PUPILS from a private school are amongst the first in the country to be required to bring an iPad to lessons as part of moves to modernise learning.

Dundee High School expects all pupils from P6 to S4 to bring their own handheld tablets to school under a new policy.

Many families already own iPads, but for those that do not the school has set up an arrangement with suppliers where the computers can be leased for £18 a month.

Rector Dr John Halliday said the initiative would put innovation at the heart of education.

He said: "This technology is the most amazing tool to assist our pupils in developing their sense of enterprise, excitement in learning, and their ability to flourish in an ever-changing increasingly digital world.

"Computers in schools are standard, but this takes this element of learning on to a whole new level, bringing a sharp focus on each pupil's own responsibility for their own learning.

"It is clear that familiarity with digital technology is now a basic requirement for all our pupils and staff and we are proud to be one of the first schools in Scotland to adopt these devices in such a way at this stage."

A school spokesman said all 450 pupils in the six year groups covered by the policy now had iPads, with plans to roll the policy out to younger age groups in future.

The move comes after a Scottish Government-backed report published last year recommended pupils should use their own tablet computers during lessons.

The ICT Excellence Group report said: "Outwith the classroom, young people and teachers are accustomed to using such devices all the time to find out new information.

"Harnessing this through a sensible approach to bringing their own technology to school will be important, in the current public financial climate."

A study by academics at the University of the West of Scotland found the use of tablet computers in primary schools could raise pupil engagement, with a particularly strong impact on boys.