Sidmouth students to benefit from funding

HOT on the heels of great GCSE results at Sidmouth College comes news that the school is to benefit from Government money allocated to Devon to help students from rural areas access Post 16 education.

HOT on the heels of great GCSE results at Sidmouth College comes news that the school is to benefit from Government money allocated to Devon to help students from rural areas access Post 16 education.

Some �50,000 will be available to help provide laptops and electronic notepads to certain students in Devon having trouble accessing Post-16 classes within a reasonable travelling distance.

It will help support students having to make long journeys to attend specialist courses, said principal Jeremy Roberts.

"It gives important access to IT and could give our students access to learning without having to travel," he said.

"They can log into a course and learn through video conferencing.

"This year, for the first time, students can apply to us for ICT support, either for a laptop or notepad, to use for their courses at college or at home."

He said some students doing A levels or BTEC courses needed to access courses not taught at the college but available at, say, The King's School, Ottery St Mary, Honiton College or Clyst Vale.

Mr Roberts said the college worked in a consortium of schools. Any students registered with the college for Post-16 education, who currently have to take taxis to classes, can apply for ICT help to undertake remote tutoring.

The college will decide who will make best use of the equipment being offered.