What is the EdTech Demonstrator Programme?

A guide to the EdTech Demonstrator Programme and which schools are taking part

The EdTech Demonstrator Programme provides schools and colleges with free, peer-to-peer support on the effective use of technology in education. Support is tailored to the needs of each school and college, supported by a diagnostic tool which aligns with a review your remote education provision framework. To find out how to access this support, click here.

Phase one of the programme ran from April 2020 to March 2021. The original programme was refocused in April 2020 to help support remote teaching and working during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Phase two began in April 2021 and will run until March 2022; it will support schools and colleges to use technology to:

• help students catch up;
• reduce teacher workload;
• manage their resources effectively;
• improve access to the curriculum;
• achieve wider improvement aims;
• support remote education if and when required.

Demonstrator schools and colleges are a network of providers who have shown they can use technology effectively and have the capacity to help other schools and colleges to do the same. In 2021 to 2022 the network will continue to support schools and colleges with remote education when it’s needed, and with the use of technology for:

• Recovery – showing how technology can bolster pupil and student progress and outcomes, and support catch-up and recovery activities – for example, through online and in-person teaching and tutoring, the development of independent and individualised learning, and support for high-quality assessment and feedback.
• Reducing workload – using technology to remove unnecessary tasks, support more flexible teaching practices, improve access to excellent curriculum resources, communicate more quickly and easily, and develop professional links.
• School and college improvement plans – ensuring that the adoption of technology supports the wider aims of the school or college.
• School and college resource management – ensuring that the adoption of technology provides the best value for money for their existing resources – for example, through cloud-based education platforms and management information systems – and making informed procurement decisions.
• An accessible and inclusive curriculum – ensuring that the adoption of technology includes a strong focus on improving access for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, and removing barriers to the effective use of assistive technology.

Support is tailored to the needs of each school and college and will be underpinned by a diagnostic tool to be used at the start and end of the training. There are three tiers of support available to schools and colleges:

• Light touch support (c.6 hours of training delivered over a term.) For example, those schools and colleges requiring rapid support on remote education, catch-up and recovery provision.
• Medium touch term support (c.15 hours of training delivered over the academic year.) For example, identifying one or two areas where technology can be adopted and have maximum impact for teachers and pupils.
• Long-term support (c.30 hours of training delivered over the academic year.) For example, working with schools and colleges to develop a sustainable digital strategy, embedding technology – particularly digital platforms and devices – as part of a wider change programme, and recognising where technology will, and will not, make an impact

Which schools are EdTech Demonstrators?

Demonstrator schools and colleges are state-funded schools and further education providers in England offering primary, secondary and/or 16-to-19 education with an overall Ofsted rating of ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’. During the selection process, they also needed to satisfy DfE that they had good financial controls and financial reserves.

The successful demonstrator school and college applicants from the first funding round were announced in April 2020. DfE ran a further funding round in April, to invite further applicants to express an interest in becoming demonstrator schools and colleges, and these were announced in June 2020.

All demonstrator schools and colleges from the first year of the programme were asked whether they wished to continue for a second year and if so, what support they could provide.

The full list of schools is available here.