Latest estimates from an NOP poll show that 51% of primary schools are now connected to the Internet. This compares with only 17% in 1997. The survey was commissioned by the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (BECTa) to investigate information and communications technology (ICT) usage in schools. Other estimates and surveys undertaken across the education service indicate that 90% of secondary schools, 100% of colleges of further education and 100% of universities currently have Internet access.

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Local councils have provided most of the good practice ideas for improving services in the new ‘Good Practice Database’. The database has been set up by the Service First Unit in the Cabinet Office to help colleagues in all parts of the public sector to find out what others are doing. The database is at http://www.servicefirst.gov.uk/database/database.htm

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