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Virtual classrooms are set to help pupils study their preferred combination of subjects including those not currently available to them at their own high school.

In January, Children’s Services will launch a pilot scheme providing S5/S6 pupils at the Council’s secondary schools with the opportunity to study a select number of higher and advanced higher subjects online.

Although the subject list is yet to be finalised, a shortlist of those most compatible with an online learning environment has been produced.

Virtual Learning is one of three Council of the Future (CotF) projects currently underway within Children’s Services.

Tracey Fox, Depute Head teacher at Falkirk High, said: “Currently, all our senior schools have lessons timetabled on a Tuesday and a Thursday that are open to any child wanting to study a certain subject not available in their own school. To attend, pupils have to be transported to another school where the lesson is being taught.

“By launching virtual classrooms, pupils will be able to study these subjects, supported by teachers, simply by logging into a device no matter where they are based. This will reduce the need for transportation as well as the associated costs that the Council pays for. It will also be a more efficient use of a pupil’s time.”

Already, digital learning has been embraced by local high schools, with schools using their nationally provided Glow account to access learning and teaching content through services such as Microsoft Teams that provide online resources and the ability to set assignments and give feedback digitally.

Stuart Lennie, ICT Programme Manager, said: “Children and young people live in an ever-increasing digital world, with an increasing number of services and support offered online. By offering subjects virtually, supported by teaching staff, it helps prepare them for lifelong learning, but any move has to be pedagogically driven for it to be successful.”

A Capital Bid for £25k has also been submitted by Children’s Services in association with the CotF Virtual Learning programme. If successful, the bid will be used to support connectivity for pupils undertaking virtual learning lessons.