Offaly school showcases digital drive at major London show

THE Sacred Heart School in Tullamore has been asked to showcase its digital teaching and learning journey - which started more than a decade ago at the Bett Conference which takes place in ExCeL in London this week from January 21-23.

The Bett (British Education Technology Show) Conference is an annual exhibition where designers and providers from all over the world showcase their innovations and wares to support teaching and learning in the classroom.

This year the Sacred Heart School has been asked, as a Microsoft Showcase School, to platform its practices, collaboration and progress with digital teaching and learning.

The event is attended by over 35,000 attendees each year, so it gives the school and immense opportunity to be showcased on an international platform.

School Deputy Principal, Sean McFadden, noted that the Sacred Heart, an all-girls school, began a digital drive long before it was popular to do so and that has paid dividends now, given the importance of AI and the introduction of Senior Cycle Reform.

“One of our key objectives is to ensure that our students are well prepared for the AI world that they will be working in,” said Mr McFadden.

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“We have already introduced an AI platform to staff and students and training is underway. The fact that students are digital natives by the time they reach Fifth year in our school means that many of the worries associated with Additional Assessment Component (AAC) – which is a worry for many students and parents now - is not an issue for us at all. All students have their own device, so it means that the creation, storing and developing of digital work is made so much easier.”

Gloria Enrique, Digital Co-ordinator in the SHS, will also be presenting at the Showcase Schools Day in March in Dublin and again notes that increasingly, the Tullamore school is leading the way in helping other schools introduce digital technology.

When asked about his next big project for the school Mr Mc Fadden was delighted to remind everyone that the Sacred Heart School Choir will provide music for various liturgies at the Papal Basilicas in Rome in February.