Hitchin Boys’ School
Hitchin Boys’ School is an Academy Trust providing a comprehensive, traditional single-sex education with a reputation for high academic achievement.
The school consistently outperforms national averages and has a strong focus on supporting students to succeed, regardless of their background. Under the leadership of Fergal Moane, who became Headteacher in 2020, the school embarked on a journey to enhance its digital strategy.
The Challenge
Fergal Moane recognised the urgent need to adapt to flexible, agile and inclusive teaching methods. His experience with digital learning strategies positioned him well to lead this transformation. The challenge was to establish a 1:1 device programme that would support both blended and time-shifted learning, while maintaining equitable access and ensuring that technology enhanced the pedagogical framework.
The Solution
Hitchin Boys’ School chose Freedom Tech because of our ability to provide a comprehensive, vendor-agnostic solution that met the school’s needs. Freedom Tech provided the infrastructure for payment collection, risk protection and a range of device options to meet the different needs of students throughout their school career.
Implementation
The implementation was based on a two-year roll-out plan:
- Year One: Devices were distributed to Years 7, 8, and 10.
- Year Two: Devices were rolled out to Years 7 and 10, achieving full 1:1 device coverage across the school within 24 months.
The programme was underpinned by a strong digital strategy using Google Workspace for Education and based on Dr Ruben Puentedura’s SAMR model (Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition) to guide the integration of technology into teaching and learning.
Teaching and Learning Benefits
The school focused on using technology to support effective teaching practices. This included ensuring resources were accessible before, during and after lessons and facilitating learning in different environments (e.g. sports halls, field trips or drama rooms). The approach empowered teachers to use technology judiciously while maintaining traditional learning methods, such as handwriting for GCSEs.
The programme has had a positive impact on assessment and communication, reducing staff workload and cutting paper and printing costs by a third. The savings have been reinvested in the 1:1 programme to improve connectivity and digital resources.
An Evidence-Based Approach
Hitchin Boys’ School relied on research and evidence to shape its digital strategy:
- EEF guidance: They used recommendations from the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) to optimize digital learning, metacognition, and parental engagement.
- SAMR model: The program progressed from simple uses of technology (like digital graphing calculators) to more advanced applications, such as 3D modelling and printing in Design Technology classes, which would not have been possible without the new technology.
Why Freedom Tech?
Freedom Tech’s comprehensive support was vital in enabling Hitchin Boys’ School to implement its ambitious 1:1 programme. The Freedom Tech Advanced Service (FTAS) provided peace of mind by ensuring that students could quickly replace damaged devices, preventing any disruption to learning. Its efficient operations team handled all parent communications and payment collection, allowing the school to focus on teaching.
Conclusion
Fergal Moane recommends Freedom Tech to any school looking to implement an efficient 1:1 device programme on a large scale. Freedom Tech’s all-in-one service model, combined with strong support and effective risk management, has been instrumental in the success of Hitchin Boys’ School’s digital transformation.
