Hwb programme: integrated impact assessment

The Welsh Government is committed to delivering a national, equitable, inclusive, consistent, and bilingual approach to digital services as part of its Programme for Government, "Our National Mission," the Well-being and Future Generations (Wales) Act, and the Curriculum for Wales.

Underpinning these commitments, the Hwb programme is pivotal in supporting long-term educational reform and improving outcomes. It provides the digital foundations for schools, a platform for learning and teaching, and supports day-to-day operations. The Hwb programme ensures access to safe, secure, and equitable services that inspire teachers and learners to embed digital practices and develop the competencies necessary for the Curriculum for Wales.

The programme is driven by strategic objectives that prioritise practitioners and learners. These objectives include providing leadership, developing strategic partnerships for effective procurement, delivering digital infrastructure, supporting digital transformation through bilingual services, enhancing digital resilience, and building digital capabilities.

The Hwb programme encompasses several critical initiatives that support the Programme for Government and Ministerial priorities:

Hwb Web Platform

A digital gateway for education in Wales to access a plethora of bilingual digital resources, services and tools.

Hwb Cloud

Ensures secure access for over 550,000 users across Wales and provides essential digital services and tools to support school operations and teaching and learning practices. These essential services include a national tenant and licence for Microsoft 365, as well as national Google for Education, Apple Classroom and Adobe Creative Cloud tenancies.

Education Technology (EdTech) Programme

A national investment programme to enhance digital infrastructure and support services in maintained schools across Wales in line with national Education Digital Standards.

Digital Resilience in Education

A national programme to enhance safeguarding and secure digital practices in schools.

Digital Maturity

A collaborative change programme with all local authorities to ensure schools are equipped for a constantly evolving technical landscape, associated standards and have appropriate digital skills to harness the potential of Hwb Tools.

Long-Term

The Hwb programme aims to support a "Once for Wales" approach, which:

• supports schools to deliver the Curriculum for Wales
• maximises the opportunities of digital to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy, supporting school leaders to reduce the burden on the workforce
• transforms learning environments, contributing towards developing net-zero carbon schools and enhancing school facilities for local communities
• enhances digital skills for learners and educators, which in turn supports the development of a digitally competent workforce in Wales
• provides access to high-quality digital resources and tools
• promotes technology use to help improve educational outcomes

Prevention

The Hwb programme reduces educational inequality by providing equitable access to world-leading digital tools and services. This access alleviates the financial burden on learners, parents, and carers, supporting the commitment to reduce poverty's impact on attainment.

Centrally funded Hwb infrastructure, services and tools simplify local infrastructure needs, making digital adoption easier and reducing costs for schools. This approach, especially valuable during times of austerity and the pandemic, allows schools and the Welsh Government to embrace an agile response to challenges, while also achieving significant economies of scale in terms of time, costs and quality.

The Hwb programme plays a key role in preventing online harm by fostering a culture of digital awareness. It offers a centralised, secure environment for digital learning, complete with content filtering and cybersecurity protections. Hwb’s Keeping Safe Online area provides comprehensive suite of resources, guidance and training to support schools and the school community to promote safe and responsible online behaviours. Fundamentally, it fosters a culture of collaboration by working with sector leading online safety experts such as the IWF, SWGfL, Childnet, NSPCC, as well as regulators such as Estyn, Ofcom and the ICO to ensure high quality advice and information for schools in Wales. 

Integration

The Hwb programme reinforces multiple policy areas, including the Curriculum for Wales, Cymraeg 2050, and the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. It plays a vital role in driving digital transformation across education in Wales, aligning with the Government’s vision for education and broader strategic objectives. 

By integrating digital tools and infrastructure within schools, Hwb empowers learners and educators with the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape, fostering a more innovative, inclusive, and future-ready education system. 

The programme also supports the ambitions outlined in the Digital Strategy for Wales, recognising digital as a key enabler of equitable access, innovation, and educational excellence. By equipping schools with future-proofed technology, the Hwb programme ensures that learners develop essential digital competencies, preparing them for success in both education and the workforce.

Hwb contributes to the Cymraeg 2050 strategy by embedding the Welsh language into digital education. Through its partnerships with Microsoft and Google, Hwb ensures that Welsh-speaking learners, teachers, and citizens have access to bilingual digital tools and services. This collaboration has led to the integration of Welsh language interfaces, accessibility features, and digital resources, reinforcing Welsh as a living, working language in digital spaces.

Furthermore, Hwb’s digital-first approach strengthens the capacity of schools to adapt, innovate, and deliver on broader strategic goals, supporting a more resilient and inclusive education system across Wales.

Collaboration

The Hwb programme is a national initiative established in collaboration with all local authorities. Driven with an ethos of Sector owned, Sector Led, it delivers a consistent, ‘Once for Wales’ approach to EdTech implementation, supporting the Curriculum for Wales.

The Digital Learning Cymru (DLC) group, representing all local authorities and school improvement services, governs the programme, ensuring national approaches fit local contexts.

The Technical Standardisation Group (TSG) supports consistency and standardisation across Wales, contributing to comprehensive education digital standards. Collaboration with local authorities, school improvement services, and other stakeholders maximises EdTech initiatives' impact and facilitates effective Hwb service adoption.

Local authorities act as strategic delivery partners, streamlining ICT support models and ensuring consistent service deliver.

The Digital in Education Wales outlines a joined up strategic vision encompassing curriculum, professional learning and digital learning. This approach is our next step in outlining a shared ambition for digital transformation in our education system that will lead us forward and ensure schools are empowered to support every learner in Wales to reach their full potential. The vision outlines 3 central themes: 

• embedding digital throughout the schools’ curriculum, teaching, learning and assessment
• developing a digitally skilled and confident leadership and workforce
• delivering innovative and resilient education technology

By integrating these themes, it aims to fulfil the vision across schools, establishing Wales as a trailblazing nation in digital education, benefiting learners, practitioners, and the future economy.

Involvement

The Hwb programme has been developed through extensive collaboration and stakeholder engagement to ensure equitable access to high-quality digital resources, reliable infrastructure, and the skills needed to integrate technology effectively into teaching and learning.

From the outset, the programme has been shaped by those it impacts most. Teachers, school leaders, local authorities, community groups, and learners have actively contributed through consultations, surveys, pilot programmes, and direct collaboration with educational professionals. This inclusive approach has ensured that digital resources and services are effective, user-friendly, and responsive to the diverse needs of schools across Wales.

As a result, learners, educators, and parents benefit from seamless digital integration, bilingual resources, and future-proofed technology that directly support the Curriculum for Wales, ensuring a modern, accessible, and adaptable digital learning experience for all.

To maintain best practices and a standardised, secure, and cohesive teaching and learning experience, the Schools Digital Services Division within the Welsh Government continues to collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders, including local authorities, security consultants, legal services, and global technology partners (Apple, Google, and Microsoft).

Ongoing engagement is key to the programme’s success. Stakeholders including learners, educators, school leaders, and local authorities actively contribute through consultations, feedback sessions, pilot initiatives, and training opportunities. This ensures that Hwb remains inclusive, adaptable, and aligned with the evolving needs of Wales’ education system.

Additionally, in partnership with all 22 local authorities, the Hwb programme has developed the national Education Digital Standards (EDS). These standards help ensure that schools provide a consistent technical environment and meet the latest digital expectations, supporting the Welsh Government’s efforts to address digital inequalities in schools.

This collaborative approach reinforces Hwb’s role in driving digital transformation across education in Wales, ensuring that all learners, regardless of location, have access to the tools and skills they need for the future.

Impact

The Hwb programme has significantly impacted education in Wales, driving digital transformation, promoting equity, and supporting improved educational outcomes.

Educational outcomes

Hwb plays a crucial role in supporting the Curriculum for Wales by providing relevant resources and tools that align with its goals. It has helped contribute to improving educational initiatives, and indirectly education outcomes, by enabling access to high-quality digital resources and supporting effective teaching practices.

Improved digital literacy

The platform supports the Digital Competence Framework (DCF), integral to the Welsh curriculum, helping teachers integrate digital literacy into their teaching.

Enhanced digital access and equity

Hwb ensures all learners and teachers in Wales have equitable access to digital tools and services, helping to reduce the digital divide.

Support for blended learning

Hwb provides digital tools and services for both in-class and remote learning, essential during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hwb supports the Welsh Government’s ambitious for continuous learning and personalised learning experiences.

Collaboration and communication

Digital tools and services like Microsoft 365 and Google for Education facilitate collaboration among learners and teachers, and even parents and (or) carers. The platform also fosters a community of practice across the school’s workforce.

Safeguarding

Hwb includes robust safeguarding measures, ensuring a safe and secure online environment for all users and their data.

Resource availability and quality

The platform offers bilingual resources aligned with the curriculum for Wales, standardising education quality and helping to promote the Welsh language.

Continuity of learning

During the pandemic, Hwb was essential for supporting the continuity of learning when schools closed. The Hwb infrastructure and services enabled a smooth transition to remote learning, mitigating the impact of school closures on learners’ education.

Learning and teaching

Hwb provides access to a wide range of digital tools and services to support teaching and learning, such as Microsoft 365 and Google for Education. These services enable interactive and engaging learning experiences, from virtual lessons to collaborative projects, as well as supporting different pedagogical practices and strategies. Hwb offers resources that align with the Curriculum for Wales, helping educators integrate digital literacy and skills into teaching while ensuring that learners develop competencies essential for the modern world.

School transformation

By providing a secure, scalable digital environment for all maintained schools, Hwb reduces the burden of IT management and ensures equitable access for all learners and teachers. The digital tools and services offered by Hwb also enable schools to modernise their operational practices, streamline administrative tasks, and enhance communication with parents and stakeholders. 

More effective school practice: Hwb contributes to more effective school practices and delivers financial, operational, and time efficiencies through a combination of centralised digital infrastructure, collaborative tools, and comprehensive support for teachers.

Costs and savings

The Welsh Government's Schools Digital Services Division invests approximately £4 million annually in Hwb's digital tools and services. Additionally, the Hwb programme has invested over £200 million to upgrade digital infrastructure and equipment, ensuring schools have modern technology to support learning and teaching.

The Hwb Benefits Map (Annex A) highlights the programme's contribution to significant cost efficiencies and savings for schools and local authorities, demonstrating value through streamlined digital tool and services.

Mechanism

No legislation is proposed for the Hwb Programme.

How have people most likely to be affected by the proposal been involved in developing it? 

The Hwb programme has been developed through extensive collaboration with key stakeholders, including teachers, school leaders, local authorities, community groups, and learners. From the outset, consultations, surveys, pilot programmes, and direct feedback have played a critical role in shaping the programme to ensure it meets the diverse needs of schools across Wales. This participatory approach has allowed for the development of resources and services that are user-friendly, effective, and aligned with the objectives of the Curriculum for Wales.

The programme is governed by Digital Learning Cymru (DLC) which represents local authorities and school improvement needs, ensuring national strategies are sector owned, and sector led. Ongoing engagement with stakeholders, including feedback sessions, pilot initiatives, and training opportunities, continues to inform Hwb’s evolution, ensuring it remains responsive to the changing needs of educators, learners, and schools.

The Welsh Government works closely with global technology partners like Microsoft, Google, and Apple to maintain a consistent and high-quality digital environment for maintained schools. This collaborative approach ensures that the Hwb programme remains inclusive, adaptable, and focused on achieving the Welsh Government’s broader educational goals. In turn, learners, practitioners and education stakeholders benefit from seamless integration of digital tools, bilingual resources, and future-proof technology that directly underpins the Curriculum for Wales and enables schools to maximise benefits of digital technology to create a personalised and safe ecosystem which equips schools to prepare their learners to thrive in a global digital society.

What are the most significant impacts, positive and negative?

The Hwb programme has been developed through extensive collaboration with key stakeholders, including local authorities, school leaders, teachers, and global technology partners. Their collective feedback and insights have been integral in shaping the programme to ensure it meets the diverse needs of learners, teachers, and communities across Wales. This collaborative approach aligns the programme with national educational priorities, including the 'Curriculum for Wales and the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015'. Hwb prioritises inclusivity and equity, creating a platform that supports teachers in effectively integrating digital tools while ensuring that every learner, regardless of background or location, has equal access to high-quality educational resources.

The Hwb programme significantly contributes to the Welsh Government’s commitment to a resilient, prosperous Wales. By embedding principles of sustainability and equity, it provides all learners with the tools needed to succeed, now and in the future. Its role in promoting social inclusion and tackling educational inequality ensures no learner is left behind in a rapidly digitalising world. Furthermore, Hwb’s focus on bilingual digital resources not only supports the Welsh language but strengthens cultural and language well-being, connecting learners with Welsh heritage in meaningful ways.

Among the most significant positive impacts of the programme are its contributions to reducing educational inequality, enhancing digital access, and supporting the digital transformation of schools. By providing a secure, centralised platform with world-class tools such as Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, Hwb has facilitated more effective teaching and learning, improved digital literacy, and supported the smooth transition to remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. These benefits foster a digitally competent workforce, better preparing students for the demands of the modern economy.

However, challenges remain in ensuring ongoing support and training to fully harness the potential of digital tools. Despite these challenges, Hwb’s strategic focus on digital resilience and its collaborative governance model have mitigated many risks, ensuring that it continues to be a transformative force for education in Wales. By aligning with the Curriculum for Wales Integrated Impact Assessment, Hwb is positioned to drive long-term positive change, promoting educational equity, cultural sustainability, and a future-ready workforce.

In light of the impacts identified, how will the proposal: 

• maximise contribution to our well-being objectives and the seven well-being goals and (or)
• avoid, reduce or mitigate any negative impacts?

The Hwb programme aligns with and contributes to the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 by supporting its overarching goals of creating a more sustainable, equitable, and healthier Wales. The Act sets out seven well-being goals, and the Hwb programme contributes to several of these in the following ways:

A healthier Wales

Promoting digital well-being

The Hwb programme provides resources and tools that promote digital literacy, safe internet usage, and mental health awareness. By fostering these skills, the programme contributes to the well-being and mental health of both learners and teachers, which is central to creating a healthier population.

Health education

Hwb supports health education by integrating digital resources that teach students about physical health, nutrition, and mental well-being, helping to instill healthy habits from a young age.

A more equal Wales

Equitable access to digital resources

The Hwb programme ensures that all learners across Wales, regardless of their socio-economic background or geographic location, have access to high-quality digital resources. This helps reduce educational inequalities, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to succeed, which aligns with the goal of promoting equality.

Bilingual resources

Hwb provides bilingual resources in both Welsh and English, ensuring that all learners can access educational materials in their preferred language, thereby supporting linguistic equality and inclusivity.

A prosperous Wales

Digital competency

By embedding digital practices into education, Hwb helps develop the skills and knowledge necessary for future employment in a digitally-driven economy. This contributes to creating a prosperous Wales by equipping students with competencies that are essential for the workforce of the future.

Support for teachers

Hwb also offers professional development opportunities for teachers, helping them to improve their digital skills, which in turn enhances the quality of education and prepares students for future economic opportunities.

A Wales of cohesive communities

Supporting rural and remote learners

Hwb addresses the challenges faced by learners in rural and remote areas by providing access to digital learning platforms and resources, helping to create cohesive communities where everyone has the same opportunities, regardless of location.

Community-focused schools

By providing digital tools that can be used for community engagement, Hwb supports schools in becoming hubs for their communities, fostering a sense of belonging and connection among learners, parents, and educators.

A globally responsible Wales

Sustainable practices

The Hwb programme promotes the use of digital resources, which can reduce the need for physical materials like paper, contributing to more sustainable educational practices. This aligns with the goal of acting in a globally responsible manner by reducing the environmental footprint of education.

Digital citizenship

Through its focus on safe and responsible internet usage, Hwb helps cultivate globally-minded citizens who understand the impact of their actions online, both locally and globally.

A Wales of vibrant culture and thriving Welsh language

Bilingual education

Hwb’s bilingual digital resources support the use of the Welsh language in education, contributing to its preservation and promotion. This helps to ensure that the Welsh language remains a vibrant part of the country’s culture.

Cultural resources

Hwb provides access to resources that celebrate Welsh culture and heritage, ensuring that learners can engage with and appreciate their cultural identity as part of their education.

A resilient Wales

Adaptable education system

Hwb contributes to a resilient education system by providing digital infrastructure that can adapt to changing circumstances, such as the need for remote learning during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. This adaptability supports the resilience of the wider community.

Environmental awareness

Through its resources, Hwb can also promote environmental education, helping students understand the importance of sustainability and the role they play in protecting the environment, which is key to building a resilient Wales.

How will the impact of the proposal be monitored and evaluated as it progresses and when it concludes? 

By listening to feedback from the education community including children and young people, Hwb introduces new services and features, so schools have what they need to improve digital competences for learners and support innovative classroom practices for practitioners. The Welsh Government and local authorities continuously collaborate to ensure the Hwb programme meets the needs of schools and delivers a consistent and sustainable education technology experience.

Enhancing the digital maturity of local authorities and schools is essential to maximise the transformative potential of EdTech. The Hwb programme adopts a national approach to foster digital learning and innovation across Wales. 

Our approach involves working to stay ahead of the curve by early identification of emerging trends within education technology. By monitoring advancements, we aim to harness the power of these technologies to enhance learning experiences and drive positive outcomes for our learners. Through strategic partnerships and collaborations with industry leaders and our expert group of academics and third sector organisations, we are striving to implement innovative solutions that embed interactive and immersive learning environments. 

We are committed to embracing emerging technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR), and Augmented Reality (AR), where appropriate. It is evident emerging technology offer tremendous potential to impact the educational opportunities afforded to our learners and workforce. 

By aspiring to stay at the forefront of emerging EdTech, our learners and practitioners have access to cutting-edge tools and resources, which are helping to equip them with the digital skills and knowledge needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.

In collaboration with Estyn, we undertook a thorough assessment of local authorities' digital landscape in 2023 to assess the progress of the digital maturity in the local authority and across their schools. The assessment focussed on alignment with the digital standards, quality of online provision, Hwb platform usage and digital resilience. All recommendations will directly inform the ongoing discussions as part of the local authority improvement plan with Estyn and also as part of monitoring arrangements of the Hwb EdTech Programme. 

The Hwb programme is monitored and evaluated through a collaborative and structured framework including Programme Delivery Group (PDG), Digital Learning Cymru (DLC) and Technology Standards Group (TSG) to ensure effective delivery, strategic alignment, and continuous improvement. This approach ensures that the programme remains responsive, innovative, and aligned with educational priorities in Wales, delivering significant benefits to schools, teachers, and learners.