Pupils may be disadvantaged if ICT is scrapped

LapSafe® Products expresses concern over the National Curriculum review

06.05.0211

LapSafe Products®, the ICT security for education company, is concerned that pupils may be disadvantaged if ICT lessons are no longer compulsory as a result of the Government’s National Curriculum review.

The original innovator of the laptop storage and charging trolley is concerned that removing ICT as a ‘core’ subject may negatively affect both children’s future career prospects, and their everyday lives. ICT skills are essential for many forms of employment, further and higher education courses, and the ability to use the internet and basic software is now vital for many activities in modern life.

Under the National Curriculum review, Education Secretary Michael Gove wants to reduce the number of compulsory subjects for 5 to 16 year olds to English, maths, science and PE, raising a strong possibility that ICT will no longer be obligatory.

LapSafe® is concerned that pupils will not acquire important ICT skills if the subject is no longer formally taught, but spread into other areas of the curriculum. Without dedicated ICT lessons, pupils may not know how to use programmes, such as spreadsheets and word processors, in detail. This could cause young people difficulties when applying for jobs, educational courses or even carrying out basic activities in the future, such as managing their money.

The latest Harnessing Technology School Survey from soon to be axed BECTA shows that 23 per cent of teachers only use desktops for less than half of their lessons. Although laptops are becoming increasingly popular in schools, 30 per cent of teachers say they only use them for less than half of lessons, highlighting that schools often lack the resources to equip pupils with computer skills outside of formal ICT lessons. If ICT is scraped as a subject, schools may lack the resources to integrate it into other subjects.

Denise Cole, a Director at LapSafe® Products, is worried about the potential changes. She said: “We know from communicating with schools on a daily basis that, understandably, not every teacher has the required skills to teach ICT in the level of detail that students require – that’s why schools employ dedicated ICT teachers. Without separate ICT lessons, pupils may simply use the computer programmes that their teacher is most familiar with, and learning may be restricted.

“Technology affects everything from work to family life; it enables people to communicate, access information from across the world and opens up a range of careers to young people. The schools we look after tell us that enabling pupils to use laptops increases engagement levels and improves learning. It is vital that pupils are able to adequately use technology, and that’s why it’s so important to formally teach ICT, as well as enable students to use technology in other areas of learning.”

Note to editors:

• LapSafe® Products is a British business specialising in the design, manufacture and distribution of various laptop security and charging solutions

• With over ten years of expertise and experience, LapSafe® Products is the original innovator of the mobile laptop storage and charging cabinet

• The 2010 Harnessing Technology School Survey was compiled by BECTA during November 2009 – March 2010. Statistics quoted in the above statement are from the ‘Teachers Data Tables’ section of the research

For more information, please contact:

Vicki.cole@lapsafe.com / 01787 226181