Wi-Fi boost for Swansea schools

SCHOOLS and pupils across Swansea are better connected to all the educational resources they need thanks to investment in the latest Wi-Fi technology.

Swansea Council successfully bid for a Welsh Government Learning in Digital Wales Grant for each school and backed it with additional investment and tailor-made support to provide schools with enhanced internet connectivity.

It means that schools will be able to use technology like  e-mail and social media to work together and share best practice.

It will also support all learners to access online resources and a range of digital resources to provide a rich, 21st Century learning experience.

And it means school visitors such as challenge advisers, education psychologists and specialist peripatetic teachers have Wi-Fi access on site to help them better perform their duties and access information they need to provide the best support.

Swansea Council Cabinet member for Education Cllr Jen Raynor said: “We live in a world where it is increasingly important to have access to Wi-Fi.

“Having carefully-developed, secure Wi-Fi systems in schools will help improve the potential of digital learning in schools and this important development will resource and inspire pupils to equip them for future employment.”

As well as preparing a successful funding bid, Swansea Council’s school’s ICT service identified, evaluated, and implemented a tailor-made Wi-Fi solution for each school.

It means there are two wireless networks in every school in the city – one freeing up devices currently connecting to the internet by cable to be used more flexibly, innovatively and in more areas of the school.

The second network is designed specifically to allow mobile devices such as tablets and phones to connect to the internet and learning portals such as Hwb and Swansea Edunet enabling more pupils and staff across school facilities to benefit.