A rural location is 'no longer a barrier to learning', according to teachers at a North Powys school which has signed up for a pioneering remote learning programme.

Dewi Owen, head at Ysgol Llanfyllin, says a new technology programme has allowed post-16 students at the school to access course they wouldn't normally have access to, by linking up to lessons in other schools by video.

Powys County Council has now signed up to the a Welsh Government-sponsored project, which saw video link facilities installed in every secondary school campus in the county.

Teachers can provide pupils with live feedback through the system, and pupils can contribute orally to the lesson exactly as if the teacher was in the room.

"We are delighted with the success that both our students and staff have enjoyed whilst pioneering the e-sgol system," said Mr Owen.

"By embracing technology, we have allowed teachers and learners from across Powys and beyond to collaborate and access courses not normally available in their home schools. Our rurality is no longer a barrier to learning."

Representatives from the school took part in an 'e-sgol' Blended Learning Conference, which took place earlier this month. The online conference gave delegates an opportunity to hear from schools who have engaged with e-sgol and from schools that are successfully developing a blended learning culture.

Also speaking at the conference was Wales’ former Education Minister Kirsty Williams, who shared her e-sgol experiences as a parent and discussed her daughter’s e-sgol learning experience through Ysgol Calon Cymru and Gwernyfed High School.

Cllr Phyl Davies, Cabinet Member for Education and Property, said the system would provide a wider range of subject choices for students.

"E-sgol has connected learners and teachers and across Powys and ensure that all learners are offered a wider range of subject choices while giving them the best learning experience," he said.

“We are committed to improving the learner entitlement and experience for post-16 learners in the county and e-sgol is going to be vital as we start to transform post-16 schools’ provision. We want to give our learners the best learning experience so that they can thrive and meet the demands of the 21st Century.

"It was pleasing to see that Wales’ former Education Minister Kirsty Williams also spoke at the conference about her and her daughter’s experience of e-sgol. Kirsty was a key driver for the e-sgol project and it has revolutionised an aspect of education in Wales, which rural parts of the country have benefited from."