EDUCATION Minister John O’Dowd paid a special visit to St Oliver Plunkett Primary School to see how pupils are learning through daily use of their new iPads.

The Glen Road school is the first primary in the North to introduce the Apple devices into classrooms, with Primary One and Primary Seven pupils having been supplied with an iPad each.

The innovative scheme – which came about through £65,000 worth of investment – will be extended to the rest of the school within the next three years, budget permitting.

Speaking during his visit, the Minister O’Dowd said St Oliver Plunkett Primary School has “led the way in education and learning”.

“I commend St Oliver Plunkett Primary School for embracing this technology at an early stage,” he said.

“Credit goes to the Principal and Governors for making the investment and to the teachers who have worked very hard to roll out the programme to the pupils. I wish them all every success as they continue their school learning journey together.”

School Principal Ciáran Headley said he was “proud and delighted” to receive a visit from the Education Minister.

“Upon arrival he was presented with a recently published book of the children’s writings which featured poems and all types of stories from the entire spectrum of the school’s year groups,” said Principal  Headley.