Lawn Manor Academy helps Epson to eliminate “cheap seats” in UK classrooms

Lawn Manor Academy in Swindon has been chosen as one of ten UK schools to help ensure pupils no longer have to put up with “cheap-seats” in the classroom because they are unable to see the display board.

Epson UK commissioned research that revealed that display technology used in many schools is restricting the viewing and learning experience of many pupils, and having a detrimental effect on their education.

The survey revealed that 40 per cent of teachers have noticed a correlation between pupils being unable to see a screen properly and lower test/exam scores.

Epson selected ten schools as Ambassadors to their programme to enhance their display equipment and enable it to be seen and used more widely. Epson installed an EB-1485FI interactive, ultra-short throw projector in one of the classrooms at Lawn Manor along with an ELPDC21 document camera, all free of charge.

A large part of a wall of a maths classroom has been converted into a giant whiteboard, and as well as making presentations far more visible the equipment is particularly useful when teaching graphs.

The integrated square paper whiteboard allows axes to be drawn, and pupils can practice drawing graphs using a straight line tool. The additional space around the board allows for further extension or scaffolding to support the main activity.

Despite national lockdown, the Maths department has already been able to use the display equipment with some of the children who are being educated at the school because their parents are key workers.

Laura Conroy, Head of Maths at Lawn Manor Academy, which is part of the Royal Wootton Bassett Academy Trust, said a Zoom meeting that Epson held with its Ambassador schools recently demonstrated that when pupils can return to school the possibilities for enhancing pupils’ learning are considerable.

“We found it a real eye-opener in terms of what we can potentially do with the equipment, and how we can look at bringing in other software and equipment to really make the room a classroom of the future,” said Laura.

“We hope to be inspired even more by other Ambassador schools that are already further down the line in the programme. We are also looking forward to the time when pupils can come right up to the board and use the equipment.”

Lawn Manor Academy’s Assistant Headteacher for achievement, Marek Koza, said the school is delighted to be part of the Epson Ambassador Programme.

“Laura Conroy is always searching for new and exciting ways to enhance the experience for pupils in her classroom, and this equipment is going to give her and her colleagues significant opportunities to take that even further,” said Marek.

“But we are most glad to be taking part in a project that should reduce inequality in classrooms everywhere. It cannot be right that one pupil is disadvantaged compared to another because their seat position means they can’t see the board. We are proud to be working with Epson on something so fundamental to the educational chances of pupils everywhere.”