Embracing the #newedu: How 8 schools started the next phase of their tech journey

During 2020, our schools had to withstand challenges many had never imagined. And while technology certainly played a key role in helping educators navigate the pandemic, it's not the only reason schools have found for embracing new technologies, and it's not the only potential pitfall they want to warn their peers about! We asked teachers and school leaders from across the UK how technology has impacted their schools in recent years, and what advice they think schools need to hear...

By Liz Sunter March 08, 2021

Be future-proof like Chelford C of E Primary School

When Andy Brady, Headteacher of Chelford C of E Primary decided to use 1:1 iPad for his Year 5 and 6 students to transform their learning, this was what he found...

Quick wins with iPad

“Having worked with Jigsaw24 to roll out our 1:1 iPad provision in Year 5 and 6 just prior to the pandemic, we were well placed for the migration to remote learning – this provision ensured that we had already set up procedures for digital workflow in KS2, which we then extended across the whole school. These ‘quick wins’ made it easier for staff to recognise how remote learning could work, and the use of apps like Showbie – which blend setting assignments, grading, and sharing work with parents – has been central to this success.”

The focus is always on the teaching and learning

“The most significant factor in choosing to collaborate with Jigsaw24 is their level of customer service. At the heart of this is a recognition of what we are trying to achieve – the use of technology merely serves as a facilitator to give our staff and pupils the tools they need to succeed in today’s technological age.”

"These ‘quick wins’ made it easier for staff to recognise how remote learning could work, and the use of apps like Showbie – which blend setting assignments, grading, and sharing work with parents – has been central to this success."

Mobilise your classroom like Battle Hill Primary

Battle Hill Primary introduced 1:1 iPads in 2014, and quickly realised they couldn’t live without them! Here’s what ICT Lead and Year 4 teacher, Stephanie Brown, had to say about the process of going 1:1…

Many hands make light work

“Our staff were very quickly able to see the potential the iPads had to enhance our teaching, and most importantly, make us more time efficient and reduce workload. We also bought Logitech crayons for all staff, so that we were able to mark the work better in our key teaching apps. We struggled to utilise the iPads to share work, so Jigsaw24 set us up with AirServer to allow us to screen mirror and also allow the children to mirror their work to the board. This has enabled us to walk freely around the room and not be stuck teaching from the front.”

Apple Classroom “an absolute game changer”

“When we moved over to Jamf mobile device management, we set up managed Apple IDs, which has enabled us to roll out Apple Classroom. This transformed classroom management of the iPads for staff. It allows me to see what the children are doing in real time, so if they are working on a maths problem, I can monitor what they are doing on my screen and intervene straight away and help when someone is struggling. It has also allowed for live feedback, which has been an absolute game changer for us.”

"Managed Apple IDs transformed classroom management for staff."

Reach out like Parkdale Primary

Parkdale Primary invested in deploying iPads throughout the school and have never looked back. Here’s what Jenny Hinton, Digital Lead and Music Lead at Parkdale, had to say about her experience.

“Jigsaw24 equipped me with the skills to support others.”

“Working with Jigsaw24 has enabled us to provide high quality remote education. The team genuinely care about providing bespoke support and training to help staff to improve the quality of education. Plus, they deliver exceptional support remotely for any technical problems, and have equipped me with the skills I needed to support others as Digital Lead.

"The entirety of the process has been seamless, and each day I continue to be incredibly impressed with the service they provide.”

“Rather than ‘go it alone’, we get support daily.”

“I wanted the process switching to iPad to be smooth and to ensure the money invested in the technology would be a success. I cannot express how thrilled I am with the decision I made to go with Jigsaw24, rather than ‘going it alone’! I often make light of how I probably seek to speak to someone at Jigsaw24 each day, and they always deliver – whether that is on guidance from the education team or with ongoing support from the tech support team, which covers all digital support.”

"Working with Jigsaw24 has enabled us to provide high quality remote education. The team genuinely care about providing bespoke support and training to help staff to improve the quality of education."

Prepare for the next generation of learners like Denbigh Community Primary School

Deputy Head Mark Holt explains why it’s important to have an IT partner who pushes your thinking forward…

“When you’ve worked in schools for a long time, you soon realise that every day brings with it a new challenge, and that teaching and learning never stand still. Jigsaw24 don’t just react to my needs to support our school now, they challenge the way I think. They collaborate with me to proactively plan for the future, and support me to take our vision for ICT for learning and turn it into a reality.”

Imagine. Believe. Achieve.

“Our school motto is ‘Imagine, believe, achieve’, and the work with Jigsaw24 certainly reflects this in practice. They’ve been a true asset to have on our side and a pleasure to collaborate with for a number of years.”

"We proactively plan for the future."

Set your school up for 1:1 iPad success like Lady Barn House School

When Lady Barn House school switched to 1:1 iPads in 2019, they didn’t know they’d be delivering remote lessons within a year. Deputy Head Samantha Gibbons explains how they’re balancing live and remote learning…

Always plan your work

“When we made the strategic decision to move towards one iPad per student, we wanted to deliver a solution that would, first and foremost, improve teaching and learning. We chose to establish a partnership with Jigsaw24 for several reasons. One of their most striking qualities is the fact that they take the time to get to know you; they visited us (when that was possible) to get a view of the school layout and spend time with teachers and the SLT to ensure they were adequately addressing our needs.

“Their team helped us develop a comprehensive timeline of actions to implement, taking account of the varied facets of the rollout – not least the financial investment. They supplied us with pre-configured, managed iPads, mostly on a lease basis, and training for all teachers and teaching assistants. Frankly, we couldn’t have done it without them.”

But don’t be afraid to edit…

“When the pandemic hit in the Spring of 2020, Jigsaw24 helped us accelerate our plans considerably so that we could support all pupils with remote learning. Having come through various developments and incarnations over the last nine months, we are now delivering a blend of synchronous and asynchronous teaching, with all pupils from Years 1-6 enjoying live lessons each morning.”

And remember: You’re never too old to learn!

“Jigsaw24 continue to provide us with high quality CPD delivered in twilight sessions after school. It is a constant source of satisfaction to see how far our staff have come in acquiring the necessary technical skills to deliver progressive and engaging lessons. Jigsaw24 are always contactable by phone or email, which has meant we can iron out all concerns, however small or large. I would wholeheartedly recommend them as partners!”

"Their team helped us develop a comprehensive timeline of actions to implement, taking account of the varied facets of the rollout – not least the financial investment."

Smash multi-school projects like Radford Academy

After we provided training and support for Radford Academy during a major 2015 rollout, we became their go-to IT partner for major projects. Deputy Headteacher Anthony Bricklebank takes a look back at some of our shared successes…

"Their advice, support and training was revolutionary"

“We started working with Jigsaw24 in 2015 as part of a multi-school media project. The training they provided for the staff was fantastic, and that, coupled with their high level of ongoing support, was a big reason why the project was a complete success.

"A couple of years later, we decided as a school that we wanted IT to have more of an impact on the children’s learning across the curriculum. We contacted Jigsaw24 to see how they could support us and from the start, their advice, support and training was revolutionary.”

Turning SLT into IT advocates

“The school leadership team attended a day’s training on establishing an IT vision for the school, which really focused on why IT was a priority for us and the impact we wanted it to have on the children. From the action plan produced, we were able to map our journey towards IT being an essential tool to enhance the children’s learning. Jigsaw24 have continued to provide ongoing support, both with purchasing hardware and high quality training for staff.”

Inspired, motivated and empowered staff

“Jigsaw24 was the obvious choice to provide advice and support for the staff with remote learning during lockdown. The training they provided for using apps like Showbie and Explain Everything inspired, motivated and empowered staff to transform the remote learning we previously provided.”

"From the action plan produced, we were able to map our journey towards IT being an essential tool to enhance the children’s learning."

Gather evidence like Romans Field School

Teacher Aaron Norwood explains why the school chose Jigsaw24 for their latest technology push…

“Jigsaw24 have been very helpful since the day we started working with them. They’ve supplied us with all of our Apple products and have answered any queries that I – or the school – have had. Their Apple Professional Learning Specialists have been through every single step of our technology journey with us, and have gone out of their way to support the school as we move forward with Apple technology.

“Jigsaw24 always help us get the best out of the devices, whether we’re using them for home learning or in the classroom. Since moving to Apple devices, we’re able to do a lot more with coding, and having cameras and other inputs means that it’s easier to evidence our practical learning step by step.”

"Having cameras and other inputs means that it’s easier to evidence our practical learning step by step."

Embrace holistic learning like Furze Platt Junior School

After Furze Platt Junior School embarked on an ambitious training programme, we asked teacher Katharine Sweatman what she thought the sessions meant for staff and students…

“As an outstanding, innovative large primary aiming to implement the use of 1:1 iPads throughout the school, holistic, tailored training was our first priority. Jigsaw24’s flexible approach focused on engaging all staff through a variety of small group and school-wide practical sessions. These gave staff the confidence to explore and develop their skills, then individualised support with real life lesson planning guaranteed that ideas and knowledge from the training were implemented within the classroom from day one.”

Stimulating pupils with creatively enriching activities

“Inspired by their own learning, all our staff are now equipped to instil the use of iPads throughout the curriculum, stimulating pupils with creatively enriching activities. Our children use iPads intrinsically across the school, ensuring they are active participants in their own development and able to express themselves and their ideas in a digital world.”

“The opportunities for collaboration are groundbreaking.”

“Having done the training myself, I feel that I am now more of a facilitator in the children’s learning, showing them how to access, record and present information rather than telling them what to learn. The opportunities for collaboration with iPad are groundbreaking.

"Children can add individual parts to a bigger project, reorder, edit, discuss and improve their work in ways that are impossible on paper. We’re seeing engagement with the task, with each other and with parents once the work is published in the Seesaw app.”

"Jigsaw24’s comprehensive support has helped our pupils and staff gain the skills needed to discover and develop their futures."

Want to discover your #newedu and save 20% on a new Mac when you spread the cost over 36 months, or 10% when spread over four years? Call the team on 03332 409 290 or email education@Jigsaw24.com. For the latest news, follow us on LinkedInand Twitter.