100 Amazon Fire tablets donated to Peterborough primary by education charity

The education charity, which works to develop and support teachers, has partnered with Amazon to donate the tablets to schools who need them most.

Gladstone Primary Academy, which is part of the Thomas Deacon Education Trust, has a high percentage of under-privileged pupils, with more than 180 children qualifying for free school meals.

Now that all pupils are back in school the devices will be used to support learning beyond lockdown and provide access to online resources and homework.

Headteacher Simon Martin said: “We are so grateful for this incredibly generous donation from Teach First – it really will make a huge difference to the lives of our young people.

“Already, we have identified pupils who need the additional support and are working hard to distribute the tablets as soon as possible to maximise learning. They will have an immediate positive impact on our children and families and be used as an essential learning tool to support with homework and remote learning.

“We are proud to work closely with other organisations to ensure that our pupils get the very best education, opportunities and life chances.”

Russell Hobby, CEO of Teach First, said: “Learning from home can be difficult for any child, but for households with limited online devices for learning those difficulties are even greater. We welcome this fantastic donation from Amazon meaning many children will be able to learn without the barriers they were facing before.

“Teachers and parents are working incredibly hard, but they need support from our wider society to make sure the most vulnerable children don’t get left behind. This support will make all the difference in helping us to achieve that.”