We have been awarded Apple Professional Learning Provider (APLP) status from global technology giants, Apple.
The status has been attained as a result of our sector-leading Inspire Learning project and will see us launch a centre of excellence called the ‘Inspire Academy’, which will provide support to other education technology projects and local authorities across the country and the rest of the world.
Inspire Learning
Our award-winning Inspire Learning project has provided technology and professional development to staff and young people across the authority, helping to build and develop digital skills and prepare young people for an increasingly digital world of work.
Thanks to Apple Professional Learning Provider (APLP) status, education staff across the Borders will further benefit from partnerships with leading education technology providers from around the world to help support and enhance the educational offering across the Borders.
It comes at a time where the importance of the role technology will play in delivering education in the future has been increasingly emphasised.
Today’s announcement is a further example of us being at the forefront of the national conversation around digital learning and demonstrates our commitment to making the Scottish Borders the best place in the world to teach and learn.
Inspire Academy
Once established, our Inspire Academy will be utilised to provide vital professional development opportunities and support for teachers and education leaders across the country.
In addition, the APLP status will see national education events hosted in the Borders, attracting attendees from across the UK and will also allow our education staff to benefit from training opportunities.
Councillor Carol Hamilton, Executive Member for Children and Young People
"As an Apple Professional Learning Provider we will now be able to host exclusive national events here in the Borders, bring key partners - including Apple, CGI (our IT partner), Education Scotland and others - to invest in, highlight and support the Inspire Learning vision, and use it as a national example of good practice that can help similar projects in other areas of the country and further afield.
"We see many potential opportunities for our teachers and young people as leading members of a global community of best practice in education and see this as a way to add enormous richness and value to learning experiences in our region.
"We will soon be bringing forward more detailed plans for the initial launch of this new venture and look forward to sharing these with everyone as we enter such an exciting new chapter in the Inspire Learning journey."
More information
Apple Professional Learning Providers support schools to build the foundations for a successful implementation of Apple technology. They help educators use Apple products and develop skills, supporting one or more learning, teaching, coding or deployment and management objectives.