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Nominet has donated nearly £10,000 to help a Bristol-based academy overcome socioeconomic barriers using VR technology – thanks to Nominet member Penguin Internet Ltd.
Nominet member, Chris Hemmings, Managing Director at Penguin Internet Ltd nominated Bristol-based school, Merchants’ Academy (E-ACT) for funding in January 2025.
Following this application, we’re delighted to have donated £9,979 through the Nominet Members’ GiveHub to help improve young people’s lives through technology and education.
Read on to find out how the school is embracing VR technology to help inspire pupils.
E-ACT is a charitable trust that manages 38 academies across England. The trust works closely with parents, local authorities and partner organisations to improve educational standards and resources for children. Over 93% of the schools it manages are now rated ‘Good’ or higher by Ofsted.
E-ACT recently took over Merchants’ Academy in Withywood, South Bristol. Based in an economically disadvantaged area, the school serves a highly diverse demographic. Many of its students come from families with limited financial resources, making it difficult to provide adequate access to educational materials and opportunities.
Despite these challenges, Merchants’ Academy has a proud history of striving for educational excellence, with teachers working tirelessly to overcome the socioeconomic barriers it faces.
Teachers at the school are committed to finding new and innovative ways to improve the learning environment for children. And what better way to do so than using VR?
To improve engagement among pupils, teachers at Merchants’ Academy came up with a plan to incorporate VR learning equipment and resources in classrooms. The programme aims to bridge the gap created by limited resources, providing students from less affluent backgrounds with an equal opportunity to thrive academically.
The school is also passionate about offering students new experiences that they normally wouldn’t have access to due to lack of funds – broadening their horizons and inspiring their imaginations. This will be made possible through virtual visits to historic sites that they would otherwise be unable to attend due to a lack of available funds for school trips.
Thanks to funding from the Nominet Members’ GiveHub, pupils at Merchants’ Academy will be able to experience immersive and interactive learning in the classroom using VR technology.
“Securing funding for VR equipment marks a transformative step for our school. This technology will empower all students, regardless of their background, to experience learning in a new and exciting way. Together, we’re opening doors to endless possibilities and inspiring a future of innovation and creativity.”
– Kim Lane, Head of ICT and Computing, Merchants’ Academy
Introducing VR technology at Merchants’ Academy will enhance the learning experience for pupils, bringing abstract concepts to life and making subjects like science, history and geography more tangible and easier to understand.
Integrating virtual reality into the classroom will also help to improve equity in education – levelling the playing field for students in an economically disadvantaged area by providing them with the same advanced learning technologies as better-funded schools.
Finally, the project will help students develop essential modern skills including digital literacy, problem solving, and critical thinking. The program will also include teacher training to effectively incorporate VR into the school curriculum – maximising its potential.
When you become a Nominet member, you get the incredible opportunity to apply for up to £10,000 in funding per financial year to support an eligible organisation of your choice, for projects aligned with our commitment to making the world more connected, inclusive and secure.
Thanks to our members, we’ve already been able to fund many exciting initiatives including an educational outreach programme, digital media mentoring, interactive technology for primary schools and accessibility resources for the theatre – just to name a few.
Simply log into your Member Hub account to apply. We’ll be in touch if we require any further information to support your application.
The GiveHub panel, made up of volunteer members, review applications monthly with support and guidance from our Membership Engagement team.
To find out how you can get involved with the Members’ GiveHub and start making a difference to a charity or organisation that matters to you, please contact [email protected].
Image provided by Merchants’ Academy (E-ACT)
The post Nominet helps Merchants’ Academy overcome socioeconomic barriers using VR technology appeared first on Nominet.
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Nominet member, Chris Hemmings, Managing Director at Penguin Internet Ltd nominated Bristol-based school, Merchants’ Academy (E-ACT) for funding in January 2025.
Following this application, we’re delighted to have donated £9,979 through the Nominet Members’ GiveHub to help improve young people’s lives through technology and education.
Read on to find out how the school is embracing VR technology to help inspire pupils.
Championing educational excellence across England
E-ACT is a charitable trust that manages 38 academies across England. The trust works closely with parents, local authorities and partner organisations to improve educational standards and resources for children. Over 93% of the schools it manages are now rated ‘Good’ or higher by Ofsted.
E-ACT recently took over Merchants’ Academy in Withywood, South Bristol. Based in an economically disadvantaged area, the school serves a highly diverse demographic. Many of its students come from families with limited financial resources, making it difficult to provide adequate access to educational materials and opportunities.
Despite these challenges, Merchants’ Academy has a proud history of striving for educational excellence, with teachers working tirelessly to overcome the socioeconomic barriers it faces.
Teachers at the school are committed to finding new and innovative ways to improve the learning environment for children. And what better way to do so than using VR?
New virtual reality (VR) programme to inspire students in Bristol
To improve engagement among pupils, teachers at Merchants’ Academy came up with a plan to incorporate VR learning equipment and resources in classrooms. The programme aims to bridge the gap created by limited resources, providing students from less affluent backgrounds with an equal opportunity to thrive academically.
The school is also passionate about offering students new experiences that they normally wouldn’t have access to due to lack of funds – broadening their horizons and inspiring their imaginations. This will be made possible through virtual visits to historic sites that they would otherwise be unable to attend due to a lack of available funds for school trips.
Thanks to funding from the Nominet Members’ GiveHub, pupils at Merchants’ Academy will be able to experience immersive and interactive learning in the classroom using VR technology.
“Securing funding for VR equipment marks a transformative step for our school. This technology will empower all students, regardless of their background, to experience learning in a new and exciting way. Together, we’re opening doors to endless possibilities and inspiring a future of innovation and creativity.”
– Kim Lane, Head of ICT and Computing, Merchants’ Academy
Encouraging equity in education through technology
Introducing VR technology at Merchants’ Academy will enhance the learning experience for pupils, bringing abstract concepts to life and making subjects like science, history and geography more tangible and easier to understand.
Integrating virtual reality into the classroom will also help to improve equity in education – levelling the playing field for students in an economically disadvantaged area by providing them with the same advanced learning technologies as better-funded schools.
Finally, the project will help students develop essential modern skills including digital literacy, problem solving, and critical thinking. The program will also include teacher training to effectively incorporate VR into the school curriculum – maximising its potential.
Make a difference through the Nominet Members’ GiveHub
When you become a Nominet member, you get the incredible opportunity to apply for up to £10,000 in funding per financial year to support an eligible organisation of your choice, for projects aligned with our commitment to making the world more connected, inclusive and secure.
Thanks to our members, we’ve already been able to fund many exciting initiatives including an educational outreach programme, digital media mentoring, interactive technology for primary schools and accessibility resources for the theatre – just to name a few.
Simply log into your Member Hub account to apply. We’ll be in touch if we require any further information to support your application.
The GiveHub panel, made up of volunteer members, review applications monthly with support and guidance from our Membership Engagement team.
To find out how you can get involved with the Members’ GiveHub and start making a difference to a charity or organisation that matters to you, please contact [email protected].
Image provided by Merchants’ Academy (E-ACT)
The post Nominet helps Merchants’ Academy overcome socioeconomic barriers using VR technology appeared first on Nominet.
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