Ysgol Bae Baglan Selected As A 2016-2017 Microsoft Showcase School

Ysgol Bae Baglan has been selected by Microsoft as a 2016-2017 Microsoft Showcase School for their excellence in transforming its learning environment to deliver more personalised education to students. They are also recognised for using mobile and cloud technology to better prepare students for success in the workplace. Five of the teachers were recognised as Microsoft Innovative Educator Experts. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ysgol Bae Baglan joins an exclusive community of more than 850 premier schools from around the world, alongside just four other schools in Wales. Each of these schools is recognised to celebrate their truly pioneering efforts and innovation in rethinking teaching, learning and assessment in order to drive deep 21st century competencies. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Amongst the many innovative practices that secured the school’s nomination was the way staff have used technology over the last two years to collaborate between the schools it is replacing; Cwrt Sart Community, Glan Afan, Sandfields Comprehensive and Traethemelyn Primary schools. The use of cloud technology has enabled successful and rigorous planning between teachers of the four schools. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Being selected as a Microsoft Showcase School is an amazing achievement and recognition of the passion our staff, our build partners and the ICT Support Team of Port Talbot Schools and Learning have for creating the best learning environments possible,” said Mike Tate, Headteacher at Ysgol Bae Baglan. “We look forward to sharing our experiences with other schools in our community and the world to continue finding innovative ways to equip our students with the proper tools needed for success inside and outside of the classroom. We have a responsibility to ensure the whole community benefits from the investment that has been made.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As a Showcase School, Ysgol Bae Baglan will work closely with Microsoft to lead innovation in education and communicate a vision for education enabled by technology through the hosting and mentoring of other schools in the community on transformational educational practices. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The school is also planning to ensure that their expertise benefits the whole community by offering training and examinations in critical office software to members of the local community. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Microsoft Showcase Schools are shining examples of those applying purpose-driven innovation in a variety of ways to build connection, motivate students and to create community in and out of school,” said Anthony Salcito, vice president, Worldwide Education, Microsoft. “These schools are truly transforming learning and providing more personalised education to students empowering them to achieve more.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As well as being recognised on a global scale for their innovative approach to education, Ysgol Bae Baglan will receive additional collaboration opportunities with other schools around the world, access to professional development opportunities, pupil-led collaboration with worldwide Student Ambassadors and access to Microsoft Innovative Educators Experts on staff to help drive innovation and to support staff, peers and students, and more. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​