ImpaCT2 programme was carried out for Becta between 1999 and 2002 by an independent consortium of academics from the University of Nottingham, the Open University and Manchester Metropolitan University. Their findings are published in three reports (only one was available at the time of going to press).
The findings indicate that “high users of ICT” do perform better at SATs and GCSE. However, in most cases the measured improvements in attainment are too slight to be of “statistical significance”.
Improvements at key stages 2 and 3 are measured as a fraction of a national curriculum level. The only negative results were reported in key stage 2 science.
Key stage 2 results
English 0.16*
Maths 0.061
Science - 0.009
Key stage 3 results
English 0.017
Maths 0.083
Science 0.214*
Key stage 4 results
(Improvements measured as a percentage of a GCSE grade)
English 0.13
Maths 0.02
Design and technology 0.41*
Modern languages 0.82*
Geography 0.37
History 0.03
* Improvement sufficiently large to be of statistical significance