Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance his Department has issued to schools on the use of Google Classroom; and what alternatives to that platform are available to schools.

Technology can be a useful tool for schools.

In April 2019, the Department published a new Education Technology (EdTech) Strategy, ‘Realising the potential of technology in Education: A strategy for education providers and the technology sector’, available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/realising-the-potential-of-technology-in-education.

The strategy made a series of commitments to support teachers to use technology to support workload reduction and flexible working practices, help foster efficiencies, promote inclusion, and ultimately, to help improve pupil outcomes.

The Department does not currently promote specific EdTech products and services to schools and colleges, and does not offer any specific guidance relating to Google Classroom. If implemented poorly and without purpose or support, any product can have a negative impact. Schools, colleges and universities are best placed to make decisions about what technology to use and how to use it within their respective contexts. The Department’s role is to enable schools to take advantage of the opportunities that technology presents by highlighting the potential benefits, removing barriers and helping educational establishments to be informed buyers.