Highland Council launches digital learning tool as pupil absences rise 

The Highland Council has launched a new online learning resource as the number of pupils self-isolating at home rises across the country.

Highland’s Online Primary School (HOPS) is designed to enhance the education of youngsters from P4 to P7 through a weekly timetable of daily lessons with engaging content.

The new tool, which can also be used by teachers to support learning in the classroom, is available on the authority’s already established Highland Schools Digital Hub.

Responding to the surge in the number of teachers unable to attend school because of the pandemic, HOPS can also be used to support primary curriculum delivery if the teacher is unavailable and the class is moved online.

Councillor John Finlayson, education chairman, said: “The extensive digital learning estate available across Highland for staff, pupils, parents and carers is an effective way to empower and develop digital opportunities across Highland schools.

“Our school estate is unique in Highland as we have 203 schools of different sizes across both rural and urban areas. Therefore, our digital learning estate must be flexible and resilient to meet the needs of each school’s local circumstances across the region.

“This is also important as Covid-19 continues to be present in our schools. As cases rise, the need for a dynamic and resilient digital learning estate is essential to support pupils and staff whether they are learning at home or in school.”

Created to compliment any work set by schools, HOPS will provide pupils with a full choice of curricular activities in line with Level 1 and Level 2 of the Curriculum for Excellence.

The council says the lessons are designed to encourage independent learning and can be used in a variety of contexts, alongside other resources available on the Highland Digital Schools Hub.

Other resources and tools for younger and older age groups are available on the Highland Schools Digital Hub, including Google Classroom, eSgoil, and SCHOLAR.

Gaelic learners also have access to a wide range of resources to support learning from S1 to Advanced Higher.