School Information
Further Reading
What the research says
Here we try to alert you to some of the latest relevant research findings to both explain the reason for wishing to highlight the digital divide, and to help those putting together a “business case” for becoming more pro-active in overcoming it, whether as a school, a concerned parent, a potential donor or a policy maker.
Most of these reports are in the public domain and published on the Internet so wherever possible a weblink is provided. Please refer to the full report for a more detailed assessment of the findings.
If you have research that you are prepared to share please let us know so that others can benefit.
Family Spending Survey
Every year this survey records a wide number of items that families record they have bought, done or own. This includes a PC and the Internet. Data is split by region, family composition and family income, which makes it very useful for tracking progress in overcoming the digital divide amongst families with children.
BESA ICT in UK State Schools
This survey is conducted every year and BESA members are entitled to see a full copy of the report.
OFCOM: Growth in Internet take-up
Research published in June 2009 suggested a surge in interest in taking up the Internet, especially amongst younger people and families with children. Those still not planning to get on-line split between the self-excluded and the financially excluded.
Breaking the Link between disadvantage and low attainment
This paper, published by DCSF in March 2009, sets out the Government’s policy on breaking the link between poverty and attainment. The impact of poverty on educational achievement remains significant, in most cases about 20 points difference between children on FSM and the others. It is therefore not surprisingly a major policy objective of the Government. Our work at the e-Learning Foundation aims to address the same issue, ensuring that children from, low income families have access to the same learning technologies at home that their better off peers have had for many years.
UK Children Go Online
A major two year research project conducted by Professor Sonia Livingstone and Dr Magdelena Bober of the LSE contains a wide range of fascinating and relevant findings about how children use and benefit from being to go online.
BECTA Impact Research
BECTA’s latest research confirms that learning with technology has an impact on a child’s results. This press release cites a number of pieces of academic research evidence that can be followed up.
Latest Internet statistics
The latest Office for National Statistics figures show that 65% of households now have the Internet with London and the South East (74 and 73%) way ahead of the North West and the North East (56%, 54%).
A major difference can be seen in Internet Access and qualifications, with 93% of adults educated to degree level or higher having the Internet compared to just 56% of adults with no formal qualification.