Holsworthy High School
Sydney, Australia
Creating a more equitable learning experience with iPad.
Holsworthy High School is located in a diverse community of Southwest Sydney. It has over 600 students, including a significant number of ESL learners, military families, and students with additional learning needs. The school puts a strong emphasis on equal learning opportunities for all students — especially when it comes to technology.
Initially, Holsworthy High School had three computer labs that serviced all students, but with increasing technology needs and new curriculum guidelines, school leaders knew it was time for an upgrade. They envisioned a school-owned and -managed one-to-one device deployment, where every student could have equitable access to technology that would enhance learning. So in 2020, the school conducted a technology trial of both iPad and another leading device.
Students reported that iPad made lessons more engaging and helped them present their learning in creative ways. Teachers appreciated the compatibility of iPad with their favorite apps, and how it worked seamlessly with Apple TV and Apple Classroom, which helped streamline lessons. The vast majority of all students, staff, and parents chose iPad as the best learning device in the trial — and in just three years, every Holsworthy student and teacher had their own iPad.
At Holsworthy High School, our goal is to provide the best opportunities for our kids. This was not just about having another technology program — this was about genuinely empowering all our learners.
With iPad, students develop more than just digital skills — they’re learning how to be more creative and think critically in every lesson. For example, students use Apple Maps to virtually visit playgrounds across Sydney and analyze different designs. Then, using Apple Pencil and the Procreate app, they design their own playgrounds. “iPad makes it easy for students to bring their creative ideas to life,” says Elizabeth Stoppino, Holsworthy’s digital learning specialist. “They’re not just learning the curriculum, they’re learning vital skills for their future.”
With its apps and accessibility features, iPad enables students to express their learning in a variety of different ways — such as illustrations, videos, and music — which is especially important in a school with such a diverse student population. This facilitates a more equitable learning experience for every student by allowing them to explore the subject matter in the way they find most engaging. And with the Classroom app from Apple, teachers at Holsworthy can simultaneously view what’s happening on every device in their classroom, so they can give students personalized guidance and support right when they need it.
For teachers, iPad has dramatically improved productivity in the classroom thanks to its compatibility with apps like Microsoft OneNote, Google Workspace for Education, and Canva. And every classroom has an Apple TV, which helps teachers share work in class, drive discussions, and give real-time feedback. Ongoing support from Holsworthy’s two certified Apple Learning Coaches, Elizabeth Stoppino and Belinda Dunn, also helps give teachers the skills and confidence to create engaging and exciting lessons for every kind of learner. Every teacher is also given a Mac, which they use for lesson planning and preparation. Many have reported that having the flexibility to switch between the portability of iPad and the power of Mac helps to support better productivity.
Today, every single student at Holsworthy High School has an iPad, Apple Pencil, and keyboard case that they can use at school and at home. Since each device is managed remotely via Apple School Manager and an MDM, students automatically receive the latest security updates and apps. Important school announcements and timetable changes are centrally managed and pushed out automatically through the school management system, so that no student misses out.
By giving every student a school-managed device, Holsworthy High School is dramatically increasing equitable access to education in a way that wouldn’t be possible otherwise. And as a result, teachers have seen increased student engagement and participation across the board.
“We’re really proud of the learning environment we’ve created here at Holsworthy,” says Principal Mark Watkins. “Our iPad program helps empower each student, and gives them the best opportunity to succeed.”
