News Release

Aberdeenshire parents first to use national school intranet

29th January 2009

Aberdeenshire Council is the first local authority in Scotland to give parents access to Glow – Scotland’s national education intranet.

Glow is the first education intranet in the world which links all teachers, pupils and schools  throughout the country.

Over the next two weeks, senior representatives of parent councils across Aberdeenshire will be going back to school to learn about the system.

The parent council members will take part in a series of workshops to learn how to access the Glow intranet site, documents and a discussion area to share knowledge and ideas. 

The workshops follow a similar scheme aimed at pupils who have already been learning how to use Glow in schools.

Councillor Richard Stroud, chairman of Aberdeenshire Council’s Education Learning and Leisure Committee said:

“Aberdeenshire Council has harnessed the latest technology to the benefit of the pupils, staff and parents within the area.

“Classes can work together over the internet, teachers can download teaching materials and parents will be able to get involved too and discuss issues through forums or look at dedicated material within their own online community.

“Glow is bringing learners, teachers and the community together to share information and knowledge much more quickly and efficiently than has ever before been possible – it’s virtual learning at its best.”

Aberdeenshire Council is leading the way with the Glow initiative and has ensured all schools have sufficient broadband capacity as well as undertaking innovative training techniques to ensure that pupils, staff and now parents can use the system.

The council is continually reviewing Glow’s capabilities to enhance the curriculum. 

Glow is managed by Learning and Teaching Scotland, the curriculum body.  It will eventually link 850,000 teachers, pupils and parents throughout Scotland.

Marie Dougan, Glow programme director, said:  “Parental involvement in school life is extremely important and Glow offers more opportunities to help parents support their child’s learning.

“The tools in Glow provide the ability to communicate between school and the home and help teachers and parents and develop more effective home and school partnerships. 

“Parents will also be able to keep up-to-date with news from their school and changes in education – all through a safe and secure online portal.
 
“Aberdeenshire is the first local authority to offer training for all their parent councils in using Glow and I’m sure they will see immediate benefits in using the network to collaborate and communicate with each other.”

Lorraine Sanda, LTS’s national parental involvement co-ordinator said Glow would help parent councils across Scotland share ideas and information.

“Glow offers fantastic potential for schools and parents to be working more closely together to support learning and to get the best for children and young people. 

“Parents are asking for more information about what, and how their child is learning so that they can support and encourage them from home.  

“This type of support from parents along with a strong partnership with the school can make a real difference to how children get on in education and in life generally,” she said.

Contact Us

For more information on any press-related matter please email news@aberdeenshire.gov.uk