Charity donates £5k towards 32 iPads for pupils at Morton Trentside Primary School

A 400-year-old charity founded to help "the poor and young people" in a West Lindsey village has donated £5,000 towards the cost of 32 iPads for school pupils.

The state-of-the-art technology arrived at Morton Trentside Primary School, near Gainsborough, as part of a £16,000 investment.

It was given the go-ahead after local charity the Joshua Tyler Trust – which issues grants to villagers twice a year – received a request from head teacher Beverley Riddle.

The charity has been active on the local educational scene for more than 80 years. But this is the first time it has made such a major impact on a pioneering educational project.

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"Basically, the £5,000 from the trust has added to money from other sources to enable us to buy 32 iPads," said Mrs Riddle. "That means there's enough for every teacher and at least one for each of the seven classes with 210 children on the roll.

"We are so grateful because they cost a lot of money and there's no way we could have afforded them without the Tyler Trust's contribution.

"We have many other things to spend money on and this just wouldn't have been possible.

"Already the reactions have been very positive – even though they've only just arrived. But we know they're easier to use than laptops, pressing the 'on' button is instant access.

"There are many educational 'apps' available to help with basic learning and making it fun and interesting.

"Pretty much all of the Trentside pupils are excited because they haven't used one before.

"But they're also going to heave to learn how to look after them properly."

Parent Sarah Bayly said: "We think it's excellent that they've got 'Pads in school.

"And it might mean that my boy won't want to use mine as often."

Son Conner, eight, said: "Our teacher is really enthusiastic about maths and I prefer the subject to literacy.

"So I'll be using the iPad as often as I can to improve my maths even more because there are loads of apps."

Nine-year-old classmate Abbie Dunning admitted: "I've never used an iPad before so it's all really exciting."

Joshua Tyler trustees' clerk Maria Bradley said that there were two strands to the charity.

"Meetings are held twice a year to consider requests for grants from people living in the parishes of Thonock and Morton who are on low incomes or in receipt of benefits," Mrs Bradley said.

"The charity also gives money to educational initiatives at Morton school.

"Its income is derived from the assets of the trust which are local properties and land holdings.

"And the trustees on this occasion were really enthusiastic about helping the children with this particular project."

Grant applications for the April 17 meeting can be sent to Maria Bradley, Joshua Tyler Charity (registered numbers 527691 and 217594, c/o Burton & Dyson, 22 Market Place, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire DN21 2BZ. E-mail maria.bradley@burtondyson.com or call 01427 610761.