However, principals and teachers report that funding presents one of the main barriers to developing students' IT skills. Overall, the findings indicate that there has been a strong focus on providing computers for student use in schools. The results are reflected in the overall ratio of students to computers in the schools. Using the student - computer ratio alone, clear disparities emerge between smaller and larger schools. Schools with low student - computer ratios are likely to be Independent schools, or combined or secondary schools, to be in high income areas and to be urban.
Catholic schools are much more likely to have higher student-computer ratios.
Where student-computer ratios are advantageous, students are more confident about their own basic and advanced skills, and are more likely to say they enjoy using computers at school. The better the student-computer ratio, the more time students spend on computers at school, both alone and in small groups, and the wider and more sophisticated their use of IT across the curriculum. However, the Real Time study cautioned against an overemphasis on the amount of equipment within schools, as measured by student-computer ratios. It is equally important that schools have a coherent and comprehensive IT policy covering current use and future directions. Information technology skills Students were asked where they first acquired a range of 'core' and 'advanced' IT skills, and distinctions were made between the learning activities occurring in the school and outside it.