RM PLC
01 August 2007
1st August 2007
RM confirms Knowsley MBC Building Schools for the Future ICT Contract
RM confirms that it has been awarded an £18m Building Schools for Future (BSF)
ICT contract by Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council. RM previously announced
that it had been selected as preferred bidder for this contract on 21 November
2006.
Under the contract, RM will provide both managed ICT infrastructure in each of
seven newly-built learning centres and a shared data centre. As well as this
managed network, RM will deliver a range of other services including telephony
and electronic registration. RM is also providing the Council with a
Personalised Learning Environment, which will be built on the Group's Kaleidos
Learning Platform and IntegrisG2 school management software.
Commenting on the Knowsley BSF contract, Tim Pearson, CEO of RM, said:
'It's a privilege to be working with Knowsley on what is an extremely ambitious
educational transformation programme. ICT will be a key part of this
transformation, with technology being used to deliver a personalised learning
experience for each pupil. We look forward to providing a service that will make
a real contribution to improving life chances for pupils in Knowsley.
'I'm also pleased that our success is helping us build a broader relationship
with Knowsley MBC. In addition to the BSF contract, RM has also been selected to
supply Knowsley's Computers for Pupils initiative. This is an important
initiative which will provide personal access to ICT hardware for the most
disadvantaged youngsters.'
Councillor Graham Wright, Knowsley's Cabinet Member for Children's Services,
said:
'With building work having just started on the first two of our new learning
centres, confirmation of our IT contract with RM comes at an exciting time in
our Building Schools for the Future journey. We are looking forward to a
fruitful relationship with the company.'
For further information, please contact:
Mike Greig/Phil Hemmings, RM plc 08450 700300
Mark Antelme, Brunswick 020 7404 5959
Notes to Editors:
Founded in 1973, the RM Group is a leading provider of educational products and
services to schools, colleges and universities, local government and central
government education departments and agencies. RM works closely with
educationalists to create new products, processes and technology which improve
teaching and learning. RM is listed on the main market of the London Stock
Exchange under the symbol RM.L.
Building Schools for the Future (BSF) is a £45 billion Department for Education
and Skills initiative that will rebuild or substantially refurbish all English
secondary schools over the next 10-15 years. A key part of the initiative is to
ensure that schools develop a sustainable ICT strategy focused on improving
teaching and learning. Partnerships for Schools, the government agency
responsible for delivering the BSF programme, has set a budget of £1,450 per
pupil (over five years) for the delivery of managed ICT services in BSF schools.
Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council's BSF programme will replace eleven
existing secondary schools with seven newly-built learning centres. The Council
procured the ICT and design & build elements of its BSF programme separately.
The design & build contract was awarded to Transform Schools; RM and Transform
Schools will work together under a formal interface agreement.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange