School ICT Spending To Peak in 2014/15: New market research by the British Educational Suppliers Association has revealed that school outlay on information and communications technology will reach an all-time high in 2014. The research, which garnered opinions from 1,238 UK schools – including 731 primary schools and 507 secondary schools – suggests that institutions will spend more money (in cash terms) on ICT equipment than at any other time on record. Spending on software, hardware, technical support and peripherals will top £14,000 in each primary school and amount to over £65,000 in each secondary school.

Prior to this, the highest estimate of technology expenditure was in 2008/09 – with a total expenditure across all UK schools of around £320 million. From 2009/10 until 2012/13 the budget fell, eventually measuring a 1.8% rise in ICT expenditure in 2013.

The majority of these increases are set to take place in secondary schools, with the increase here expected to be around 11% – bringing the budget for ICT expenditure in secondary schools alone to more than £280 million.

Caroline Wright, director of BESA said:

“This is good news for schools and technology suppliers. When we take into account the reduction in the cost of technology, this significant increase in expenditure will result in higher increase in investment in real terms. UK schools have led the world in embedding technology into the learning environment and our schools now have the experience to invest wisely to optimise the value of this technology.”

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