Firm proposes hi-tech homework

No more excuses for "lost" homework

Pupils at schools in an inner-London education authority could soon be handing in their homework via e-mail.

The idea is one of a number of measures being proposed to improve education performance in the borough.

And if it goes ahead, children will no longer be able to use traditional excuses for not presenting their homework in time - such as "The dog ate it".

The proposal has been made by management services firm WS Atkins, which has been chosen to become a private partner to the local education authority following a critical inspection report.

Laptops

The firm is set to work with the council on key school improvement services.

It is proposing that by 2002, every teacher and pupil should be provided with their own e-mail addresses as part of a system only accessible to them, to help communication and learning.

This means that handing in homework in person could become a thing of the past.

Other proposals include setting up a Southwark education website so schools can easily access each other's good practice.

It also wants laptop computers to be given to all head teachers in the borough, so they can lead the drive in the use of information technology to improve school standards.

If WS Atkins performs successfully as a private partner to the LEA, more education services could be transferred to the firm's control in 2003.