A CHESTER primary school has been awarded £25k after winning a technology challenge.

Eaton Primary School, a Department for Education (DfE) ‘digital transformation’ case study, has been awarded the sum as one of just four annual winners of the HP Community Tech Challenge.

The quarterly prize rewards schools who can show how education technology can help improve student progress.

As well as partnering with HP, the school has brought together global leaders in education technology to deliver online learning to its pupils.

These include Microsoft, Shireland Collegiate Academy, Discovery Education and eMathsmaster who are working collaboratively to craft innovative and engaging lessons for students, and professional development for staff.

Headteacher Nikki Duffell said: “We are delighted by the award as it allows us to further invest in our school and our vision to deliver an education which prepares our young people for the challenges they will face in a 21st century workplace.

"We passionately believe that our pupils must be creative, be able to work together and hone their critical thinking and independent learning skills to optimise their opportunities in life.

"Being able to teach in a modern classroom enabled by HP devices improves our ability to deliver engaging, relevant and enjoyable lessons."

Neil Sawyer, education business director at HP, said: “We believe the HP Community Tech Challenge will help schools such as Eaton implement the technology needed to reinvent learning environments and boost the teaching of STEAM subjects.

"Eaton stood out in the judging phase because of the impressive number of partners the school has brought together. Collaboration across the education sector is essential to driving effective change in how we educate the next generation.”

The innovations being developed at Eaton are to be showcased at a series of DfE events which started in Rotherham last week and then seven other regions ending in June 2019.

Called LearnEd, the roadshows aim to shine a light for school leaders on best practice in EdTech. The Eaton Primary project will form part of a live classroom experience where pupils from a local school in the region will be taught by Andrew Pritchard, a teacher at Eaton.

Sean Gardner, chair of governors, will also be part of an expert discussion panel at the event on 'Using technology to better support teaching and learning in the classroom'.

Sean said: “It is a real achievement for a school like Eaton Primary to be showcased nationally to peers at an event organised by the DfE.

"We are being recognised as leading practitioners in digital learning and we are extremely proud that HP has reflected this too in its Community Tech Challenge award.”