2025 STEM Major Award Winner: Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School (St. Albans)
Six ViewSonic ViewBoard IFP7533-G Interactive Displays
What they’re buying & what it do es
Each 75-inch ViewBoard pairs 4K-UHD clarity with a 40-point ultra-fine touchscreen, dual-pen “pen-on-paper” writing, built-in Android 13 and the myViewBoard ecosystem. Teachers can whiteboard, launch apps, split the screen or cast devices wirelessly; a single USB-C cable handles power, data and display, while front-facing speakers make it an all-in-one teaching hub. (viewsonic.com)
Identified problems & gaps
Science and ICT lessons remain tied to “traditional whiteboards and projectors”, limiting interactivity just as “science subjects become increasingly data-driven and visual”. A two-screen pilot proved successful, but most rooms still lack the technology pupils need for modern STEM learning.
How the screens will enhance learning
Teachers report engagement has “improved exponentially” with the pilot boards; this grant extends that impact to every science classroom. Real-time annotation, simulations and data visualisations will, in their words, “mirror the technological environments students will encounter in higher education and STEM careers”. Forty-touch collaboration supports group investigations, while built-in casting lets students share work instantly. Seven trained staff will cascade skills, embedding objectives to “improve student engagement, foster collaboration and integrate digital resources into daily instruction”. The boards will also serve summer schools for feeder primaries and holiday sessions run with St Albans City Youth FC, widening reach to hundreds more learners.
Value for money & longevity
With panels rated for 50,000+ hours and an enterprise myViewBoard licence included, the package offers long-term use without ongoing software fees. Hardware that drives daytime lessons can be repurposed after hours for community partners, maximising utilisation. The successful pilot shows minimal change-management costs: staff enthusiasm is already high, so the investment translates straight into richer learning. Fundraising plans to roll screens out school-wide further amplify the award’s impact, ensuring benefits that last well beyond the initial grant.