With school pupils in Fife Council UK have used the GLOW system, it is clear the system has helped ensure education continues but there are questions over how effective the system has been.

Over the course of the lockdown period we have seen pupil use of GLOW specifically, to fluctuate between 75-88% of Secondary Age pupils on any day, and between 58%-72% of primary pupils. It should be noted some pupils, particularly in primary schools, have used other systems to continue education.

Fife Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Councillor James Calder has raised these concerns, saying:

During the lockdown, the decision to close schools down was the right thing to do and it has been positive that the majority of pupils have engaged in education using the GLOW system.

However there are questions on how this has impacted on our children’s education. My particular concern has been for pupils who have not engaged in these systems- how do we ensure they do not fall behind? We also need to review how effective these have been in teaching in general.

This is particularly important in case there is a second wave of COVID-19. We must fine tune these teaching methods for the future in case schools need to close again.

While this shows face to face education will always be the best option, high quality virtual learning environments are needed too, not just during pandemics when schools close, but to provide support for pupils when attendance in person at a location is not possible or advisable for any reason.”