Digital devices are 'number one priority' for Fife Council

The aim is to give a tablet to every student from P6 to S6 from August next year to help improve learning, attainment and behaviour - but they "don't yet know where the money will come from".

Council leader, Councillor David Ross, said: "Unfortunately the Scottish Government have had to put back their plans to invest in some of this, so we've taken the decision that we can't wait for money to come in and we need to be doing it ourselves.

"It will take significant investment and we don't yet know where the money is coming from but we're determined to find it during the budget process.

"It will probably be our number one priority for new investment."

Every pupil in Fife from P6 to S6 should get a digital device from next August. (Image: Fife Council) The council have spoken to other local authorities, such as Glasgow, the Scottish Borders and Falkirk, who have already given one-to-one devices to pupils and Cllr Ross said there were clear benefits and he didn't want "our kids to be left behind".

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There are 132 primary schools, 18 high schools and five special schools and the options are to lease or buy.

The estimate is it would cost £13-16m and that tablets will need to be replaced every four-to-five years.

Some pupils have already been given Chromebooks and Cllr Cara Hilton said: "I've got two children at Woodmill and for them it's been absolutely transformative in terms of being able to do their homework, revise for exams and learn wherever they are.

Fife Council hope the move will improve attainment, attendance and behaviour in schools. (Image: Fife Council) "Even simple stuff like their bags are no longer weighed down with tons of books.

"Before pupils were getting out their phones to look up Google which is not satisfactory in the modern age."

It's expected that the devices will reduce the need for pupils to have their mobile phones in school and Craig Martin, quality improvement officer at the council, said: "The main thing is it makes learning easier.

"And when it's easier and it's fun, that's when kids will learn.

"That's what we hope to achieve with this."

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He said pupils' digital skills will also greatly improve - "these are the skills they'll need in every workplace" - and added that they wouldn't be able to access content that could distract them, such as You Tube.

It should also help cut the workload for teachers and "reduce the photocopying bill and the need for paper".

Last week the council said they were facing a "significant" gap in their budget for 2025-26 and Cllr Ross conceded: "Things are not easy but we don't regard this as a 'nice to have', we regard this as essential for our learning going forward."

Fife Council leader David Ross outlines the plans to spend up to £16m on digital devices for pupils and staff. (Image: Fife Council)

Asked if he was certain this will go ahead, he replied: "Unless there is a significant further cut in the budget.

"I think we're all determined to find a way to fund it.

"We could put this off forever and our kids would lose out.

"We just have to bite the bullet, take the decision now and find the money.

"We have a £1 billion budget, £13-14-15 million sounds like a lot of money, and it is a lot, but in the big scheme of things we should be able to fund it."

The council's new executive director of education, Donald McLeod, said: "We anticipate it will bridge that digital divide for many families across Fife, so there's an equity principle as every youngster will use the same device."

He went on: "We're excited about this, I think it gives the right message that Fife is continuing to invest in its workforce and invest in its young people with the aim of transforming learning to make it more engaging and more enjoyable for the young people and the staff.

"It won't be the panacea in itself but it will be part of the approach to try and raise attainment right across the authority."