April 2008 

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UK Secondary schools top for tech

The Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) polled the headteachers in schools and concluded that there is more than one computer for every four children in the UK, a ratio of 0.28.

With more than £3 billion spent on computer resources in state schools over the past eight years, there are three times more computers per student than in Germany. Australia was the next highest with 0.26, with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development average down at 0.16.

Pisa also ranked UK schools top for accountability, suggesting that UK primary and secondary schools use assessment statistics the most to keep track of their head and teachers performance.

Some 91 per cent of headteachers said that their performance was evaluated with assessment statistics, while 93 per cent said they used figures to assess their teachers.

Despite these figures, UK pupils slipped down the world rankings in maths and science achievement.

However, Steve Sinnot, the general secretary of the National Union of Teachers said he didnt think the figures reflected a fall in teaching standards.

He told the Guardian: "Science in primary schools is one of our greatest achievements. Science teachers in secondary schools need the equipment, small group sizes and professional freedom to enthuse youngsters about the joys and relevance of practical science."

Cheeky Munkey work with various education establishments to ensure their IT solutions are top of the class.

(Courtesy of www.rapidonline.com)