Digital skills are not being prioritised in Sussex primary schools, according to new research.
A survey of primary school teachers, carried out by home broadband provider Trooli, suggests more classroom time is being spent on subjects such as music and art than on IT.
Half of Sussex teachers surveyed said IT skills are not a top priority in primary schools, while 57% said pupils leave school with the basic digital skills they need for modern life and future jobs.
The findings come despite the growing importance of technology in the workplace. According to the Skills and Employment Survey 2024, almost eight in ten UK workers regard computer skills as essential or important.
The research also found that IT lessons often fail to cover core skills needed for everyday life and employment. Around 81% of teachers said their school’s IT curriculum is not designed with future skills in mind.
One teacher said: “lots of children know how to play games online but they don’t know the basic skills like typing, research, spotting fake news”.
The survey found coding received the most focus in 41% of primary schools, despite being required for only around 6% of jobs. By comparison, just 7% of teachers said basic troubleshooting received the most attention, although it is needed in more than 42% of jobs.
Teachers also raised concerns about pressure on schools. One said: “I teach some of my children coding when they don’t even know how to type effectively or save a document”.
Another said they experienced a “lack of time to achieve meaningful impactful tech teaching”.
Only 30% of teachers said their school has all the technology needed to teach IT effectively, while just 15% said their school has a member of staff with enough expertise to teach emerging skills such as AI.
Lee Probert, Managing Director of Trooli, says: “The generation of children who are at school now are digital natives. In a lot of cases, they can use devices like games consoles and tablets quicker than most adults. However, as our research has shown, that doesn’t necessarily mean they have the IT skills needed for a successful future in the modern-day workforce. Children are online all day but can’t perform basic digital tasks, like writing an email or spotting fake news.
“We need to equip our children with the technology, confidence, and the real-life skills they need to flourish in the real world, such as fixing Wi-Fi issues and understanding basic troubleshooting. That’s why, at Trooli, we’re committed to providing households with access to reliable, full fibre broadband, and supporting families to help children learn, create, and stay safe online at home.”
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