School axes textbooks as pupils download homework onto their mobile phones

A school is getting rid of textbooks and encouraging pupils to download homework onto their mobile phones instead.

The new Hackney City Academy wants to eliminate the need for heavy rucksacks and is introducing curriculum texts that pupils can access through their mobile phone SIM cards and home computers.

The scheme for 'E-books' has been launched primarily to save on the huge costs of buying and replacing hundreds of books every year.



Academy headteacher Mark Emmerson is pioneering the E-books in his school, which is due to open next September.

Researchers at the University of Aberystwyth's computer department and text book publishers are developing the online editions and expect them to be up and running in time for the school to open its doors.

Mr Emmerson said that traditional paper copies would still be available for pupils without mobiles and home computers. Internet access in the school would also be available to every pupil. Textbooks will still be used by teachers and will be in school, but they will be very much as reference books not standard issue to pupils. Pupils will use PDFs of the pages they are working on in class or computers.