PUPILS at a village school are surfing the internet in style thanks to an upgrade of their internet connection.

Stalbridge Primary School has been transported onto the ultrafast broadband highway as part of Dorset Council’s £870,000 GigaHub project.

The primary, near Sturminster Newton, is one of dozens of rural schools and community buildings currently being connected to some of the fastest internet speeds in the country.

The council was awarded government funding to connect 35 schools, libraries and a visitor attraction to next generation, full-fibre broadband as part of the government’s £5 billion Project Gigabit roll-out.

Currently, 14 sites across Dorset are benefitting and they are all in areas where there were no plans to roll-out full fibre.

Headteacher at Stalbridge Primary, Simon Elledge, said: “Before joining Stalbridge Primary I worked as an Apple Distinguished Educator, working with technology in London schools.

“I am very passionate about the benefits digital can bring to schools and pupils.

“I was absolutely delighted when we were contacted by the council and asked if we would like to be part of this project.

“We have 190 children who all use the internet heavily in school to support their learning. With two sets of 15 laptops and two sets of 15 iPads in constant use, effective broadband is essential.”

He said teachers and pupils are now benefiting from the improved connection.

“Our teachers all use screens with their own Wi-Fi connection, which enables us to be flexible in our approach to teaching,” he said.

“Using all those applications on our old broadband speeds was sometimes a struggle but now it’s an absolute breeze.”

And having future-proof broadband opens many more opportunities for the school, with Mr Elledge hoping to install environmental webcams so pupils can learn more interactively about the wildlife that lives in their rural community.

Blandford-based Wessex Internet was awarded the contract to install the fibre broadband to all 35 GigaHub sites.

Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for corporate development and transformation, Cllr Jill Haynes, said: “It’s wonderful to see the difference our GigaHub project is already making to schools like Stalbridge Primary.

“Our reliance on very good broadband speeds is only going to become more important as technology evolves.

“As a rural councillor, I know how important it is that we work with the government to ensure our areas are not left behind in this increasingly digital world.”

The sites that make up the ‘GigaHub Connectivity in Rural Dorset Project’ – including 22 primary and secondary schools – are situated across the county, from Purbeck in the south to Gillingham in the north.

Durlston Country Park is also set to be connected and the funding will also help two libraries, a care home and a children’s centre. All sites in the project will be connected to full fibre by September.

Hector Gibson Fleming, CEO of Wessex Internet, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Dorset Council to provide a full fibre connection to important community sites like Stalbridge Primary School.

“Not only will schools and other community facilities benefit from ultrafast and reliable connectivity, surrounding homes and businesses will also be able to get connected.”