Home broadband improves GCSE results

Having broadband access at home can make the difference between pupils attaining an A or a D at GCSE, a study has suggested.

The most recent UK Internet Access report from the Office for National Statistics reveals a clear link between academic success and access to the web at home.

Adults educated to degree level are far more likely to live in a wired home and spend time online than those with no formal qualifications, the survey found. Only 56% of adults without qualifications have home internet access.

The same trend was true of students taking their GCSEs, where access to the internet at home generally corresponded with higher grades. 82% of pupils who achieved grades A*-C lived in households that were connected to the internet, compared to just 74% of those who achieved grades D-G in their GCSEs.

Betca, the organisation that advises the government on IT, has been researching the link between IT and educational achievement for the last six years. It has seen a strong correlation during this time frame, particularly when it comes to broadband access.

Schools that employ the internet and other technology frequently across the syllabus have seen marked improvements in the performance of their pupils at GCSEs. According to the survey, schools that made ‘good use’ of their broadband connections showed significant statistical improvements in their GCSE results in the year after broadband was installed compared to schools who did not integrate technology across the curriculum. The report also showed that tech-savvy schools had fewer cases of truancy.

Pupils taking GCSE science who used the internet on a regular basis stood to gain an average of 0.56% of a grade. Similarly, GCSE students who had access to the web at home performed better at Maths and English than those who did not.

Stephen Crowne, chief executive of Becta, said in a statement: “The evidence is clear; when schools use technology effectively, it can have a direct impact on pupil attainment and results.”

He added that currently only one fifth of UK schools were ‘embracing technology’ in a big way.

“Schools should make the most of the internet, mobile phones, interactive whiteboards, school radio stations, blogs, podcasts and video conferencing, helping to create a stimulating and engaging environment for their students.”

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