CHILDREN at schools across York are daily being exposed to potentially harmful radiation from wireless computer networks, The Press can reveal.

An investigation has shown that some classrooms in the city have up to five signals beamed into them from nearby homes and businesses. The figures come amid mounting concern over effects on young people of Wi-Fi networks, which allow computers to link up remotely.

At the weekend, it was revealed that Sir William Stewart, chairman of the Health Protection Agency, is calling for pupils to be checked for ill-effects caused by the networks, which are also being installed in some classrooms.

But Andy Herbert, head teacher at Fishergate School, in York, said: "We had a wireless network at a previous school and it operated fine. There were simply no ill-effects on health.

"Nobody complained about anything. We never had any worries about it.

"If there are concerns raised from schools it needs to be looked at, but I have never experienced any problems with it."

He added: "There are huge benefits of the technology. It's about anywhere, anytime learning.

"If you have got that facility you can operate on laptops both inside and outside the school, so there are great possibilities as a result of the technology."

Some scientists have raised fears that the electronic "smog" of Wi-Fi radiation could cause cancer and premature senility.

Several provincial governments in Europe have taken action to ban or limit its use, while a school in Buckinghamshire has partially removed it after a teacher became ill.

The Professional Association of Teachers is set to write to the Secretary of State for Education, Alan Johnson, to demand an official inquiry.

Coun Carol Runciman, City of York Council's executive member for children's services, said the use of the technology needs to be controlled.

She said: "I would have thought that the law of precautions needs to be applied, just like you do not want a child with a mobile phone clamped to their ear all the time.

"If it is normal use and it is carefully monitored then hopefully it should be okay."

But she praised the Wi-Fi networks as an educational aid, saying: "They make a tremendous difference, especially in older schools where it is difficult to plug things in because of the wiring and in schools where children need to use them because they are going into different classrooms.

"They are incredibly useful for learning."


Network exposure

The Press scanned the airwaves at six schools in the city yesterday morning - and found all were exposed to at least one Wi-Fi network.

The highest levels were at Fishergate School, which was covered by five wireless networks, and at Scarcroft Primary, with four. Other results included:

* St Oswald's C of E Primary School was exposed to three networks.

* Badger Hill Primary School was covered by two signals.

* Tang Hall Primary and Heworth were both exposed to one network.