Surprise surge for IT spending in schools

IT spending growth spurt expected to carry on into next year

The amount of money schools spend on IT has smashed dismal forecasts and has grown year on year according to new research.

The British Educational Suplliers' Assosiation (BESA) said that spending on IT was forecast to slump 5.4 per cent annually in 2012/13, but it actually grew by 2.1 per cent over the same period instead.

BESA surveyed 137 primary schools, 91 secondary schools and 66 education-sector suppliers as part of its research which revealed the surprise hike in spending. It worked in conjunction with the National Education Research Panel on the study as well.

Schools surveyed spent 2.3 per cent more on all schools equipment in 2012/13 than it did the previous year, a figure set to grow again by 2.7 per cent annually in the coming 12 months.

Caroline Wright, director at BESA, said: "The research comes at a time of significant change within the education sector. The introduction of the new primary curriculum in September 2013 is driving demand in schools for aligned resources, schemes of work and teacher's material.

"It is heartening for the economy that the findings of our quarterly survey show a positive and optimistic outlook by both schools and suppliers."