The EdTech Demonstrator Programme was launched by the Department for Education (DfE) in 2020 to support schools moving to a remote learning environment due to COVID-19 and ran for two years. The second year of the programme focused on bridging the gap between responding to the COVID-19 crisis and supporting the sustained use of technology in schools in order to;

• improve pupil/student outcomes
• reduce teacher workload
• support school and college improvement plans
• help schools and colleges manage their resources, and
• secure an accessible and inclusive curriculum.

Where ImpactEd Evaluation comes in...

The DfE partnered with ImpactEd Evaluation in 2021 to evaluate the impact and the implementation of the EdTech Demonstrator Programme in its second year.

ImpactEd Evaluation designed a mixed-methods impact evaluation that combined a pre- and post-test design with qualitative research. Academically validated surveys and measures from the EdTech Landscape survey were used, which allowed for more robust findings

Alongside the impact evaluation, ImpactEd Evaluation also ran 1:1 interviews with the schools and colleges providing support on the programme to get insights into implementation, best practice and recommendations for future iteration. This was shared with the Department in February 2022 and fed into internal policy discussions.

Evaluation findings as a point of reference for next steps

While the DfE made the decision not to continue the EdTech Demonstrator Programme, the report has helped to provide insight into various aspects, such as the value of peer-support networks when it comes to technology implementation in schools.

The DfE will build on insights gained from the EdTech Demonstrator programme and the evaluation to support guidance so that teachers and leaders are able to make informed decisions about technology.

You can access the report here.