Leeds City College calls for unused laptops to help students learn from home

Leeds City College, which is part of Luminate Education Group, is calling for donations to its student laptop initiative, following the reinstatement of remote learning due to the current lockdown.

Last week, the government pledged to provide a further one million laptops to disadvantaged students across the country to support them with this move, but the college fears this amount won’t be enough.

The initiative aims to support learners from all backgrounds to access learning online when they are not on campus, while also increasing connectivity.

Steve Hope, Head of Independent Learning at Leeds City College, said: “We want all of our students to be able to access learning online while they are unable to attend college.

“Although we use online learning as part of the college’s blended learning model, many of our students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, don’t have devices at home. We also don’t know when the devices promised by the government will be available for colleges to request and obtain.

“The college’s digital platform, Google for Education, is used for the vast majority of our teaching and learning. If a learner has to isolate or work remotely, they can access resources, engage in their learning, as well as be provided with robust assessment and feedback by their tutors using Google Classroom and Google Meet.

“So far we have provided thousands of students with laptops but we still need over 700 to ensure everyone can continue their learning at home. If your organisation has any old laptops or Chromebooks that are no longer in use, you are welcome to donate these to us.”

Alongside investing £200,000 as a group to provide additional devices and WiFi dongles, the college is also supporting student wellbeing by developing a range of programmes including a number of physical activities, societies and wellbeing groups to engage students with online enrichment such as: Online Gaming Society, Online Stress Less Yoga, Black Lives Matter Group and an Online Parent and Carer Group.

For further information, to donate a laptop or Chromebook, please contact: steven.hope@leedscitycollege.ac.uk