Pinders Primary School contacted Elementary Technology in 2017 looking for advice on how to upgrade their ageing interactive whiteboards and classroom projectors. They knew their older technology was a barrier to improving teaching and learning and had in fact already started the process of upgrading. Working with a non-specialist supplier though, who provided minimal additional support proved to be a false start.

After an initial conversation, it was clear the best place to start was our Classroom Healthcheck – this provided them with a detailed overview of ‘where they are now’. To what extent was their current technology, and how it was being implemented, supporting teaching and learning?

After discussing the results of the Classroom Healthcheck, the headteacher concluded; ‘the highest priority was that teachers could no longer deliver lessons effectively’.

It became clear that for several reasons, the school needed to address the technology in virtually all their classrooms; the exception being two which used an interactive touchscreen yet without support from a previous supplier.

Elementary Technology supported the school throughout the whole process, from initial consultation, installation, training and support for the lifetime of the technology.

The result is a cutting-edge SMART Board 6000 Series interactive touchscreen in each classroom, and with the support of SMART Learning Suite software and our detailed, inclusive training, pupil engagement was transformed.

Pinders Primary School also uses a visualiser in virtually all of their classrooms and has seen great success in their use for letter formation for example. This video showcases a Year 3 pupil’s handwriting improvement over 7 weeks.

More recently, the school has embedded Learning by Questions into their day-to-day learning, use it to free up teachers’ time, improve assessment and progress tracking and also bring about improved outcomes – particularly for SATs!

Since the upgrade took place we have worked closely with Pinders Primary School, supporting their ongoing school improvement and also their staff CPD.

An important part of this was working with their Deputy Head Teacher, Craig Fraser, who has since become a certified SMART Exemplary Educator. Recognised for his outstanding knowledge of SMART, and its effective use in the classroom to improve teaching, reduce workload, streamline assessment and more.

We have been delighted with the tangible results that the implementation of technology has had at Pinders Primary. In fact, the headteacher has stated that our partnership has been instrumental in transforming outcomes at the school.

Be clear – there’s no automatic cause and effect that having new technology in a school improves outcomes. The success outlined in this video is down to the hard work and commitment of staff and pupils at the school. Enabled after we helped lay solid groundwork and are still there at every stage of their school improvement journey.

See SMART Descend on Wakefield at both Pinders Primary School and Sharlston Community School!

It’s work like this, times we go the extra mile, that shows just why SMART themselves recognised us as their Platinum Partner “Reseller of the Year”.

We look forward to continuing our close partnership with Pinders Primary School. - for more information, call our team on 0113 818 7930 or by email at enquiries@elementaryuk.com

Date: 12th March 2018