Three Rivers & Walton Charity
Tackle the Education Gap

As we come to the end of the autumn term, schools across Elmbridge and beyond have been focusing their attention on mitigating the long-term effects of the pandemic.  The prolonged closure of schools threatens to blight the life chances of children across the country and The Education Endowment Foundation suggests that the attainment gap between poor and non-poor students might have widened by as much as 36%.

At the start of the new autumn term at Three Rivers Academy, new COVID-19 rules meant that each year group is restricted to a specific ‘zone’ of the school, some of which had no access to computers. 

However, with the help of our substantial Community Grant of £31,000, the school has been able to purchase desktop computers to help equip all zones of the school.  These computers will particularly benefit the school’s most disadvantaged children, who could not access online learning during lockdown. Teachers will now be better able to supervise students’ homework and online learning. 

Mario Scannella, Deputy Headteacher of Three Rivers Academy said “We are absolutely delighted with not just one but two new computer suites as result of a very generous donation of £31,000 from Walton Charity. The 62 new computers will particularly have a positive impact on those students with limited or no access to ICT resources at home. These computers will further support our efforts to remove all barriers to learning and ensure that we bring out the best in all our students.”

We believe that this funding will play an important role in helping to reduce the attainment gap between disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged children in Elmbridge. 

If you would like to help more local schools to purchase computer equipment, please donate to our ‘Computers for Kids’ appeal and we will match your donation.