A trust has provided more than 600 pupils with their own individual laptops to bridge the digital divide between the most and least disadvantaged children.

The Maritime Academy Trust invested more than £60,000 in the project introduced this month, which has seen hundreds of Year 3 pupils across its 10 mainstream primary schools in Greenwich, Bexley, Medway and Kent provided with their own Chromebook.

The children are able to take the devices home after school to support homework and wider learning, and will continue to use them as they move through the school.

Teachers have also been trained on using the new devices.

The trust hopes that by 2026, all Key Stage 2 children will have their own Chromebook.

The programme began with a pilot project with Year 3 and 4 pupils in two of the schools – Bligh Junior School in Strood, and Timbercroft Primary School in Plumstead.

Susan Matheson, chief operating officer at Maritime Academy Trust, said: "This is a hugely ambitious programme that has taken significant levels of investment and much planning.

"We believe it is a foundation upon which we can continue to drive ever-stronger outcomes for children through even more enjoyable lessons and home learning opportunities."

One pupil involved in the pilot said: "I like my Chromebook because it helps me with my learning and at the same time it is engaging.”

Another pupil added: “I think having our own Chromebooks is amazing. It is good because we do not have to wait for any people for the Chromebooks.

"They also help us with computer skills such as touch typing which is useful for when we are older.”

An ImpactEd survey found that four in five pupils agreed that "since receiving a Chromebook, lessons are more fun", and almost three quarters agreed that "since receiving a Chromebook I have more opportunities to learn new things".

Parents also approved of the project, with more than two thirds of those surveyed believing that their child had become more independent since receiving the Chromebook, and more than half agreeing that their child had more interest in learning.

Teachers, too, held a positive view, finding that students were more independent, engaged, and motivated.

The laptops have been funded jointly by the schools and the Maritime Academy Trust central budget.