AROUND 230 teachers in Swindon are receiving new laptop computers to help them with their work.

Under the Government's Laptops for Teachers scheme all schools in the borough are receiving an allocation seven for each secondary school and two for each primary school. Schools will allocate laptops to teachers for their individual use and teachers will not be required to make a financial contribution.

The roll-out will be completed by the end of this term so all eligible teachers will be online with their new laptops by the start of the next academic year in September.

Education information and communications technology co-ordinator at Swindon Borough Council, Charles Huntingdon, said that the laptop computers allow for maximum flexibility and enable teachers to use them at home or at school.

He said: "Funding is limited and it will not be possible at this stage to provide all teachers with a laptop but this is an excellent start. We know that schools and teachers will find the laptops extremely useful."

The scheme coincides with the rollout of high-speed or 'broadband' internet connections to Swindon's secondary schools. The connections are delivered through the South West Grid for Learning regional broadband consortium and are funded through the Government's National Grid for Learning Initiative.

Mr Huntingdon said: "The new technology will provide schools with much faster access to a diverse range of information and media on the worldwide web to support teaching and learning as well as providing opportunities for video conferencing. It is the aim of Swindon local education authority to provide all secondary schools with reliable broadband connections by the end of July."