One in 10 computers in secondary schools will be a tablet by the end of 2013, according to research carried out by the British Educational Suppliers Association (BESA).
It is estimated that there are now 141,000 tablets in UK secondary schools, an increase from 96,000 in 2012.
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Of these tablets, 41 per cent are running iOS, 26 per cent are installed with Android, and a surprising 16 per cent are Windows 8-based. Some five per cent are Amazon Kindle Fire devices, which are based on Android.
While the news is potentially encouraging for progressive ICT education strategy in schools, the research has also identified a problem with funding and budget allocations, which resulted in 83 per cent of survey respondents saying cost was a "significant" or "very significant" barrier to embracing mobile devices.
Furthermore, the survey suggests that 11 per cent of all ICT-based learning in schools is conducted via educational apps.
Director of BESA, Caroline Wright, said increasing use of tablet technology in schools is setting a "challenge for sector suppliers to meet the demand for quality content and apps".
