Classrooms can be noisy places and.. noise can be detrimental to children's performance at school

Professor Bridget Shield

The research says the general "hub-bub" of classrooms, together with external noise, such as traffic and aircraft, was affecting pupils' educational achievement.

Over 2,000 London-based children aged between seven and 10 were surveyed in the joint study between London University's Institute of Education and the South Bank University.

The researchers found "classroom babble" obscured pupils' understanding of language.

In a spelling test of 20 words, classroom noise reduced the number children got right by three or four, while external noise affected their general concentration, slowing down their learning, the researchers found.

Children with special educational needs were especially vulnerable to the effects of background noise.

Problem to be tackled

Professor Julie Dockrell of the Institute for Education said: "If we want our children to perform well in school, we need to tackle factors that interfere with learning.

Professor Dockrell says noise interferes with learning

"Background noises can interfere with hearing and concentrating in the classroom.

"This is hard enough for many children, but much more of a problem for children who are already disadvantaged because of their background or learning needs."

Professor of acoustics at South Bank University, Bridget Shield, said: "Our measurements have shown that classrooms can be noisy places and that noise can be detrimental to children's performance at school."

Better acoustics

But appropriate acoustic design could go some way to reduce noise levels, she stressed.

One school which has introduced such measures is St Alfege with St Peter C of E primary school in Greenwich, London.

The head teacher, Pauline Lyons, said the introduction of carpets in school and the addition of double glazing had made a big improvement.

"It's made a considerable difference because children need to have quietness to listen and listening skills are so important in education," said Mrs Lyons.

"It goes against their basic rights to learn, if there's a noisy environment."

The researchers carried out tests in 140 schools in the London boroughs of Islington, Lambeth and Haringey.