The Ear1 of Northeskasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the announcement that 86 per cent of primary schools and 98 per cent of secondary schools are online, what is the average number of computer terminals in these schools and how many of these computers are located exclusively in the classroom [HL3909]
§ The Minister for State, Department for Education and Employment (Baroness Blackstone)Statistics published by the Department for Education and Employment on 6 September indicated that there is one computer for every 12.6 pupils in primary schools, and for every 7.9 pupils in secondary schools. This compares well with the corresponding figures from 1998 (when there was an average of one computer for every 17.6 pupils in primary schools, and for every 8.7 pupils in secondary schools) and demonstrates that schools are on course to meet the challenging targets which we have set for 2004—computer to pupil ratios in primary and secondary schools of 1:8 and 1:5 respectively.
The average number of computers per school, and the average number of computers per school available mainly for curriculum purposes, will be included in a further statistical bulletin due for publication on 11 October. As with the highly encouraging Internet connectivity figures referred to in the Question, these data will be based on a survey of schools conducted in April 2000.