Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

Teachers call for more internet access in the classroom

·Study by ntl:Telewest Business reveals teachers believe the internet helps pupils regardless of ability

·37% of teachers believe the internet has made a dramatic impact on exam results

Almost half of UK teachers (49 per cent) would like to use the internet more than they currently do in lessons, according to a national study published by ntl:TelewestBusiness today.

The study indicates that although 78 per cent of teachers use the internet in class at least once a week, and 42 per cent at least once a day, the positive benefits that it brings to pupils means that teachers feel increased internet access would help pupils even further.

The impact the internet has had in the class room is wide ranging. Thirty-seven per cent of teachers felt the internet had made a dramatic impact on exam results, nearly nine out of ten felt pupils were more interested in lessons and a majority felt it helped both slow learners (80 per cent) and brighter pupils (73 per cent).

ntl:Telewest Business which provides broadband services to more than 10,000 schools across the UK, as well as many further and higher educational establishments, has seen an increase in broadband take-up for schools in 2006. With Department for Education and Skills (DfES) guidelines suggesting primary schools should have 2Mb bandwidth and secondary schools 8Mb by the end of the year, almost six out of ten teachers believe their school has reached those targets. Just ten per cent felt their school wouldn’t reach these targets, with the remainder unsure.

The main use of the internet in the classroom is for access to online learning (46 per cent) and research (42 per cent), with just one per cent using the available bandwidth to collaborate with other schools and businesses.

The main barriers to internet take up were an insufficient number of PCs (58 per cent), a lack of suitable online resources (30 per cent) and a lack of time and specialist equipment such as interactive whiteboards (26 per cent). More than a third of teachers surveyed also felt there was a lack of access to the right ICT skills and training to support e-learning effectively.

“The internet has transformed the way pupils are learning in the class room and the benefits are there for all to see in terms of exam results and interest in lessons” said Christopher Small, Director of Public Sector at ntl:Telewest Business. “However, with just one per cent of teachers using the available bandwidth to collaborate with other schools and local businesses, a trick is being missed.”

Teachers are also increasingly setting homework that relies on the internet, with more than 50% encouraging online learning, revision or research at home, and nearly nine out of ten (88%) feeling those pupils without internet access at home are at a disadvantage compared to those who do. With 4,789 libraries in the UK offering internet access, however, there should be no barriers to pupils using online resources even if they do not have access to the internet at home.

Small continued: “There is nothing to prevent libraries partnering with local schools to create a learning network to cater for children that do not have the internet at home. The internet is playing such an important role in a child’s education, the creation of a connected community involving schools, libraries and homes can only help to ensure teachers and pupils get the most from the technology that is now available.”

The ntl:Telewest Business Homework Study 2006, polled more than 500 teachers across Great Britain. It was conducted on behalf of ntl:Telewest Business by public research specialist YouGov and was commissioned to look at how educational establishments were using internet technology in the class room.

Key findings of the research included:

·83 per cent of teachers surveyed recommended specific web sites to pupils to support studies, most notably BBC Revise wise
·42 per cent of respondents use the internet at least once a day
·15 per cent of teachers still do not have access to the internet in the class room


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About ntl Incorporated
(NASDAQ: NTLI)

On 3 March 2006 ntl Incorporated completed a merger with Telewest Global, Inc. creating the UK's largest provider of residential broadband and the UK's leading provider of triple play services. The company operates under the name of ntl Incorporated.

ntl offers a wide range of communications and entertainment services to more than 5 million residential customers. ntl's networks can service more than 12 million homes - 50% of UK households - and 85% of UK businesses.

ntl's content division, Flextech Television provides television channels for the UK multichannel TV market and owns transactional channels price-drop TV, bid tv, speed auction tv and screenshop. Flextech owns 6 entertainment channels - LIVINGtv, LIVINGtv 2, Bravo, Challenge, Trouble, Ftn (plus their time shifted variants) and is a 50% partner in UKTV which consists of ten channels including UKTV Gold, UKTV Drama and UKTV History. Together Flextech and UKTV are the largest supplier of basic channels to the UK pay-TV market.

Further information about ntl and its products can be found at www.ntl.com, www.telewest.co.uk or www.flextech.co.uk

About ntl:Telewest Business

ntl:Telewest Business, part of the UK’s second largest fixed-line telecommunications company, is a leading communications provider to businesses, public sector organisations and service providers in the UK. It delivers a complete portfolio of voice, data and internet solutions nation-wide.

ntl:Telewest Business sales and support teams are located across the UK, in close proximity to our customers, as part of a commitment to deliver superior customer service.

ntl:Telewest Business delivers services over the Group’s £13bn investment in its state-of-the-art infrastructure giving business customers access to the largest alternative network in the UK.

ntl:Telewest Business is trusted to provide critical communications to high profile customers including: Heathrow's Terminal 5, Birmingham City Council, Cambridge County Council and Next.

For further info go to www.business.ntl.com or www.telewest.co.uk/business

For further info:

ntl:Telewest Business press contacts:

Rebecca Tyrer, PR Manager
ntl:Telewest Business
Phone: 01483 582335 / E: rebecca.tyrer@ntl.com

Paul Allen, Press Office, Rainier PR
Phone: 020 7494 6572 / E: pallen@rainierpr.co.uk