Currently, the ratios are one for 12.6 and one for 7.9. A further 17,000 maths teachers will be given up to 500 to buy their own laptops, at a cost of 15m, after 28,000 got the grant last year, Mr Wills said. For the first time there is to be a similar scheme to provide subsidised computers for teachers in the further education sector, including sixth form colleges. John Dunford, general secretary of the Secondary Heads Association, said he was angry that this year's schools scheme was being limited to those teaching maths. Mr Wills said criticism that computers did little to raise standards in schools was misplaced.
Computers have the potential to transform teaching and learning.
There will also be a pilot competition for the development of online teacher training materials in literacy and numeracy for primary teachers and selected subjects for secondary school teachers. We will be launching a pilot via TeacherNet in March to produce at least 1,000 lesson plans with useful linked resources accessible on the web. Over 200 lesson plans are already available through the Standards website. The pilot will provide new materials in a number of areas of the curriculum through the TeacherNet portal launched last October. Teachers will directly benefit in the classroom from these resources produced by their colleagues and peers.