All schools in England to have high speed internet by 2025

Every school across the country will be able to access high speed internet by 2025, as part of the government’s aim to level up education for all.

Speaking at the Bett Show in London, the Education Secretary set out the latest step in cross-government plans to roll out lightning-fast gigabit broadband across the UK.

To achieve this ambition, the government has also announced a £150m fund to support schools most in need to upgrade their WiFi connections. Over the course of the next three years, the Department for Education (DfE) will reach out to schools in priority areas to facilitate the introduction of faster and more reliable connectivity.

The department is also publishing its first set of technology standards, aimed at supporting schools and colleges in understanding which technologies they should have in place to best support effective teaching.

The standards refer specifically to broadband and in-school connectivity. Schools and colleges will be able to access advice on the most recommended technology infrastructure, which itself will support best practice in helping pupils learn.

Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi said: ‘Digital technology, and the data and infrastructure that underpins it, is changing the way we live, work, and learn. We need to use our experience from the pandemic as a springboard to embed new and better ways of using technology in schools, and across education.

‘This new investment moves us a giant step forward to helping ensure that every school across the country has the best technology.

‘Upgrading schools to high speed broadband, setting out clear standards so that schools know what technology they should have in place, as well as providing funding to support them in achieving this, is the latest way we are levelling up education across the country.

‘The pledge to deliver high speed broadband will make learning more interactive, helping schools and colleges ensure that every pupil has access to the best education possible.’

The £150m will also be used to provide 1.9 million laptops and tablets to disadvantaged children and funding the Oak National Academy – an online platform which will be rolled out across the country to support teaching.

In related news, local authorities do not have an accurate figure of how many children there are in England nor of how many children are not receiving education, according to the Children’s Commissioner for England. 

Photo by Thomas Park