EDUCATION bosses at Blackburn with Darwen Council have hit out at a national survey published today which claims local schoolchildren have less time on the internet compared to others across the UK.

Director of education and training Mark Pattison said the Kids.net report by online educational resource provider AngliaCampus was a cynical form of advertising that did a disservice to the authority's excellent information technology work.

He spoke out after AngliaCampus revealed a survey of almost 4,000 pupils from 40 schools across the UK found schools in Blackburn were less likely to offer sufficient time or resources to enable children to benefit from educational content on the internet.

The report says although 42 per cent of primary and secondary schools in the area have computers in central locations like the library, fewer than 10 computers in each school are linked to the internet compared to the national average of 10 or more.

The survey also claims pupils in Blackburn feel they are missing out because of restricted use of the internet, lack of regular access and having to share PCs and other equipment.

It adds that 79 per cent of children in Blackburn claim the internet helps them with homework and 80 per cent feel those with regular access to the internet had a great advantage over those without access.

A third also said they would like to receive help with schoolwork via the internet if they were away from class because of illness. AngliaCampus, which is part of the government's National Grid for Learning initiative, is spearheading a campaign to promote use of the internet among parents, children and teachers as an educational resource in homes and schools.

And to encourage more people to use the internet in their homes the company is offering a free two-month trial of AngliaCampus for Homes which is based on the National Curriculum for England and Wales.

But Mr Pattison says every school in Blackburn and Darwen is linked to the internet while considerable investment is being put into IT resources as part of the government's National Grid for Learning scheme (NGFL).

The borough is also part of the North West Learning Grid which is a consortium of 14 local education authorities working together to produce advanced teaching resources for pupils and teachers to use on the internet as well as co-ordinating the development of the NGFL project in the region.

Mr Pattison said: "So far from being behind the national trend we are confident that Blackburn with Darwen will be one of the LEAs at the forefront of the development of new technology and the National Grid for Learning scheme.

"This cynical form of advertising, dressed up in a press release, does a disservice to the excellent work going on in the borough."

Peter Stibbons, managing director of AngliaCampus, said: "It is obvious children in the Blackburn area are quick to embrace new technology, especially if it helps with their school-work, because it is relevant and constructive.

"What this report reveals is that given access to the internet children feel they learn more quickly and that it is a great benefit to them."

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