Pioneering partnership set to deliver world-class learning in the digital age

In May, Midlothian Council launched a pioneering Digital Centre of Excellence at Newbattle Community High School.

In a unique partnership between Midlothian Council and the University of Edinburgh, the new high school has been designed as a hub of innovation, aimed at transforming learning and teaching and equipping young people with the digital skills to meet the growing demand for high-level, 21st century skills.

The school will work with a range of businesses, colleges and universities to ensure the curriculum is up-to-date and that young people develop the skills they need to compete in the global knowledge economy. The focus will be on digital industries such as robotics, data science, informatics, digital marketing, graphic design, video and music production.

Activities within the centre will also be closely aligned with the Data-Driven Innovation Programme led by the University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University.  A key element of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal, Data-Driven Innovation aims to provide the skills needed to support the growing data economy.

The University of Edinburgh’s role in the project was led by Professor Judy Robertson, who praised the commitment of Newbattle’s staff: “As a digital learning specialist, it’s been a great pleasure for me to work with teachers and learners at Newbattle on this excellent project.

“Everyone involved in delivering the Digital Centre of Excellence is ambitious and enthusiastic to help pupils achieve their full potential, and the University of Edinburgh is proud to work alongside them. Both the University and Midlothian Council aim to provide excellent digital learning and teaching, and we can learn a lot from each other through collaborations such as this.”