Tablets will soon be provided for all Fife school pupils from P6 to S6.
Fife Council is to spend £50 million on issuing more than 35,000 iPads to schoolchildren and their teachers.
The investment aims to ensure digital inclusion and improve teaching and learning for every child.
But parents, pupils and people Fife-wide will want to know more about the ambitious one-to-one digital provision.
Here we answer the key questions.
What kind of devices will be issued?
Pupils will be given iPads. Universal provision of Chromebooks has been tested at St Columba’s and Woodmill high schools, in Dunfermline, over the last couple of years. But Fife Council was more impressed by the iPads used by pupils in the Scottish Borders.
Who will get devices? And when?
Every teacher and every pupil from P6 to S6 will get an iPad. The first devices will be handed out to teachers in May. A phased distribution to pupils will begin in August, and it’s hoped this will be complete before the summer holidays of 2026. In subsequent years pupils will be issued with iPads as they start P6.
Will pupils be able to take devices home?
Yes, iPads can be taken home in school bags and are expected to replace jotters and workbooks that pupils have for each subject. This means pupils can use them for homework and to revise for exams or tests.
What programmes and apps will pupils be able to access?
Only apps approved by Fife Council educators will be accessible on the devices. This will include Glow. Each pupil already has a Glow account which gives them access to programmes such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Teams.
How will having their own device benefit pupils?
Fife Council says iPads for all will help raise attainment, boost attendance and increase opportunities for pupils. Having their own iPads will allow pupils to learn at their own pace.
Communication between teachers and pupils will be enhanced and pupils will be able to access learning materials from home.
What about pupils with additional support needs?
Having their own tablet will be particularly beneficial for some pupils with additional support needs, such as those with dyslexia or for whom English is an additional language. P6 to S6 pupils at special schools will be issued with devices along with peers at primary and secondary schools.
How is this being paid for?
The entire programme, known as Transforming Learning Fife, will cost £50 million. Fife Council allocated £34.5 million in its capital investment plan for the next decade when it set its budget on February 20. The additional £15 million will be committed in subsequent budgets over the next 10 years.
Will it definitely happen?
Yes. Fife Council has been planning to make this provision for some time, and it cabinet committee finally approved the full business case on March 6.
The SNP had promised similar provision Scotland-wide in 2021 had proposed but later downgraded it to means-tested provision.
Do other local authorities provide devices for all pupils?
Since 2016, 10 other Scottish councils have made similar provision. They say they have seen improved attendance, increased engagement, positive family feedback, and enhanced digital skills as a result. These councils include the Scottish Borders, Edinburgh, Stirling and Aberdeen. Some individual schools outside these areas also provide devices for all.
Why does Fife Council think this is so important?
Education spokesperson Councillor Cara Hilton says: “We need to make a digital shift in learning now to realise our commitment to building a better future for Fife’s children.
“It is vital we give our young people the tools that will help them learn in a form that suits them and to provide opportunities for them to thrive.
“This is part of our ongoing ambition to improve educational outcomes and ensure that every young person has the tools and digital skills needed to thrive in today’s tech-driven society.”
Conversation