The best college in the UK at using technology

Ealing, Hammersmith and West London’s College won the prize for outstanding use of technology for improving teaching, learning and assessment at Friday night’s annual TES FE Awards.

Under chief executive Garry Phillips, Ealing, Hammersmith and West London’s College has introduced a digital education strategy that has built on Google for Education technology to revitalise students’ attitude to work, both inside and outside the classroom. The Google Innovation team is led by Wendy Peskett who has blogged extensively about the project and can take you right back to 2014 to explain how the project got started and how far it has come. 

The award is tremendous acknowledgement for Wendy and her Google Innovation team. The team share best practice via the Google Plus Community and encourage staff to swap examples of innovative Google lesson ideas across departments.

Computing & ICT students can now explore a data centre via a 360° tour, rather than a textbook, and Travel & Tourism students can plot a guided tour route online to experience attractions before actually visiting them. Staff training and communication are key to the success of the project, and a dedicated team of 25 people have been trained as Google Innovators to help other teachers to develop their use of technology.

https://twitter.com/garryphillips20/status/835257431173255169

As a result, there has been a 17.3 per cent increase in English and maths achievement, along with a 12 per cent rise in achievement across all subjects since 2014, as students embrace a more self-directed approach to learning. There has also been a 10 per cent improvement in English and maths exam attendance because the technology assists with administration and remotely assessing students who cannot come into college for health or childcare reasons.

According to the judging panel, Ealing, Hammersmith and West London’s College was the standout candidate in this category. The judges highlighted the vision and leadership demonstrated. “It was the whole institution, it was a holistic approach, it was led from the top,” they said.