The evidence from the literature shows a positive effect of specific uses of information and communication technology (ICT) on pupils' attainment in almost all the National Curriculum subjects, the most substantial being in mathematics, science and English at all key stages.

There is a strong relationship between the ways in which ICT has been used and pupil attainment. This suggests that the crucial component in the use of ICT within education is the teacher and his or her pedagogical approaches.

Specific uses of ICT have a positive effect on pupils' learning where the use is closely related to learning objectives and where the choice of ICT use is relevant to the teaching and learning purposes. The positive effect on attainment is greatest for those ICT resources which have been embedded in some teachers' practices for a long time.