. To find out more about ViewSonic, please visit www.viewsonic.com.

 

‘Going Too Far–Extremism and the Law’- LGfL wins award for resource developed in partnership with DfE… and its Technical or IT Support Services

LGfL-The National Grid for Learning strikes gold with a double award win at BETT 20221

LGfL-The National Grid for Learning celebrated striking gold at this year’s BETT Awards 2022, when it scooped  both the Best Wellbeing, Digital Wellness & Safeguarding Resource for its ‘Going too Far–The Law and Extremism’, developed in partnership with the Department for Education, and the Best Technical or IT Support Services. The BETT Awards, organised in association with the British Education Suppliers Association (BESA), celebrate the inspiring creativity and innovation that can be found throughout technology for education. The awards form an integral part of BETT each year, the world’s leading showcase of education technology solutions.

John Jackson, CEO, LGfL-The National Grid for Learning said, “We are absolutely thrilled to win these two awards – my thanks goes out to our talented online safeguarding team and colleagues from the Department for Education for producing Going too Far, designed to  promote critical thinking online and equip teachers with scenario-based activities to lead discussions around extremism and behaviours that are dangerous or illegal. I would also like to thank our dedicated team for rolling out significant technology initiatives to ensure that no child is left behind and for delivering exceptional customer care. (Please click on the video and move to 1.10 to see LGfL featured on the BETT Awards site  https://bettawards.com/)

Going Too Far? – Extremism and the Law

Going Too Far?-Extremism and the Law (https://goingtoofar.lgfl.net) –  the result of a partnership between the Department for Education and LGfL – is an open-access interactive teaching resource to help students understand extremism and how certain online behaviours may be illegal or dangerous. Cross-curricular activities facilitate a whole-school approach, complementing and complying with RSHE guidance, Keeping Children Safe in Education and the UKCIS Education for a Connected World Framework.

The resource aims to promote critical thinking and build resilience to help young people face the abundance of extremist content online by exploring the techniques used by extremists and evaluating digital content, making positive choices about who/what is trustworthy online,  challenging extremist narratives and considering the consequences of their actions and making a positive stand.

Going too Far includes case studies and discussion stimuli, videos featuring subject experts,  scenarios to explore potential risks e.g. gaming and social media, signposting to trusted sources for support and reporting channels and printable teacher notes, extension activities, mini video guides and suggested answers to help lead informative discussions.

Its SEND and Inclusion area features audio narrations and alternative texts, as well as differentiated questions to support as wide a range of learners as possible.

Best Technical or IT Support Services

LGfL is one of the fastest growing edtech charities in the UK.  Its mission is the advancement of education. It is passionate about tackling inequality, promoting diversity and ensuring no child is left behind. Its #BridgeTheDivide initiative –  a huge national procurement for up to 2 million Chromebooks and Windows Laptops – enabled it to drive down the cost, save schools millions of pounds and increase access to devices and technology for children, including those disadvantaged. By making its Free School Meals Eligibility Checker free to schools nationwide it was able to help them to identify a potential £112.5M of Pupil Premium Funding and to support communities facing huge challenges.

“Our empathy and understanding of schools’ needs has enabled us to design, build and provide solutions that have been consumed at an unprecedented scale,” said John Jackson.

“Our standards of customer care are exceptional, with a retention rate of over 90%, sometimes involving incredible risk on behalf of our customers.”

  1. LGfL-The National Grid for Learning strikes gold with a double award win at BETT 2022 – Right to Left: Sindu Vee, Event Host and award winning comedian; Mubina Asaria – Online Safeguarding Consultant, LGfL; Bob Usher – Content Manager; LGfL; John Jackson – CEO; LGfL; Gareth Jelley – Product and Security Manager, LGfL.

AWARD-WINNING MUSSILA LAUNCHES IN UK WITH WORDPLAY AN INNOVATIVE READING COMPREHENSION APP

And adds to their awards taking home the International Digital Education Resource Award at BETT 2022

Hot of their win at BETT 2022, Icelandic EdTech company, Mussila, is expanding into the UK market with its award winning Mussila Music and its new digital learning solution Mussila WordPlay, a new creative digital learning solution for children using Mussila’s unique ‘Learn, Play, Create’ methodology.  Current users of Mussila Music will automatically have access to WordPlay and new users will gain access to both platforms.

WordPlay has been created by speech therapists and content creators that have made the app a fun and powerful learning experience for children from 5-8 years old. Narrated by professionals, WordPlay offers hours of listening to practice not only reading but also listening skills making this app one of a kind.  The app is designed to spark children’s natural curiosity, motivating them to easily master the fundamentals of reading and to use their sense of creativity and play to firmly strengthen the knowledge acquired.

 

Children using the app will be able to:

  • Learn and increase vocabulary
  • Work on listening skills
  • Practice and improve reading comprehension
  • Experience joyful reading, by reading or listening to beautiful stories. 

 

“Children are natural learners and our task is to give them creative tools based on evidence-based practice that sparks their curiosity, motivating them to learn.” Says Jon Gunnar Thordarson, CEO of Mussila. “Post-pandemic, we have seen 370% growth for Mussila Music showcasing the demand for digital based learning and following the success in the Nordics, we are expanding into the UK where demand for this style of learning is definitely on the rise. Cambridge University’s recent research* shows that children learn more through ‘guided play’ that for teacher-led instruction and play-focused learning was found to be just as effective as traditional teacher-led methods in teaching literacy, numeracy and thinking skills.”

Research has shown that language and music are connected through listening, rhythm, and singing. This connection is essential for developing phonological awareness. WordPlay is the perfect addition to Mussila’s first game, Mussila Music, which has proven to be effective in teaching music to diverse groups of students. The multiple award-winning app is available in 32 languages and has been certified by the Finnish Education Alliance as a quality learning solution. Currently, children from all over the world are playing the game, and schools in 19 countries are using the app for music education.

WordPlay is available to schools helping teachers to add new dimensions to their current curriculum, teachers will also be able to track students’ progress through the app to analysis where additional support is needed.  Mussila provides teachers with extensive training and have dedicated experts to help throughout the journey so they can continue to support students through the learning process.

Mussila Music is nominated for 3 BETT awards and won one award:

•  International Digital Educational, Resource  – winner 

  • Class Aid or Educator support

 

  • Educational Resource for Parents and Home Learning

Mussila WordPlay is available for download from the App Store and Google Play

*https://srcd.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/cdev.13730

Bett Awards 2022 Winners Revealed

24 winners, from robots to music apps, celebrate success at the 2022 Bett Awards

London, 24 March 2022

A robot that can play football, an app that connects budding musicians with real-life professional instructors for a fraction of the normal price of lessons and a tool that can help schools pinpoint £100 million in free school meal funding are just some of the innovations that won at last night’s Bett Awards.

Hundreds of submissions were whittled down to a few dozen finalists before 24 winners were unveiled at the 24th annual Bett Awards at a gala dinner last night. 

The awards are designed to celebrate the inspiring creativity and innovation that can be found throughout technology for education.

Covid-19 has sparked unprecedented need for EdTech with hundreds of entrepreneurs and established tech firms springing into action to meet the need.

The winner of the coveted Innovator of the Year award is Practice Pal – which gives children premium music lessons with professional musicians for just £7.99 a week – less than half the cost of a normal half hour lesson.

Marty the Robot, a walking, dancing, football-playing robot that helps introduce children to the world of coding and robotics, won the Hardware, Digital and Robotic award.

The fast-growing LGfl was crowned the winner of the Technical and IT Support service after making its free schools meals eligibility checker free. The tool helps schools track down the up to £100 million in pupil premium funding that they could be missing out on.

 

The company also scooped the Digital Wellbeing award with its tool, built in partnership with the Department for Education, that helps students identify extremism online.

Two of the winners had tools that help prepare children to thrive online whilst keeping them safe: Natterhub won the Transformational Impact award while Southwest Grid for Learning – 360 Early Years – won the Early Years, Digital Product or Service award.

Maths Circle – creators of primary school favourite Times Table Rock Stars and NumbBots – scooped the Company of the Year prize for firms under £3 million while Renaissance Learning, which helped year six pupils in Hertfordshire undergo assessments, to close the learning gaps in challenging circumstances, won the accolade of Company of the Year in the over £3 million category.

A team of 28 judges were tasked with selecting the winners from hundreds of entries. 

 

Julia Garvey, Deputy Director General, British Educational Suppliers Association and Chair of Judges for the Bett Awards said: “The Bett Awards always attract top calibre submissions and this year was no exception. The winners are all amazing and the standard was incredibly high – the hardest job we had was narrowing it down to pick a winner each time. We are delighted to be able to recognise the hard work of so many businesses in the EdTech space all of whom have gone above and beyond to support teachers and learners during these uncertain times. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back to the Bett Show at ExCeL over the coming days where visitors will be able to see many of the shortlisted and winning entries on display. “

 

Eve Harper, Portfolio Director, UK EdTech – Hyve, said: “The Bett Awards are a highlight of the three-day Bett show but this year we have really seen innovation flourish like never before. The pandemic has fuelled a wave of new inventions from small start-ups to big tech firms who pivoted to meet the need for new ways of delivering education. Long after the pandemic has subsided, these new tools will have changed the way we learn forever.”

 

Many of the winners and finalists will be showcased at Bett until the 25 March 2022 at ExCeL, London. 

 

To register for a free ticket to see the winners and hundreds of other EdTech solutions at Bett go to www.bettshow.com

For a list of all the finalists, please see: 

https://bettawards.com/2022-shortlist/

 

The full list of the Bett Award 2022 winners is below:

Category 2022 Winner
Collaboration with a School Joskos Solutions with Pheasey Park Farm Primary School and Early Years Centre
Innovator of the Year Practice Pal
Transformational Impact Natterhub
Company of the Year (less than £3m) Maths Circle
Company of the Year (more than £3m) Renaissance
Educational Resource for Parents or Home Learning Your Favourite Teacher
Early Years – Digital Product or Service South West Grid for Learning -360 Early Years
Class Aid or Educator Support Developing Experts – Science Curriculum
Primary – Digital Learning Product – Language & Literacy Kaligo
Primary – Digital Learning Product – Numeracy & Maths Learning by Questions
Primary – Free Digital Content, App or Open Educational Resource White Rose Maths – Primary Resources
Primary – Digital Learning Product – Broad Curriculum (other) Busythings
Secondary – Digital Learning Product  Texthelp – EquatIO
Secondary – Free Digital Content, App or Open Educational Resource Mathigon – Polypad
Assessment, Planning & Progress Monitoring Learning Ladders
Technical or IT Support Service LGfL – The National Grid for Learning
International Digital Educational Resource Mussila Music School
Hardware, AV, VR/AR, Robotics or Digital Device Robotical – Marty the Robot
Leadership & Management Solutions Guide Education – Guide Teacher Training
Guide Connect
Wellbeing, Digital Wellness & Safeguarding Resources LGfL – Going Too Far? Extremism and the Law
SEND Resources, Products & Services Pearson – Mable Therapy
Higher Education – Digital Learning Product Lean Library Futures
The Education Show (non-EdTech) Award for School Resources & Equipment for Teaching & Learning The Literacy Tree – The Literary Curriculum
Outstanding Achievement Award John and Ann Crick, Founders, Crick Software

 

Category 2022 – Highly Commended Highly Commended
Class Aid or Educator Support Highly Commended Findel Education – Electronic Phonics
Secondary – Free Digital Content, App or Open Educational Resource Highly Commended Craig’n’Dave YouTube Channel
Leadership & Management Solutions Highly Commended CPOMS Systems  
SEND Resources, Products & Services Highly Commended JellyJames Publishing (Dynamo Maths) – Puffin Maths

 

Acer is Back at BETT Live show and will be showcasing the latest Chromebooks and Windows 11 TravelMates for Education

After 2 years away, Acer is back at this year’s live BETT show with the latest innovations and technology, showcasing new devices as part of the Acer for Education pledge to ‘Inspire Daily, Learn Always’.

  • Join Google | Acer @ stand SC42 – This stand will focus on the Chrome environment and be a place where you can see demos of the new eco-friendly Acer Chromebooks. To see all the latest Acer education products visit the Acer Partners stands and for each demonstration, Acer will plant 100 trees via Ecologi. Partner stands are Misco @ SA51, EE @ SN53 and Stone @ SG31
  • Visit Acer @ the Microsoft Theater March 24 at 3.30pm for an Acer Keynote speech and Danesfield school’s first-hand experience on Windows11SE
  • Learn more about Acer & Planet9 @ Esports Arena on March 23 – 25 Experience our Esports devices and PLANET9 or March 24 At 1.30-2pm: Acer keynote speech and At 3-5pm: AcerEsports school tournament.

 

London, UK (March 17, 2022) Acer are excited to announce the return to BETT live at the Excel in London after a 2-year break away due to the pandemic. Acer’s goal is to bring innovative technologies to schools and help educators create better learning environments so that students can develop the skills they need for the future through the Acer Stem Rewards and the BETT show is the perfect opportunity to showcase the extensive Acer STEM reward program which offers a wide range of benefits to educators.

As part of the Acer Stem Rewards, schools who purchase Acer classroom devices can claim rewards up to the value of £1000, in the form of cashback or training support.

For a full overview of the Acer Stem Rewards that are available visit the Bett Show and speak to one of the Acer representatives on the Acer Stand (Bett Hall SC42).

Some of the new devices available to purchase using the Acer Stem Rewards will be demonstrated at the show including the four new Acer Chromebooks that come with an array of durability and eco-friendly features, including MIL-STD 810H rating, mechanically-anchored keyboards, OceanGlass™ touchpads and use of post-consumer recycled plastics.

“The popularity of Chromebooks continues to grow thanks to the robust features in the Chrome Education Upgrade combined with advances in Chromebook design, features and technology,” said James Lin, General Manager, Notebooks, IT Products Business, Acer Inc. “These new Acer Chromebooks deliver the foundational technology that help students strive for success at school, while also ensuring teachers and administrators have a powerful device for class preparation and IT management.”

Chrome Education Upgrade, Zero-Touch Enrollment Maximize Learning

With Chrome Education upgrade, teachers and administrators can leverage the full capabilities of the Chromebook and Chrome OS to ensure students can focus on learning with a robust, secure device. In addition, IT departments can easily manage them with Zero-touch enrollment — to drop ship new Acer Chromebooks to their school sites that will automatically enrol as soon as the end-user connects to the internet.

Durable Design

All of the four new Chromebooks were built to withstand the challenges of a busy school environment, featuring impact-resistant chassis that meets MIL-STD 810H[[1]] standards. A shock-absorbent bumper and reinforced design protects them from drops as high 122 cm (48 ft) and withstands up to 60 kg (132.3 lbs) of pressure. The Chromebooks’ displays can also be opened a full 180 degrees, helping protect the devices when the screen is being handled, and a unique drainage system built into their keyboards helps protect internal components from accidental water spills[[2]].

The Acer Chromebook Spin 311, Acer Chromebook 512 and Acer Chromebook 511 also have mechanically anchored keys that are difficult for inquisitive students to remove, but at the same time, simple for IT personnel to repair or replace. Widened brackets and reinforced I/O ports further protect them from the wear and tear of frequent use.

Eco-Friendly Features Include OceanGlass Touchpad

A testament to Acer’s commitment to sustainability, all four of the new Chromebooks feature a unique environmentally friendly OceanGlass touchpad made entirely of abandoned ocean-bound plastic waste. Not only does the use of this waste contribute to the reduction of plastics adrift in the ocean, it also gives the touchpad a glass-like texture and responsive tactile feedback.

Additionally, three of the Chromebooks—the Acer Chromebook Spin 311, Acer Chromebook 512 and Acer Chromebook 511—integrate post-consumer recycled plastics into their chassis design to further exemplify Acer’s commitment to sustainability.

Pricing and Availability

The Acer Chromebook 512 (C852) will be available in North America in January starting at USD 349.99; and in EMEA in Q1 starting at EUR 359 and the UK for £329.

The Acer Chromebook 511 (C734/T) will be available in North America in February starting at USD 349.99; and in EMEA in February starting at EUR 329 and the UK for £299.

The Acer Chromebook 314 (C934/T) will be available in North America in 2H’22 starting at USD 429.99; and in EMEA in April starting at EUR 369 and the UK for £329.

The Acer Chromebook Spin 311 (R722T) will be available in North America in March starting at USD 399.99; and in EMEA in Q1’22 starting at EUR 339 and the UK for £299.

Exact specifications, prices, and availability will vary by region. To learn more about availability, product specifications and prices in specific markets, please contact your nearest Acer office via www.acer.com.

Classroom learning with Wacom pen tablets

Meet Wacom and the global education technology community at Bett UK and discover how Wacom pen tablets and pen displays boost digital classroom collaboration and facilitate STEAM lessons.

Wacom, the pioneer and leader in digital pen technology, is coming to Bett UK to show how Wacom’s digital education solutions complement the set-up of classrooms and auditoriums and enable new ways of learning and teaching from K12 to higher education. Join Wacom at stand SB30 to talk to Wacom experts and learn how simple and effective working, teaching and learning with the digital pen is.

Bett UK
23-25 March 2022
Stand SB30
ExCel London

 

Digital classroom collaboration powered by the pen

To show how digital pen displays support the teaching of STEAM subjects, Wacom together with Canopy Education are hosting a presentation about “Classroom learning with Wacom pen tablets” on the Tech in Action stage. In this session on Thursday, 24 March, 11:30-11:50, educators from K12 and further education will demonstrate how the use of Wacom pen tablets in the classroom increases student engagement and makes daily teaching more efficient.

Check the Bett UK agenda here for more information about the speakers and details of this talk. Find out more about the event itself and how to register on the Bett UK event page. And for more information about Wacom, its products and education solutions including case studies and special offers, please check these dedicated Wacom for Education pages.

BETT 2022: UNLOCK THE POWER OF IMMERSIVE LEARNING

Discovery Education is the worldwide EdTech leader whose state-of-the art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place. Join us at Bett 2022 to get hands-on with Augmented Reality. We’re hosting 3 Bett events and we’d be delighted to welcome you to:

 

  1. Discovery Education BETT Arena Session

Friday 25 March @11:50AM

Bett Arena

Immersive Learning and Making

Discover how NEW Augmented Reality is transforming teaching and learning. See how using life-size AR in a maker environment can boost student collaboration and engagement and spring learning to life!

Led by: Phil and Dan Birchinall, Discovery Education

Simon Pile, Anson Primary School, Cricklewood

Bob Usher from LGfL, The National Grid for Learning.

 

  1. Discovery Education Hands-On AR Session

Friday 25 March From 12:30PM

Sunborn London Yacht Hotel, West India Dock 2 Room

Hands-on with Sandbox AR

Join us to get hands-on with NEW Augmented Reality. Create your own virtual world, scale it up to life-size and walk around it with our new cutting-edge app, Sandbox AR.

Led by: Phil Birchinall, Discovery Education

 

  1. Discovery Education Teaching and Learning Session

Friday 25 March @ 1:20PM

Bett Teaching and Learning Theatre

A Window to the World – Inspiring Teachers and Learners

Prepare learners for tomorrow through curiosity, engagement and real-world experiences. Devon primary school teacher Dale Lawson ­provides a deep dive into how digital technologies such as video, audio and text can transform teaching and learning.

Find out more about Discovery Education’s digital services at www.discoveryeducation.co.uk  

Explore Discovery Education and Nike’s Active Kids Do Better partnership at www.activekidsdobetter.co.uk  

 

Contact Angie Shatford to discuss:angie@inkstream.co.uk  or tel: 07704458365

 

TEACHERS FEAR IT WILL TAKE PUPILS 18 MONTHS OR MORE TO CATCH UP

 

THE learning gap created by the pandemic will take more than 18 months to close, teachers have warned.

 

State school teachers were far more likely to offer a gloomy forecast of how long it would take pupils to catch up compared to teachers in private schools, according to a survey of 4,690 teachers for leading EdTech event, Bett.

 

The survey – carried out by Teacher Tapp – showed that 14 per cent of teachers in private primary schools and 23 per cent of private secondary teachers had not seen a learning gap created by the pandemic.

 

A majority of private secondary school teachers thought that their gap would be closed within 6 months.

 

Just three per cent of teachers in state schools did not think there was a learning gap thanks to Covid19 compared to 19 per cent of private school teachers who thought there was no gap.

 

Some 36 per cent of primary teachers in state schools thought the learning gap would take 18 months or more, while 32 per cent of secondary state school teachers thought the same.

 

Overall, classroom teachers were slightly more pessimistic about how long it would take to close the learning gap than headteachers or members of the senior leadership teams (SLT).

 

Some 32 per cent of teachers at the coalface thought it would take 18 months or more, compared with 31 per cent of SLT and 28 per cent of heads.

 

When analysed by subject, language teachers and Key Stage 2 primary teachers were the most pessimistic, with 34 per cent warning it would take more than 18 months to catch up students. 

 

Some 28 per cent of maths specialist teachers thought it would be more than 18 months, while the figures were nearly the same for English teachers (27 per cent) and humanities (27 per cent) while nearly a third of science teachers – 31 per cent – also warned of the longest time delay.

 

For teachers of early years and Key Stage one in primary, a third warned it would take more than 18 months while 30 per cent of PE teachers and 24 per cent of art and design and technology teachers thought the same.

 

School closures ban

 

Nearly four in ten – 38 per cent – of teachers agree or strongly agree with banning school closures and classing them as ‘essential infrastructure’.

 

The move is proposed by senior Tory MP Rob Halfon, the chairman of the education select committee, who wants school closures to be banned unless they are voted for in parliament. 

 

Mr Halfon has put forward a Private Members’ bill to argue the case, saying that school closures and lockdowns had led to massive gaps in learning and to a safeguarding crisis.

 

Many teachers remain uncertain about the proposed ban, with 29 per cent saying they were unsure whether they backed it.

 

Slightly fewer teachers were against the ban – with 20 per cent disagreeing and 10 per cent strongly disagreeing.

 

Primary school teachers remained marginally more supportive of keeping schools open – with 39 per cent agreeing or strongly agreeing with a ban on future closures, 30 per cent being uncertain, nine per cent strongly disagreeing and 18 per cent disagreeing.

 

Among secondary school teachers, 39 per cent agreed or strongly agreed with a ban on closures while 27 per cent were unsure and a third disagreed or strongly disagreed.

The split was starkest between state and private schools.

 

Private schools were much more likely to want to stay open – with 25 per cent strongly in favour compared with 15 per cent in the state sector.

 

Overall, 48 per cent of private school teachers backed the ban compared to 37 per cent in the state sector.

 

Private primaries were strongly in favour of Mr Halfon’s proposals by 53 per cent compared to state primaries on 38 per cent.

 

Just 37 per cent of state secondary school teachers backed the ban compared to nearly half – 48 per cent – of private secondaries.

 

More state secondary teachers disagreed with the ban – with 34 per cent disagreeing or strongly disagreeing – than private secondary teachers (23 per cent).

 

For private primaries, just 20 per cent opposed the move compared with 28 per cent in state primaries.

 

A further 23 per cent of private school teachers agreed with the ban on closures compared to 22 per cent of state schools,

 

Headteachers were also more likely to be very supportive of keeping schools open – with 42 per cent strongly agreeing or agreeing with an outright ban compared with just 35 per cent of classroom teachers.

 

There were also regional variations, with London schools most in favour of a ban on closures – 40 per cent vs 31 per cent in the East of England. A third of teachers in the East of England disagreed or strongly disagreed with school closures while that figure was 29 per cent in London; 35 per cent in the Midlands, 31 per cent in the North West, 32 per cent in the South East, 30 per cent in the South West and 28 per cent in Yorkshire and the North East.

 

Schools rated as ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted were the most likely to want to stay open – with 38 per cent supporting the proposed ban compared to 34 per cent of schools rated as ‘Good’ and 33 per cent of schools rated as ‘inadequate’ or ‘requires improvement’.

 

Eve Harper, event director, at Bett UK at Hyve Group plc, said: “Our survey shows that teachers are clearly concerned that the learning gap has widened since the pandemic. More teachers think that the Covid catch-up will take 18 months or more. There is also a stark difference in how long state school teachers fear it will take for pupils to recover lost learning compared with private school teachers. Education technology has been pivotal during remote learning and beyond but it is clear that there is a great deal to do to ensure that all students are given the very best opportunity to catch up and that teachers feel well supported in their roles.

 

“Teachers are also marginally in favour of a ban on future school closures, with 40 per cent not wanting schools to close even in the event of a fresh surge of covid or new pandemic, although 29 per cent remained unsure if this would be a good idea.’

 

“The Bett show in March will be the first live event for two years where teachers and school leaders from across the UK and edtech experts from around the globe can discuss how the pandemic has reshaped our classrooms forever and how teachers and learners can maximise the benefit from the innovations that were borne from this crisis.”

 

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Bett Show 2023

 

BETT SHOW 2023 – Registration for Bett 2023 is live! 

The Global Community for Education Technology

On 29-31 March 2023, Bett is back at ExCeL London for three days of inspiring content, networking and product discovery from our solution providers. We spark ideas, create connections and accelerate trade, driving impact and improving outcomes for teachers and learners.

The biggest Education Technology exhibition in the world, at Bett we bring together Educators from across the entire education landscape and +600 innovative EdTech and resource solution providers showcasing cutting-edge and impactful products and services. From global tech companies to renowned education brands to startups, you can find solutions for all education settings, challenges and budgets.

New for 2023 only at Bett – Connect @ Bett

We’re transforming the way our community connects and collaborates by launching Connect @ Bett – a completely new, tech-enabled meetings programme that will drive more meaningful conversations than ever before in Bett’s 37-year history. Making 2023 the Best Bett Ever. 

Connect @ Bett empowers education buyers to discover the right solutions for their learners, in a fraction of the time.  And it allows technology providers to find the people within institutions that can unlock the potential of their tech.

Connect @ Bett helps the Bett community connect and collaborate via individual meetings. You’ll meet new people, discover new organisations and create incredible opportunities through meaningful conversations that result in positive change for you, your organisation and your learners. Best of all, individuals from Education Institutions and Governments can participate at no cost.   

Connect @ Bett will enable thousands of education buyers to meet directly with over 500 solution providers for over 5,000 high value, 15-minute meetings onsite at Bett 2023. To ensure they’re valuable, all meetings are double-opt in (both people want to meet each other) and are scheduled based on your individual availability.  

Join Connect @ Bett to get the most out of your time at Bett 2023!  

 

Registration for Bett 2023 is live! 

ExCeL London, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, London E16 1XL

Wednesday 29 March | 10:00 – 18:00
Thursday 30 March | 10:00 – 18:00
Friday 31 March | 10:00 – 17:00

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