PCs help maths scores: study

PUPILS with home computers perform much better at maths, but televisions and games consoles in the bedroom appear to reduce maths scores.

These are the findings of researchers who assessed maths performance among more than 4,100 fourth-class pupils. The average score among children with internet access was 265, compared to 240 for other pupils. While most pupils had access to TV, games console and video or DVD player at home, those who had them in their bedroom scored significantly lower.

“The lowest scores were achieved by pupils who spent no time on maths study and who spent between one and two hours a day playing computer/console games,” the Educational Research Centre study found.