Scottish Borders Council has been awarded Apple Professional Learning Provider (APLP) status as a result of the technology and professional development the council offers to staff and young people.

Awarded by the global technology giants, Apple, the APLP status has been given in recognition of Scottish Borders Council’s Inspire Learning project, which helps to build and develop digital skills and prepare young people for the world of work.

Apple Professional Learning Providers support schools to help educators use Apple products and develop skills.

APLP status will enable education staff across the Borders to benefit from partnerships with education technology providers around the world.

Scottish Borders Council is also set to launch a centre of excellence called ‘Inspire Academy’, which will provide support to other education technology projects and local authorities across the country and the rest of the world.

‘As an Apple Professional Learning Provider we will now be able to host exclusive national events here in the Borders, bring key partners – including Apple, CGI (our IT partner), Education Scotland and others – to invest in, highlight and support the Inspire Learning vision, and use it as a national example of good practice that can help similar projects in other areas of the country and further afield,’ said Carol Hamilton, executive member for children and young people.

‘We see many potential opportunities for our teachers and young people as leading members of a global community of best practice in education and see this as a way to add enormous richness and value to learning experiences in our region.

‘We will soon be bringing forward more detailed plans for the initial launch of this new venture and look forward to sharing these with everyone as we enter such an exciting new chapter in the Inspire Learning journey.’