Yet huge numbers of young people have been unable to access the online classroom, meaning their learning – and long-term prospects – have been unfairly, drastically hindered.

Together with organisations around the world, we are excited today to announce that the Pearson team have committed to redressing the balance.

“1.78 million UK children have access to neither a tablet or laptop at home.”

Alongside a star-studded cast of supporters – from David Beckham to Bill Gates – we’re partnering with the Daily Mail and Computacenter, to join the life-changing Computers for Kids initiative.

Our donation will see at least 250 former Pearson laptops gifted via the newspaper’s Mail Force charity, plus a £50,000 donation, in order to give more disadvantaged kids a crucial step up. We aim to donate further laptops once we’re sure they meet the requirements recipients need.

There has never been a more critical time to close the digital divide that keeps so many British pupils behind in education. According to Ofcom statistics for 2020, some 1.78 million UK children have access to neither a tablet or laptop at home.

With more and more lessons taking place in digital spaces – and almost three in five schools around the world making plans to continue some form of remote-based learning after lockdown1 – we must act now to meet our learners’ needs.

Pearson’s Chief Executive, Andy Bird, stressed the significance of the scheme, and his pride in being involved: “Every child should be able to continue learning throughout this lockdown,” he said, “and technology plays an increasingly vital role in achieving this, with most learning now taking place virtually at home. We need to act quickly to ensure no one is missing out.”

“Every child should be able to continue learning throughout this lockdown.”

The drive to provide all children with the technology they need, correlates strongly with Pearson’s core aims for this year and beyond. These include improving digital confidence in education, empowering teachers and students, and fortifying future outcomes for all young people.

“Every child should be able to continue learning throughout this lockdown,” Andy Bird added, “and technology plays an increasingly vital role in achieving this with most learning now taking place virtually at home.

“At Pearson, we are determined to play our part.”