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ET-JUN22-PG20-25.qxp_Page 6 27/05/2022 09:35 Page 23


VIEWS & OPINION


Where are you on the digital maturity roadmap? Comment by SIMON HAY, co-founder and CEO at Firefly


The government’s expectation that all schools join some form of MAT will place big pressures on maintained schools and small MATs. Technology platforms will play a vital role in supporting this change, but most schools are still some way from the digital maturity they need. The new education white paper’s


expectation that all schools should be in a MAT by 2030, or at least have plans to join one, puts the pressure on small and single school MATs and maintained schools. This aspiration creates questions for these schools and MATs of scaling


and growth - and will have significant implications for the use of tech platforms for learning and parental engagement. The truth is that technology plays an increasingly important role in


many schools, yet we are still some way from it being an integral part of life in most schools. New Department for Education research found that around 9% of the schools surveyed were classified as high in digital maturity, 31% were categorised as being low and the remaining 60% were moderately digitally mature. The report says that digitally mature schools were more likely to say


they had a formal technology strategy in place with a focus on improving pupil outcomes and the meaningful use of technology in the classroom. “Digitally mature and low digitally mature schools without a technology strategy were more reactive, making decisions about technology as needed,” the report says. The report also found that low digitally mature schools were more likely


to be in rural areas, primaries, local authority-maintained or with a ‘good’ Ofsted rating. By contrast, high digitally mature schools were more likely to be in urban areas, or secondary academies. It’s a complex picture that will present many maintained schools and


small MATs, including single school MATS, with challenges, especially if they find themselves on the lower end of the digital maturity scale. This could include schools and small MATs with an inadequate understanding of the potential for technology to deliver on their vision, track pupil achievement, enable teachers to collaborate effectively, support pupil learning inside and outside school and keep parents informed and engaged. But there’s time. If small MATs and maintained schools are to make a


truly transformational journey, they first need to know their starting point. That’s why we developed a digital maturity diagnostic to help these schools - all schools, in fact - identify where they are now on their digital maturity journey and to stimulate a conversation about where to go next. This tool does not assess a school’s educational or pedagogical


approach but aims to help them understand how well they are executing their digital strategy, and how engaged the whole community is in achieving their common purpose. Using an approach like this can help schools to open up conversations


and reflect on their current practice. It can help them understand how they can build stronger school, families and wider community engagement, ensure learning stability and continuity within and beyond the classroom, minimise the admin burden and reduce teacher workload, as well as measure impact and understand engagement across the entire school. Here’s a small selection of questions drawn from the diagnostic tool to


get you started. Choose option A, B or C in response to each question, then add up your totals at the end.


How would you describe the role of technology within your school vision? A Not part of the school vision B Supports the school vision C It’s a fundamental part of the school vision


June 2022


How would you describe the use of technology to track the impact of strategy on learner achievement? A We don’t use it to track impact B It partially tracks impact C It systematically tracks impact


To what extent does your school use technology to support collaboration in the planning and management of teaching? A We use it for basic resource management by individual teachers B Centralised resource management in departments C School-wide, ongoing planning and resource management


To what extent does your school embed the use of technology within pedagogical practice? A We don’t regard it as part of pedagogy B Its use varies across teachers and departments C Used consistently in teaching throughout school


How would you describe your school’s ability to offer continuity of learning beyond the classroom? A There’s little continuity beyond classroom B Strategies vary according to department C Learning activities are available at all times


To what extent are parents provided with full learning visibility in a continuous, ongoing way? A Little visibility of learning B Ongoing learning is shared with parents C There is continuous holistic reporting to parents


To what extent are parents involved with school life as part of the wider school community? A They receive occasional updates and newsletters B There’s ongoing regular communication C Systematic two-way communication


What is your school’s approach to the use of mobile devices to support the learning process? A Mobile devices are banned in school B They are encouraged for students and teachers C We have a comprehensive mobile device strategy (BYOD or one to one)


If your answers are mostly Cs then it is clear that your school is digitally


mature, with technology playing a key role across the key aspects of school life, including leadership, teaching practice, the learning experience, and with parents and the wider community. If your responses are mostly Bs then it indicates that your school is on


its way to developing that digital maturity, although there is still some way to go. And if your responses were mostly As it appears that there is some way to go but by acknowledging that, and learning more about the areas where technology can play an integral role you are on your way.


Next steps: • The Department for Education’s digital maturity research, Education technology exploring digital maturity in schools, is available at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa ds/attachment_data/file/1061797/Exploring_digital_maturity_in_schools.p df • Firefly’s Digital Maturity Diagnostic tool can be accessed at https://firefly.c2cbt.com/en-gb/digitalmaturity/. The survey takes around five minutes to complete and you will be emailed a personalised report for your school.


www.education-today.co.uk 23


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