High school goes wireless

A new broadband wireless network has been launched at Newtown High School to allow students improved access to research and work materials throughout the campus.

The network is understood to be heavily filtered, allowing access to only mainstream websites and their email, but allows students to use their laptops, phones and tablets to access information when working on homework or researching projects at school.

Access was previously limited to computers in the school which meant limited access.

"In the first day more than 16 per cent of students opted in across both of our campuses. This has now risen to 46 per cent of students having opted in," said a school spokesman.

"This has clearly been a popular scheme designed to provide students with fast, filtered, and safe internet access to enable them to further their study in lessons and at break or lunch times.

"Students can now use a plethora of devices to connect such as the conventional iPhones, iPads, Android devices, laptops and more specialist devices such as Kindles or other web connected technology."

He added: "When speaking to students they are really surprised at how fast and easy it is to get connected and further their learning and it has certainly been helping with researching tasks and getting instant access to facts and figures needed to push their work to the next grade."

Access to wireless for students also has helped enhance the Hwb+ platform, created by the Welsh Government, to allow for increased digital learning across Wales.