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NEWS RELEASE

SURVEY OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY IN SCHOOLS 2001/02

26 September 2002

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The results of the latest survey of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in publicly funded schools are published today by the Scottish Executive Education Department.

These results have been calculated using information from the annual survey of ICT collected from a sample of schools in Scotland in February 2002. This news release updates the figures published in November 2001 in the statistical news release 'Survey of Information and Communication Technology in Schools 2000'.

The main findings are:

• The percentage of computers in schools that are over 4 years old has fallen across all sectors between October 2000 and February 2002. This was matched by an increase in the percentage of computers with a CD-ROM ( Table 1).
• The percentage of schools with access to the World Wide Web (WWW) has increased in the primary and special sectors between October 2000 and February 2002. All secondary schools continue to have access to the internet ( Table 4).
• Almost half of secondary schools are connected to the WWW and/or Internet Email via a Broadband connection. However, the percentage of schools in other sectors who have this type of connection is substantially lower. The majority of primary and special schools have a ISDN connection ( Table 5).
• Across all sectors, almost all schools with WWW access use the Internet for educational purposes ( Table 5).
• For schools with access to the web, most have their access arranged by the local authority ( Table 5).
• Over half of all secondary schools have a school web page, however this figure is substantially lower in other sectors. Of those secondary schools who have a school web page, 87 per cent of them use it to provide information to parents/others ( Table 6).
• The September 2001 school census showed a significant increase in the percentage of both pupils and teachers with an e-mail address ( Table 7).
• The September 2001 school census also showed a decrease in the pupil:computer ratio to 11:1 at primary level and 5:1 at secondary level. ( Table 8).
• There has been an increase across all sectors in the percentage of schools with a Local Area Network (LAN) used for teaching purposes ( Table 9).

TABLES

Table 1 - Percentage of computers in schools by characteristics, by sector, 2000/01 & 2001/02.
Table 2 - Percentage of computers in schools by make, by sector, 2000/01 & 2001/02.
Table 3 - Percentage of schools with access to digital television, by sector, 2000/01 & 2001/02.
Table 4 - Percentage of schools using electronic communication, by type of communication, by sector, 2000/01 & 2001/02.
Table 5 - Percentage of schools with Internet access, by use of the Internet for educational purposes, existence of an ethical ICT policy, type of Internet connection and arrangements for Internet access, by sector, 2000/01 & 2001/02.
Table 6 - Percentage of schools with a web page, by existence and use of the web page, by sector, 2000/01 & 2001/02.
Table 7 - Percentage of pupils and teachers with an e-mail address, by sector, 2000/01 & 2001/02.
Table 8 - Pupil:computer ratios, by sector, 2000/01 & 2001/02.
Table 9 - Percentage of schools with a Local Area Network (LAN) for teaching purposes, by type of management of the LAN, and existence of local authority guidance, by sector, 2000/01 & 2001/02.
Table 10 - Percentage of schools with a member of staff who acts as an ICT co-ordinator, by sector, 2000/01 & 2001/02.
Table 11 - Percentage of secondary schools using ICT for administration and management, by existence of a working group, existence of sufficient computers and type of administrative process which is computerised, 2000/01 & 2001/02.
Table 12 - Percentage of secondary schools with Management Information Systems (MIS), by membership of a user group, existence of an effective voice within the user group, satisfaction with quality of service received and satisfaction with the resolution of problems, 2000/01 & 2001/02.

NOTES TO NEWS EDITORS

1. The ICT survey replaced the Annual Survey of Listening, Viewing and Computers (ASLVC), which was last issued to a sample of schools in 1998. The ASLVC was managed by the then Scottish Council for Educational Technology (SCET) on behalf of the former Scottish Office, The Educational Broadcasting Council for Scotland, and Channel 4 Schools. In 1999, the survey was changed significantly from its predecessor, and the content of the survey has been streamlined to focus questions related to information and communication technology. The changes in the survey mean that most of the recent results are not directly comparable with historical results. The survey was again reviewed and updated for 2001/02.

2. The sample of schools and pre-school centres chosen to take part in this survey was selected to be representative of Scotland by region and by the size of the pupil roll in the school, together with other factors. However, due to problems with the pre-school sample selected this year results for the pre-school sector are not available for 2001/02.

3. The sample size of the survey was chosen to ensure that a minimum level of accuracy, with 95% confidence, for the results were:

+/- 5% for primary and secondary schools, and

+/- 10% for pre-schools and special schools

Due to a poor response rate from pre-schools the minimum desired level of accuracy was not achievable for this sector.

4. Of the 604 primary, secondary and special schools selected to take part in the survey, 592 schools provided responses in February 2002. Therefore, the high response rate to the survey means that these minimum levels of accuracy have been achieved and that the results are representative of the factors mentioned above. The precise level of accuracy will vary for each result.

5. This is a National Statistics publication. National Statistics are produced to high professional standards set out in the National Statistics Code of Practice. They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs. They are produced free from any political interference.

Enquiries

6. Public enquiries (non-media) about the information contained in this News Release should be addressed to Jon Hunter, Assistant Statistician, Scottish Executive Education Department, Area 1A-West, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQ. Telephone 0131 244 0314 or email jon.hunter@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

7. Media enquiries about the information in this News Release should be addressed to: David Hood, Tel: 0131 244 5033

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