Unlocking audio at St Vincent's School

At St Vincent’s School, pupils are discovering new ways to learn, connect and grow, thanks to a partnership with BWBF.

A white Alexa Show device with two teenage boys in the background, discussing something.

The specialist school supports children with sensory impairments and other additional needs. Thanks to donated Alexa devices and iPads from BWBF as part of a pilot project, assistive technology is now part of everyday school life.

From setting timers in sports lessons to supporting pupils as they learn braille – or simply feeding their natural curiosity – the devices have quickly become invaluable.

They've significantly enhanced learning experiences, particularly for our visually impaired pupils.
Steve Irwin, Head of ICT at St Vincents

Two men hold iPads with purple cases and discuss. They are smiling.

A girl at in a School uniform holds a white Amazon Echo Show device in her hand.

A teenage school pupil holds a white Amazon Echo Show. His teacher is sitting next to him.

Three boys in school uniforms huddle round an iPad in a purple case

Children and young people using the devices we donated to the school

Making learning accessible

The iPads and Alexas are used across the school – in lessons, one-to-one support sessions, and residential areas.

Pupils can access information, complete homework and relax outside of class, building confidence in using the same technology they enjoy at home.

Teachers at the school shared with us how these devices are enriching lessons across the curriculum.

“In science, the iPads support practical investigations through the stopwatch, video and note-taking features, enabling students to document and reflect on their experiment," explains one of the teachers at the school.

“In maths, they’re used as calculators, for educational games, and to photograph tactile resources like graphs and
diagrams – making visual lessons more accessible.

“In humanities subjects, pupils use them for independent research, encouraging autonomy and participation"

I really enjoy using it. It just makes everything easier - using computers and normal websites can be so annoying. It's like they're not made for people like me.
One of the pupils at St Vincent's School

Voice-control functions allow VI pupils to complete tasks independently, fostering inclusion, autonomy and confidence in their learning. Without this technology, such tasks would not be accessible to them.
One of the teachers at the school

Annabel sits on her sofa reading her Voxblock audio book player. She wears glasses and has a bow in her hair.

More about what we do

Find out more about what we do, organisations we work with and support we offer directly to people living with sight loss.

What we do