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<p>Technology in education has been essential for continuing to teach remotely during
the COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent school and college closures. Technology also
has the potential to support teacher workload reductions, flexible working, cost savings,
effective teaching and improved pupil outcomes. We are building on the department’s
significant investment in devices, platforms, training and digital services to develop
a sustainable strategy for digital technology in education.</p><p>The department launched
the first phase of the EdTech Demonstrator programme in April 2020. The Demonstrators
are a network of schools and colleges which were initially funded in the 2020/21 financial
year to provide peer-to-peer support on making the best use of technology to support
remote teaching during the COVID-19 outbreak.</p><p>During phase one of the programme,
the Demonstrator network provided bespoke support, meeting the individual training
needs of over 4,000 schools and colleges, with over 11,000 more accessing live weekly
webinars and tutorials.</p><p>The programme will continue into the 2021/22 financial
year and will include support to schools and colleges to develop a sustainable digital
strategy that supports wider school and college improvement drives. Schools and colleges
can request support from the demonstrators via the programme website: <a href="https://edtechdemo.ucst.uk/"
target="_blank">https://edtechdemo.ucst.uk/</a>.</p><p>From September 2021, we continue
to expect schools to provide remote education for pupils whose attendance would be
contrary to government guidance or legislation around COVID-19. Schools should, therefore,
maintain their capabilities to deliver high quality remote education for next academic
year.</p><p>A comprehensive package of support continues to be available to schools
and further education institutions to help them meet our expectations for remote education,
accessible at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/get-help-with-remote-education"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/get-help-with-remote-education</a>.</p><p>To
support the hard work of schools in delivering remote education, Oak National Academy
was very quickly brought together by over 40 teachers, their schools and other education
organisations. The department has made £4.84 million available for Oak National Academy
both for the summer term of the academic year 2019/20, and then for the 2020/21 academic
year, to provide video lessons in a broad range of subjects for Reception up to year
11. Specialist content for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities
is also available. Since the start of the spring term 2021, over 98 million Oak National
Academy lessons have been viewed.</p><p>The department has now committed a further
£2.1 million to Oak National Academy, enabling it to operate from the start of the
next academic year through to Easter 2022.</p><p>My right hon. Friend, the Minister
of State for School Standards, has agreed to meet overseas education ministers attending
the Global Education Partnership Summit to share policy experience and best practice
in raising standards, and discuss approaches for education recovery. These meetings
will provide an opportunity to highlight the department’s work such as Oak National
Academy, and we expect overseas ministers, particularly from developing countries,
to be interested in learning more about our approach.</p>
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