Most school work done on computer

MORE than 70 per cent of children under 16 in Edinburgh use a laptop or desktop computer to complete their school work, new figures have revealed.

The average Edinburgh child now spends 3.5 hours per week on a computer doing school-related activities, according to the findings by education provider Pearson.

The research also shows that 68 per cent of Edinburgh parents believe that their children's career opportunities would be held back without good IT skills.

Rod Bristow, president of Pearson UK, said: "It's encouraging to see more children in Edinburgh than ever before using technology to assist them with their school work, and that parents now have a greater awareness to the vital role this plays in the classroom and the wider working world.

"As technology continues to grow and develop, and more schools use the likes of online learning portals, it's especially important that parents understand how these technologies can help their children, and allow them to track their child's progress."