Rutland County Council: A Small Authority Making a Big Impact with AV1

Schools across Rutland County Council provided AV1 robots as a lifeline to make sure that every young person felt connected to their school community. The AV1 was just as much of a social tool as it was an educational tool, acting as the eyes, ears and voice for pupils who could not physically be present.

Ease of Use: Simple, Seamless and Stress-Free

From the moment of setup, staff praised the robot’s ease of use. Teachers rated the installation as 10/10 for simplicity, while many described how AV1 became a seamless part of the classroom environment.

Importantly, the AV1 didn’t require extensive training or complex technical knowledge. Staff could focus on inclusion and learning rather than troubleshooting. Some technical hiccups were noted, as expected with any pilot, but these were quickly resolved. Any minor challenges were more related to infrastructure, not the robot itself, with staff indicating that support was responsive and helpful.

Impact on Connection and Inclusion

As one teacher at Langham C of E Primary School explained,

"AV1 is a great addition to the classroom… it gave our pupil a sense of presence and connection”.

They strongly agreed that AV1 helped the child feel part of the school community and engage with their peers, all without disrupting the learning of others. Just seeing familiar faces and hearing class discussions made a visible difference to pupils’ confidence.

At Great Casterton College, the AV1 offered crucial continuity for a student receiving medical care at home. Teachers reported flawless setup and use and noted their strong willingness to continue using the robot in future, calling AV1 a tool with real potential in secondary settings.

Uppingham Community College highlighted how AV1 enabled learning access while maintaining medical needs, explaining there is great scope to use the robot across Rutland in different settings and for different student needs.

Looking Ahead

Rutland County Council now sees great potential for AV1 to become a sustainable part of its offer for children unable to attend school in person, with ambitions to expand its use. Rutland is leading the way in showing how a simple, thoughtful use of technology can change the story for isolated children, bringing them back into the heart and centre of school life.

In Rutland, the AV1 isn’t just a piece of technology - it’s a bridge. A bridge between hospital beds and classroom desks, between home and the playground, between isolation and belonging. For the children using it, that bridge can make all the difference.

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