Digital Age of Learning

Chromebook for every child starting Year 7 in September 2026

To continue this new digital era of teaching and enable our pupils to be the best they can be, every Year 7 pupil who starts in September 2026 will receive a Google Chromebook so that they can access learning material at home.

By reducing our carbon footprint through less paper waste and ensuring all students have access to a first class education,  Folkestone Academy is at the forefront of learning, entering the digital age of education.

We invite you to join us on this journey!

To achieve this status, Folkestone Academy met the rigorous criteria, including widespread adoption of Google tools across all year groups and a significant percentage of staff becoming Google Certified Educators.

Beyond just a title, being a Reference School means joining an exclusive global community of leaders in education. Our school serves as "beacons of best practice," often hosting visitors from other districts, sharing advice on digital transformation, and participating in early access programs to trial new Google features before they are released to the public. 

For parents and students, the status is a hallmark of a future-forward environment where students gain the essential digital literacy and collaboration skills needed for the modern world.

Key Pillars of a Google Reference School

• Innovative Pedagogy: Using tools like Google Classroom and Gemini AI to create personalised, interactive learning experiences.

• Teacher Excellence: A staff body that is highly trained, with many holding Level 1, Level 2, or Trainer certifications.

• 1:1 Device Access: Ensuring students have seamless, equitable access to technology (typically Chromebooks) both at home and in school.

• Knowledge Sharing: Acting as a mentor to other schools by hosting events and sharing successful integration strategies.