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Digital-learning

Digital Devices at St Catherine’s

Our 1:1 device policy is designed to support the academic and organisational needs of every student, providing them with the tools to explore, learn, and achieve:

  • U3-U5 (Years 7-11): Students use iPads in a monitored environment, ensuring safety, appropriate use, and a secure platform for learning.
  • Sixth Form: A Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) scheme allows students the flexibility to select devices that suit their A Level subject combinations and personal preferences, encouraging independence and adaptability.

What is Digital Learning?

Digital learning at St Catherine’s goes beyond the basics of using computers. The integration of 1:1 devices has transformed how we teach and learn, opening up opportunities that were unimaginable just a few years ago. Highlights of our approach include:

  • Interactive digital resources: Multimedia-rich digital exercise books and content provide an engaging, creative, and dynamic learning experience which is accessible at all times.
  • Real-time collaboration: Students work together on shared documents, whether in the classroom or across the globe, developing teamwork and communication skills.
  • Beyond the classroom walls: Interactive learning adventures encourage curiosity, risk-taking, and exploration in ways that extend far beyond traditional lessons.

We equip our students with essential skills in Microsoft tools and digital citizenship, ensuring they are confident, capable, and responsible in their use of technology.

Stretch and challenge

Our digital provision supports every student in reaching their potential. By offering advanced tools and personalised learning opportunities, we encourage innovation, critical thinking, and creativity in every subject. The use of multimedia OneNote books plays a key role in supporting both extension activities and individualised support. These digital notebooks allow teachers to provide differentiated resources, such as video explanations, interactive exercises, and advanced research tasks, all within one accessible platform. Students can explore extension materials that deepen their understanding, while also receiving tailored support to consolidate their learning. This dynamic approach ensures every student can engage with content at a level that challenges and inspires them.

Artificial and Human intelligence

A frequently asked question is, “Will AI replace teachers?” Our response is clear: absolutely not. Teachers bring empathy, understanding, and inspiration to their classrooms which are qualities that AI cannot replicate. Instead, AI acts as a partner, helping teachers to work efficiently and deliver engaging and powerful lessons, while enabling students to achieve their best.

At St Catherine’s, we welcome the opportunities that Artificial Intelligence (AI) brings to education while maintaining a commitment to ethical, safe, and responsible use. AI supports our teachers and students by enhancing lessons, elevating learning experiences, and stimulating creativity, but it will never replace the human relationships that are at the heart of education.

To ensure our community is well-informed, we draw on resources such as the Online Safety Alliance (OSA) AI course. This programme provides practical guidance on the ethical use of AI, helping students and staff navigate its opportunities and limitations responsibly.

Human intelligence, critical thinking, and curiosity remain the foundation of our teaching, complemented by innovative initiatives like our Grey Matters, Life Matters and PPPEL (Philosophy, Politics, Psychology, Economics and Logic) programmes. These efforts ensure our students are prepared for the challenges and opportunities of an ever-changing world. From accessing cutting-edge resources to tackling complex, real-world problems, digital tools allow students to extend their learning and achieve their full potential.

Digital Safety

In an increasingly connected world, it is essential that students are equipped to navigate the digital landscape safely and responsibly. At St Catherine’s, we take a proactive approach to teaching digital safety, ensuring that students develop the knowledge and skills needed to engage confidently and thoughtfully with technology while safeguarding their wellbeing.

From the earliest years, we embed the importance of online safety in our curriculum. Students learn how to engage critically with online sources, conduct effective research, and properly credit their references. Equally important, we teach them how to stay safe online and, perhaps most crucially, when to switch off and unplug. We address the unique challenges posed by social media through targeted programmes designed to help students reflect on their online presence and understand the implications of their digital actions. By the Sixth Form, our focus shifts to preparing students for their professional futures. Through our University Preparation course, ‘SCOPE’ - the St Catherine’s Ongoing Programme of Enrichment, students learn how to manage their professional online identity thoughtfully and constructively.

At every stage, our aim is to empower students to make informed, safe, and ethical choices in the digital world, ensuring they are prepared for the opportunities and challenges of life online.