Last week the Government announced that more than 100 rural primary schools around England are set to get super-fast broadband connections in the next few months.

The story was reported by publications such as Tes, PublicTechnology.net and Christian Today.

£3 million of initial funding has been made available and three schools are already connected, a further 52 schools have already signed contracts, and 72 are in talks. The money is from the Government’s £190 million Local Full Fibre Networks programme to help schools benefit from full fibre connections in classrooms.

One rural head teacher said that the connection had ‘revolutionised’ the school, adding: ‘The much faster and reliable access to the web has allowed staff to work more efficiently; while the children, although still geographically remote, are no longer technologically isolated and will have the same opportunities as their urban peers in preparing for a more technological future.’  

The Church of England, which operates 4,700 schools (half in rural areas), welcomed the Government’s funding and said connectivity is now a ‘social justice issue’ for children in rural areas.

Full articles:

→ Tes - More than 100 rural schools to get super-fast broadband

→ PublicTechnology.net - Rural primary schools to get gigabit broadband in £3m government scheme

→ Christian Today - High speed broadband in rural schools is a social justice issue, says the Church of England

→ GOV.UK - More than 100 rural schools to get gigabit speed broadband