7th Nov 2006 07:02
RM PLC07 November 2006 7 November 2006 RM appointed preferred bidder for Leeds City Council Building Schools for the Future ICT Contract RM has been appointed by Leeds City Council as preferred bidder for theAuthority's Building Schools for the Future (BSF) Strategic ICT Partnercontract. Leeds City Council's BSF programme will initially cover 14 schools,serving approximately 16,500 pupils. Under the terms of the contract, RM will design, implement and deliver asophisticated managed ICT service, including PC networks in each of the 14schools linked through a central data centre. As well as ICT infrastructure RMwill provide other services, including continuing professional development andstrategic ICT development advice, to Education Leeds, which provides Leeds CityCouncil's frontline education service. Commenting on the contract, Tim Pearson, CEO of RM, said: "It's great news that Leeds City Council wants us to work with them as strategicICT partner for their BSF programme. We look forward to a partnership with theAuthority and schools in Leeds that will provide innovative and educationallyuseful technology to build on the work of Education Leeds in improving educationoutcomes in the city. Chris Edwards, Chief Executive of Education Leeds, said: "BSF will give thousands of our children and young people a brilliant, inspiringlearning environment. RM has clearly demonstrated an innovative and flexibleapproach which will add genuine value to our approach to creatingtransformational learning environments. This partnership with RM will deliverstate-of-the-art technology and training which can help our children, youngpeople and our colleagues in school to achieve their best." Tim Byles, Chief Executive of Partnerships for Schools, said: "We are very pleased that Leeds City Council have chosen their ICT partner forBSF, and look forward to working with Leeds, RM and the Council's chosenconstruction partners on transforming the city's secondary school educationprovision." - Ends - For further information, please contact:Mike Greig/Phil Hemmings, RM plc 08709 200200Fiona Laffan/Mark Antelme, Brunswick 020 7404 5959 Notes to Editors: The RM Group is a leading provider of educational products and services toschools, colleges and universities, local government and central governmenteducation departments and agencies. Founded in 1973, RM works closely witheducationalists to use new products, processes and technology to improveteaching and learning and is recognised as a leading innovator in theeducational information and communications technology (ICT) arena. This is the third - and largest - BSF project RM has won. In February 2006 theGroup announced it had signed the first BSF ICT contract to be awarded, a £6.4million contract with Solihull Council. In September the Group announced that ithad been appointed preferred bidder by Stoke-on-Trent City Council for its BSFICT contract. Building Schools for the Future (BSF) is a £45 billion Department for Educationand Skills initiative that will rebuild or substantially refurbish all Englishsecondary schools over the next 10-15 years. A key part of the initiative is toensure that schools develop a sustainable ICT strategy focused on improvingteaching and learning. Partnerships for Schools, the government agencyresponsible for delivering the BSF programme, has set a budget of £1,450 perpupil (over five years) for the delivery of managed ICT services in BSF schools. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
Rm