The Learning Trust has been rolling out access to Google Classroom, Google Drive, Google Calendar, Google Sites and Gmail and to students from all year groups. Access to Google Apps for Education is administered through Real Smart. Real Smart and Google Apps can be accessed from any device that has an internet connection and has modern web browser. Students can login using a desktop PC, laptop, tablet or a smart phone allowing us to bridge the gap between home and school.

Student Gmail accounts are limited to the two middle schools within the Learning Trust. Students cannot send or receive emails from King Edward VI students or staff and can’t send or receive emails from any external account outside of the Learning Trust.

Access to Google Drive will enable access to Google Docs, Google Sheets and Google Slides and will reduce the reliance on Microsoft Office for word-processed documents, spreadsheets and presentations. Real Smart combined with Google Apps for Education enables a group of students to work collaboratively on the same Google Doc, Google Sheet or Google Slide presentation at the same time.

Google Classroom gives the teachers the ability to electronically create, assign, and collect student classwork and homework. Teachers can seamlessly integrate Google Docs, Google Drive, and Gmail to create tasks and provide feedback to their students directly. Students can work on assignments in Google Docs and hand their work in with just a few clicks.

Students are currently being introduced to the new system in their Computer Science lessons and are learning about acceptable use and e-safety.