Rebooting education with digital standards

As the UK rolls out new digital standards for schools, millions of pupils still face barriers to learning caused by digital poverty. Elizabeth Anderson, CEO of the Digital Poverty Alliance, argues that without equal access to devices, connectivity and digital skills, too many young people will remain excluded

In the UK, up to 19 million people currently experience some form of digital poverty. This widespread inequality affects students’ ability to learn, communicate and participate in modern society. Without access to devices, connectivity or digital skills, too many young people are being locked out of opportunities that should be universal. 

With the UK government announcing new plans to roll out future-facing digital standards across schools, steps are being taken around connectivity and cybersecurity to bolster digital infrastructure. However, much needed is greater access to devices, and a range of digital skills.  Our research shows that digitally excluded children lack basic skills – with 40 per cent in one DPA study being unable to use a well known search engine. Beyond this, critical thinking, AI and algorithmic literacy are all critical, too. 

By ensuring every child has access to quality technology, the UK could invest in a generation equipped to lead, innovate and thrive. In an era where the digital landscape shapes our daily lives, schools must be empowered through clear standards that are adhered to, to harness these tools effectively. These standards are essential to ensure digital education is not fragmented, but consistent and transformative across the country. 

By embedding these principles into the fabric of our education system and ensuring clear commitments from government, industry and schools, we can guarantee that every child regardless of background has the right tools to stay connected and succeed. 

The signal for success

Connectivity – including broadband internet and wireless networks - is the backbone of modern education. Yet digital exclusion remains a persistent challenge across the UK education system. Nearly 570,000 young people lack both a learning device and reliable at home internet connection, leaving them unable to participate fully in remote or digital learning. 

Teachers are witnessing the consequences firsthand, with 75 per cent of pupils reportedly falling behind due to limited access to technology. This divide is not just a technical issue, it’s a barrier to equity, opportunity and academic progress.  

The UK government’s commitment to invest £45 million to boost school infrastructure, including upgrades to fibre and wireless networks, is a promising step to get classrooms online. By strengthening digital infrastructure, schools can deliver more interactive, inclusive and future-ready education.

Reliable connectivity empowers teachers to innovate, students to engage and for communities to thrive. To achieve this, schools must proactively work with local councils, charity programmes, community partners and national initiatives to ensure every student can get online.  Schools and education leaders play a critical role in identifying gaps and leveraging available resources to close them, whether through device donation schemes or connectivity support. 

Keeping paywalls out of school halls

Device donation and redistribution schemes play a crucial role in supporting students from lower-income households who may lack personal devices essential for coursework and developing digital literacy skills, but there is no scheme that covers every part of the UK. 

Research from the Nominet Digital Youth Index report for 2023, revealed that four per cent of young people across the UK, totalling two million individuals, lack access to learning devices like laptops or desk computers. 
By expanding and scaling-up device donation and redistribution schemes such as Tech4Learning, schools can help bridge the digital divide while contributing to the government’s ambitions to build a more environmentally friendly and circular economy. 

In some areas, programmes such as our Tech4Families initiative operate locally across different parts of the country, giving schools the opportunity to explore what’s available in their area and work with us to access devices. These schemes not only extend the life of existing technology but also ensure that students have equitable access to learning tools. 

However, while it is vital that schools have the infrastructure and provisions in place to ensure all students can get online, they must avoid making the curriculum entirely dependent on digital access. True accessibility means offering flexible, inclusive learning pathways that accommodate varying levels of connectivity and device availability, together with the skills and confidence to use these safely. 

Full participation, full potential 

Ensuring children not only have access to digital devices, but that they can engage confidently in inclusive and meaningful ways to learn, express themselves and collaborate is just as important. Access is the starting point, but true digital inclusion means enabling every child to participate fully, regardless of ability or background.  

Accessible digital education means ensuring platforms, tools and content are compatible with assistive technologies such as screen readers, voice recognition software and alternative input devices. It also means designing learning environments that support diverse needs, such as offering adjustable text size, captioned videos and high contrast visuals. 

When digital systems are built with accessibility in mind, they empower students to engage independently and confidently.

Leading the charge to log everyone in

Digital leadership is essential to bridging the digital divide and equipping the next generation with the skills they need to succeed. But this begins with teachers. Schools must prioritise building digital confidence and competence among educators, ensuring they have the right skills to embed technology into the classroom. Without this foundation, efforts to improve student literacy will fall short. 

To achieve this, schools must adopt a dual focus on supporting teachers to deliver high-quality digital education and equipping students with the foundational skills to navigate a connected world. Digital literacy must be woven into the curriculum as a core competency.  

With recent research revealing nearly a third (31 per cent) of teachers observing a lack of basic digital skills among their students, this raises critical concerns for future success in an increasingly digital job market. 
With 90 per cent of UK jobs already requiring digital competencies and 60 per cent of employers expecting their reliance on advanced digital skills to grow within the next three years, digital upskilling is vital to ensure students can qualify for opportunities at every level. 

Schools, trust and education policy makers must invest in targeted professional development, curriculum reform and inclusive digital strategies that empower educators to lead with confidence. When teachers are equipped with the right tools and training, they can confidently lead digital training, ensuring that students are both digitally skilled and safe online, but teachers often lack the time and opportunity to gain these skills.

Staying safe with every click

Alongside the powerful opportunities for learning and connection that the internet offers, there is a broad range of harms that can arise from being online that have real life consequences. From cyberbullying and online predators to exposure of inappropriate content, the risks are evolving, combined with the growing need to critically evaluate opinions stated as facts and fake news.

Schools have a critical responsibility to keep children safe online. It is essential for educators to embed digital education as a core element of the school curriculum, guiding students on the appropriate, effective and safe use of technology. Online safety education and development of critical thinking helps children and young people understand the potential risks they may encounter online and how to respond responsibly.

By embedding digital literacy into everyday learning, schools empower students to navigate the online world with confidence and care, while building the resilience needed to thrive in a connected society. 
Building digital resilience also means equipping children and young people with the skills to respond to online challenges. By investing in resilient systems and digital literacy, schools can protect their communities and ensure that technology enhances learning without compromising safety. 

Ultimately, digital inclusion is essential to equitable education. With hundreds of thousands of students lacking devices or internet access, the UK must invest in infrastructure, standards and support.