Award-winning EdTech company welcomes Shadow Minister for Digital, Science & Tech to hear about their work

Chi Onwurah MP (@ChiOnwurah) who represents the Newcastle Upon Tyne Central constituency visited Soundbitelearning, the company behind GCSEPod (@GCSEPod) on the 9th of September at their office at the Newcastle Enterprise Centre to find out about their work after they received a Queen’s Award earlier this year.

GCSEPod is a digital publisher of exam board-mapped, video and assessment content for 28 GCSE/IGCSE subjects and Functional Skills. The firm played a central role during the pandemic ensuring continuity of learning during school closures.  They continue to experience record numbers of students accessing their content, while teachers enjoy exceptional data insights allowing them to plan and intervene effectively, where needed.

Ms Onwurah met with Anthony Coxon, the co-founder and director of GCSEPod, along with his team to discuss a variety of topics including the role of digital learning in helping to close the attainment and disadvantage gap.  The team talked about the measures the company took to support students and teachers during the pandemic and heard from Ms Onwurah about the challenges schools are likely to face going forward.

They also spoke about GCSEPod’s wish to help enrich and diversify the curriculum and GCSEPod staff told Ms Onwurah about their CAACH project, which celebrates British and Irish Authors of African and Caribbean Heritage.  It is first in a series of planned special projects that aims to shine a light on subjects that have historically been overlooked in education; these Pods explore the literary contributions of the African diaspora in the UK and Ireland.

Anthony Coxon, co-founder and director of GCSEPod said:

“I am so grateful to Ms Onwurah for taking the time to come and visit GCSEPod.  The discussion we had about how we can best contribute to helping develop education policy was really interesting and I know all of the team really enjoyed meeting her.

The team were struck by Chi’s energy to make a difference and everyone at GCSEPod is fully behind her drive to make ICT and engineering more accessible to all, particularly to girls, and to bring engineering and ICT jobs to the North East.”

Chi Onwurah MP said:

“I was delighted to visit GCSEPod and meet the team. It’s obvious that EdTech is going to have a growing role in our children’s education and it is clear that the wellbeing and attainment of children is at the heart of everything the staff at GCSEPod do.”