BOLTON’S top performing school is following the example of a school at the other end of the league tables — by giving pupils iPads.

Bolton School says it has been learning from Essa Academy in Great Lever where children have already been learning using the hand held tablet computers in the classroom and at home since the start of the year.

Bolton School said the partnership between the two different types of school has proved “very productive”.

In September, Bolton School will start rolling out iPads to its pupils.

Children at Park Road, the boys’ junior school, will each receive an iPad when they return to school in September.

In January, devices will be handed out to year seven boys and year nine girls as well as all year 12 pupils.

And by autumn next year, all pupils in both junior schools, both senior schools and both sixth forms will have an iPad — as will some year two children in the infant school, Beech House.Philip Britton, head of Bolton School Boys’ Division, said: “I have already seen the junior boys using the iPads for school work.

“Our ambition, as our e-learning project runs through the school in the next 18 months, is that the boys and girls simply use the technology as a tool to help them in their work.”

More than 2,000 children will have an iPad, which will make it one of the biggest — if not the biggest — school iPad schemes in the country.

Mr Britton said: “We are well aware that some think iPads are a magic bullet for educational success.

“That is not what we feel and Bolton School will not abandon books and other resources.

“The technology will be just one part of the variety of teaching and learning at the school. However, it is an essential ingredient of that variety. The pupils of today will grow into adults in a work place where being able to use technology is essential.”

He added: “It is also clear that many universities use e-learning much more than schools and we prepare pupils for that future so they are able to excel. As we get to use the iPads it is clear that there are some evolutionary aspects — they replace what we have always done but do it better. Schools managed before the photocopier and they will move on from copied sheets in due course. There are also some revolutionary aspects, with animations that can show things very clearly.”

The school is working with technology experts Lightspeed Systems to ensure that the issuing of iPads is safe and secure.