Becta
Encyclopedia
Becta was a non-departmental public body (popularly known as a Quango
)] funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families
, in the UK
It was a charity and a company limited by guarantee. In the post-election spending review in May 2010, it was announced that Becta was to be abolished. The organisation went into liquidation in April 2011 following its funding from government ceasing in March 2011.
(ICT) in education, covering the United Kingdom. It was established in 1998 through the reconstitution of the National Council for Educational Technology (NCET). Becta was a company limited by guarantee with charitable status. It was based on Millburn Hill Road in Canley
, Coventry
in the University of Warwick Science Park
.
In its former capacity, it oversaw the procurement of all ICT equipment and e-learning
strategy for school
s. It is a member of European schoolnet
.
Chairman of the Board, Andrew Pinder
, in a seminar in October 2006 deplored the "hopeless disorganization" and "extraordinary fragmented" supply side in the educational sector, and added:
sponsored a Parliamentary Early Day Motion
, now signed by 130 MPs:
Within two days Becta rejected the criticism, stating that:
However, Crispin Weston pointed out that:
In an article in January 2007 John Pugh added:
Senior management team
The result of these agreements is that educational institutions in the UK intending to purchase goods and services relating to ICT, including system design, hardware and software provision, training, implementation and ongoing technical support, where the budget would breach the procurement threshold (of about £100k) can save the hassle by procuring from a company on a Becta maintained list.
The listed companies are also deemed to comply with the appropriate technical standards as well as Becta's Framework for ICT Technical Support (FITS).
While schools and Local Authorities are not legally obliged to purchase from the listed suppliers, these two factors create an enormous pressure for them to do so. The effect is to create a closed market. If, for example, none of these suppliers are willing to provide Open Source Software to run servers and networks, then such products will not be found in schools, whether or not that was the intended consequence. (See Becta and open source)
for each school. The Learning Platforms Services Framework runs from January 2007 to December 2009.
On 24 February 2006, Becta dispatched a contract notice for this four year framework agreement of unspecified value to deliver various "Learning Services" such as Virtual learning environment
s and other ICT
products. Participating companies had to have a net worth of at least £700,000 to qualify and satisfy a list of functional requirements. The window for tenders closed on 30 March 2006 and the 10 suppliers chosen from 119 applicants announced on 22 December 2006 were
When challenged in an interview on the question of why none of these suppliers made available the open source platform Moodle
, Stephen Lucey said:
In 5 January 2007, Crispin Weston, who had helped Becta draw up the criteria used to select suppliers, asked the EC Competition Commission to investigate his allegation that a significant number of the successful tenders had failed to implement the mandatory functional requirements, including particular aspects of inter-operability. He also added in his letter to the Commission that they should take action on the further issue of:
Gerard Toplass of Azzurri Education said they had invested £250k (and six programmers working 15 hours a day for six months) into Becta's stringent testing regime. He also expected learning platforms to be sold separately in all but those schools that are being built from scratch.
On 23 November 2005, Becta dispatched a contract notice for this framework agreement in the Official Journal of the European Union
of unspecified value to deliver computer hardware and networks to capable of running high speed access and a common systems framework to schools. On 8 August 2006 the contracts were officially awarded, though the publication of the announcement was not until 27 September.
The 16 successful companies were:
Each company must be capable of providing the entire infrastructure for an entire school alone as part of the deal; there is no room for specialist suppliers for, say, just the computer mice.
Though Becta claims to have negotiated purchase prices which mean "it will be harder to get it cheaper anywhere else", Becta reveals no pricing guidelines. Instead, schools are supposed to write a specification and run a mini-competition like an auction among those of the sixteen suppliers who express an interest in order to determine the price. This work itself can be contracted out by schools as well after a mini-competition among listed consultancy suppliers. (see Consultancy services framework agreement)
Once the contractor is chosen, a Service Order is signed between the two parties specifying the services that are being provided, and the prices. Becta should receive quarterly management reports from the companies operating under the regime detailing what Service Orders have been signed, and the full accounts.
On 21 December 2005, this framework agreement was announced allowing schools to hire "external consultants to take responsibility for the often time consuming and costly decisions around developing an ICT infrastructure" which is due to last until 2008.
The 21 winning consultancy contractors are: 3E's Enterprise, Brian Farrington, Cambridge Education, Cocentra, Deloitte MCS Ltd, EdICTs Ltd, Edunova (WSP Building Ltd), Enterprise MCP Ltd, Four S, Hornagold & Hills, Improcom, Logica CMG, Mantix, Mason Communications Ltd, Mouchel Parkman Services, NCC Services, Novatia, PriceWaterhouseCoopers
Ltd Liability Partnership, RM
, Serco, Socitm Ltd, Tribal Group
.
Becta recognizes that the overlap between these companies who may be managing the procurement on behalf of the schools, and the companies who would eventually be bidding to supply the contracts, could result in conflicts of interest. To overcome this, Becta allows a company to "withdraw from the process once the specification for the ICT infrastructure [which they have written] is defined" before competing for the provision of the infrastructure.
A three year "Laptops for teachers" framework agreement ran from 2003 to 2006.
Becta claims on its website that the advantages of their regime were the extended warranties, and savings of £45 million. The framework agreement is now closed
This framework agreement ran from 2004 to January 2007 and is now closed.
The 12 successful suppliers are: Academia Ltd, Civica Services Ltd, European Electronique, Insight Direct (UK) Ltd, Joskos Solutions, Pugh Computers Ltd, Ramesys (e-business services) Ltd, RM plc, SCC, Sirius Corporation
, Trustmarque Solutions and Viglen Limited.
The new agreement will run for four years.
Becta report highlighted the fact that the charges to schools of maintaining current Management Information Systems (MIS) from the dominant supplier has increased up to threefold since 1999. BECTA suggests that many schools and colleges are being charged ever-increasing amounts to maintain their MIS and are not receiving value for the money they spend.
The key issues that also emerged from Becta report were as follows:
- For many schools costs are escalating very significantly with charges from the dominant supplier, now between 2.5 and 3 times their 1999 levels
- There are very significant barriers to the effective choice by schools/LAs and there is a lack of any significant contractual commitment between the dominant supplier and schools/LAs regarding the timeliness and quality of software provided
In line with this, Bromcom Computers Plc has recently brought a case against Capita to the Office of Fair Trading, alleging that Capita has been abusing its dominant position. Bromcom has stated that they used Becta’s 2005 report as the starting point of their complaint.
Becta has made an official public statement in relation to this compliant, stating that, “We continue to receive reports that the market is not operating in an effective manner … Becta will review the existing information and where necessary commission additional research."
A consultation on the functional requirements for information management (including MIS) closed on 30 September 2006. Over the consultation period of two months there were eleven comments submitted.
The functional requirements for information management was published on 9 October 2006.
Becta’s Circular to Local Authorities: School MIS and Value for Money
Becta has recently sent a circular informing all Directors of Children's Services in Local Authorities that serious concerns are continuing in relation to the marketplace for school Management Information Systems (MIS) and supplier provided support. They have identified that following the 2005 report a new independent review will now be commissioned.
The circular highlights that in June 2005 the report identified concerns about the effective operation of the market that is associated with School Management Information Systems. The main concerns included considerable impediments to the exercise of effective choice by schools, substantial increases in licensing costs of products from the dominant supplier (Capita), as well as issues around the timelines and quality of Management Information Software.
Becta accepts that whilst some progress has been made since 2005 in some areas cause for concern still remains. The present and general approach adopted by some Local Authorities in procuring for their MIS and associated software in line with their legal obligations under EU procurement regulations is a cause for concern, thus Becta is commissioning a follow up investigation and independent review.
In essence the circular highlighting the need for assessing ‘value for money’ in making choices rather than simply buying from the incumbent/dominant MIS supplier (Capita) without appropriate evaluation / market-testing. Becta proposes to undertake a study on behalf of Local Authorities for this purpose.
It is indicated in the circular that Becta hopes to have the result of its review and be able to advice Local Authorities by the beginning of the new financial year in April 2010.
School MIS and value for money report 2010
The Becta report has was published with strong recommendations proposed ″Recommendation 1 – Each local authority should urgently conduct a review to determine if the
specific arrangements they have put in place for the supply and on-going maintenance of school
MIS systems are in accordance with the law. This recognises that the Market Study identified a
significant number of MIS procurement activities which are potentially non-compliant with EU and
UK procurement law (Paragraphs 1.14 to 1.21)″
is a free, online tool created by Becta and its partners that schools can use to assess and benchmark their use of ICT across all their activities.
It enables schools to identify where they are and shows the practical steps they can take to gain even greater benefit from their use of ICT.
In many areas, it complements the work schools currently undertake for Ofsted and can be provided as evidence for a school’s Self Evaluation Framework (SEF).
The self-review framework offers schools a route to achieving the ICT Mark, which is a nationally recognised accreditation scheme which gives schools recognition for their achievements in reaching a standard of maturity in their use of technology.
The website is now closed because ring-fenced funding via eLCs ceased at the end of August 2008.
Becta encourage the increasing use of Open Source software in schools and fund the Open Source Schools community.
In spite of this experience, Becta's infrastructure framework for suppliers to schools outlined above has been accused of excluding open source systems by its choice of companies.
when it eliminated a children's interactive CD-ROM story book called The Three Little Cowboy Builders (based on Three Little Pigs
) from an educational awards ceremony on the grounds that it could be considered offensive to builders and Muslims. Becta subsequently claimed that the independent judges (teachers) had rejected the story because it "failed to reach the required standard across a number of criteria" and was "not sufficiently convincing on curriculum and innovation grounds to be shortlisted", although Curriculum Online
(a website run by Becta) had previously given the book an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
Quango
Quango or qango is an acronym used notably in the United Kingdom, Ireland and elsewhere to label an organisation to which government has devolved power...
)] funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families
Department for Children, Schools and Families
The Department for Children, Schools and Families was a department of the UK government, between 2007 and 2010, responsible for issues affecting people in England up to the age of 19, including child protection and education...
, in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
It was a charity and a company limited by guarantee. In the post-election spending review in May 2010, it was announced that Becta was to be abolished. The organisation went into liquidation in April 2011 following its funding from government ceasing in March 2011.
Role
Becta was the Government's lead agency for information and communications technologyICT (education)
Information and communication technologies in education deal with the use of information and communication technologies within educational technology.-Purpose:...
(ICT) in education, covering the United Kingdom. It was established in 1998 through the reconstitution of the National Council for Educational Technology (NCET). Becta was a company limited by guarantee with charitable status. It was based on Millburn Hill Road in Canley
Canley
Canley is a suburban neighbourhood located in southwest Coventry, England. Canley became part of Coventry as a result of successive encroachment of the latter's boundaries between 1928 and 1932, having historically been part of the Stoneleigh parish....
, Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
in the University of Warwick Science Park
University of Warwick Science Park
The University of Warwick Science Park was one of the first university based science park in the United Kingdom when it was opened by the Rt. Hon. Margaret Thatcher in 1984. It was a joint venture between the University of Warwick, Coventry City Council, Warwickshire County Council and Barclays...
.
In its former capacity, it oversaw the procurement of all ICT equipment and e-learning
E-learning
E-learning comprises all forms of electronically supported learning and teaching. The information and communication systems, whether networked learning or not, serve as specific media to implement the learning process...
strategy for school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
s. It is a member of European schoolnet
European schoolnet
European Schoolnet or EUN is a network of 31 Ministries of Education in Europe and beyond. EUN was created more than 10 years ago with the aim to bring about innovation in teaching and learning to its key stakeholders, these being Ministries of Education, schools, teachers and researchers.- Policy,...
.
Policy
Becta's objectives are "to influence strategic direction and development of national education policy to best take advantage of technology" and "to develop a national digital infrastructure and resources strategy leading to greater national coherence." Becta have recently launched a campaign which is designed to help consumers (initially parents) better understand how technology can benefit student's education and improve overall school performance. The campaign website can be found at Next Generation LearningChairman of the Board, Andrew Pinder
Andrew Pinder
Andrew Pinder, CBE, lead the Office of the e-Envoy from 2000 to 2004, reporting directly to Tony Blair.He held the post of Chairman of Becta from January 2006 to...
, in a seminar in October 2006 deplored the "hopeless disorganization" and "extraordinary fragmented" supply side in the educational sector, and added:
Critical Parliamentary Early Day Motion
On 21 November 2006 John Pugh MPJohn Pugh
John David Pugh is a Liberal Democrat politician in the United Kingdom. He is Member of Parliament for Southport...
sponsored a Parliamentary Early Day Motion
Early day motion
An Early Day Motion , in the Westminster system, is a motion, expressed as a single sentence, tabled by Members of Parliament for debate "on an early day" . Controversial EDMs are not signed by Government Ministers, PPS or the Speaker of the House of Commons and very few are debated on the floor...
, now signed by 130 MPs:
Within two days Becta rejected the criticism, stating that:
However, Crispin Weston pointed out that:
- (See Learning services framework agreement)
In an article in January 2007 John Pugh added:
- (See Becta and open source)
Management
Board of Directors- Graham Badman, Chairman, formally Kent County Council's Managing Director for the Children, Families and Education Directorate
- John Roberts, formerly chairman of the board, also was chief executive of Royal Mail Group, from 1995 to 2002, including its time when it was rebranded as Consignia
- Dugald Sandeman (DfE Assessor)
- John Landeryou, Director, Learning, Quality and Systems Directorate, Department for Innovation Universities and Skills (BIS Observer)
- Derek Wise CBE, Headteacher at Cramlington High School in Northumberland
- Rosemary Luckin, Professor of Learner Centred Design, at the London Knowledge Lab, part of the Institute of Education
- Lopa Patel, entrepreneur
- John Newbigin, freelance consultant and cultural entrepreneur.
- Pat Bacon, Principal of St Helen’s College
- Tim Pearson, formally CEO of RM plc
- Mark Rodgers, Chief Executive for Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council
Senior management team
- Stephen Crowne, Chief Executive, appointed 12 June 2006
- Niel McLean, Executive Director, Institutional Workforce and Development, joined 1998
- Dr Stephen Lucey, Executive Director, Strategic Technologies, joined May 2000
- Tony Richardson, Executive Director, Strategy and Communications, joined February 2006
- Alan Cowie, Executive Director , Business Delivery and Organisational Development, joined February 2007
- Terry Piggott, Interim Executive Director , Children's Services and Local Government, joined October 2009
- Jane Williams, Executive Director, Further Education, Regeneration and Delivery, joined April 2007
Procurement Framework Contracts
Becta administers the procurement of ICT equipment for schools using framework agreements, which last for four years and have been deemed legal under European law.The result of these agreements is that educational institutions in the UK intending to purchase goods and services relating to ICT, including system design, hardware and software provision, training, implementation and ongoing technical support, where the budget would breach the procurement threshold (of about £100k) can save the hassle by procuring from a company on a Becta maintained list.
The listed companies are also deemed to comply with the appropriate technical standards as well as Becta's Framework for ICT Technical Support (FITS).
While schools and Local Authorities are not legally obliged to purchase from the listed suppliers, these two factors create an enormous pressure for them to do so. The effect is to create a closed market. If, for example, none of these suppliers are willing to provide Open Source Software to run servers and networks, then such products will not be found in schools, whether or not that was the intended consequence. (See Becta and open source)
Learning Platform Services Framework agreement
Becta’s Learning Platforms Services Framework offers a list of approved suppliers to provide the best-value Learning platformLearning platform
A learning platform is an integrated set of interactive online services that provide teachers, learners, parents and others involved in education with information, tools and resources to support and enhance educational delivery and management....
for each school. The Learning Platforms Services Framework runs from January 2007 to December 2009.
On 24 February 2006, Becta dispatched a contract notice for this four year framework agreement of unspecified value to deliver various "Learning Services" such as Virtual learning environment
Virtual learning environment
Defined largely by usage, the term virtual learning environment has most, if not all, of the following salient properties:* It is Web-based* It uses Web 2.0 tools for rich 2-way interaction* It includes a content management system...
s and other ICT
ICT (education)
Information and communication technologies in education deal with the use of information and communication technologies within educational technology.-Purpose:...
products. Participating companies had to have a net worth of at least £700,000 to qualify and satisfy a list of functional requirements. The window for tenders closed on 30 March 2006 and the 10 suppliers chosen from 119 applicants announced on 22 December 2006 were
- Azzurri Communications, Etech Group (selling StudywizStudywizStudywiz Learning Environment also known simply as Studywiz is an Virtual Learning Environment and shares many characteristics with Learning Management Systems....
), Fronter, Netmedia Education (selling Editure's mysuite), Pearson Education, Ramesys, RM plcRM plcRM plc is a British company specialising in providing products and services to schools, colleges, universities and government education departments & agencies...
, Serco Learning Solutions (Serco Ltd), UniServity, ViglenViglenViglen Ltd provides IT products and services, including storage systems, servers, workstations and data/voice communications equipment and services.- History :...
When challenged in an interview on the question of why none of these suppliers made available the open source platform Moodle
Moodle
Moodle is a free source e-learning software platform, also known as a Course Management System, Learning Management System, or Virtual Learning Environment...
, Stephen Lucey said:
In 5 January 2007, Crispin Weston, who had helped Becta draw up the criteria used to select suppliers, asked the EC Competition Commission to investigate his allegation that a significant number of the successful tenders had failed to implement the mandatory functional requirements, including particular aspects of inter-operability. He also added in his letter to the Commission that they should take action on the further issue of:
Gerard Toplass of Azzurri Education said they had invested £250k (and six programmers working 15 hours a day for six months) into Becta's stringent testing regime. He also expected learning platforms to be sold separately in all but those schools that are being built from scratch.
Infrastructure Services Framework agreement
Becta’s Infrastructure Services Framework lets schools purchase infrastructure services which comply with national standards and specifications for educational ICT. The Infrastructure Services Framework runs from August 2006 to July 2009.On 23 November 2005, Becta dispatched a contract notice for this framework agreement in the Official Journal of the European Union
Official Journal of the European Union
The Official Journal of the European Union is the official gazette of record for the European Union . It is published every working day in all of the official languages of the member states. Only legal acts published in the Official Journal are binding.It was first published on 30 December 1952 as...
of unspecified value to deliver computer hardware and networks to capable of running high speed access and a common systems framework to schools. On 8 August 2006 the contracts were officially awarded, though the publication of the announcement was not until 27 September.
The 16 successful companies were:
- Azzurri Communications, Centerprise International, Computer Systems in Education, Egton Medical Information Systems, Ergo Computing, European Electronique, Gaia Technologies, HBS Business Services, Linetex Computers, Northgate Information Solutions, Ramesys, RMRM plcRM plc is a British company specialising in providing products and services to schools, colleges, universities and government education departments & agencies...
, Serco, Stone Computers, VT Four S, XMA
Each company must be capable of providing the entire infrastructure for an entire school alone as part of the deal; there is no room for specialist suppliers for, say, just the computer mice.
Though Becta claims to have negotiated purchase prices which mean "it will be harder to get it cheaper anywhere else", Becta reveals no pricing guidelines. Instead, schools are supposed to write a specification and run a mini-competition like an auction among those of the sixteen suppliers who express an interest in order to determine the price. This work itself can be contracted out by schools as well after a mini-competition among listed consultancy suppliers. (see Consultancy services framework agreement)
Once the contractor is chosen, a Service Order is signed between the two parties specifying the services that are being provided, and the prices. Becta should receive quarterly management reports from the companies operating under the regime detailing what Service Orders have been signed, and the full accounts.
Consultancy Services Framework agreement
The Consultancy Services Framework is designed for schools to engage with high-calibre consultants at competitive rates. Consultancy can be used to develop and achieve a school’s vision for ICT. The Consultancy Services Framework began in January 2006 and continues until December 2008.On 21 December 2005, this framework agreement was announced allowing schools to hire "external consultants to take responsibility for the often time consuming and costly decisions around developing an ICT infrastructure" which is due to last until 2008.
The 21 winning consultancy contractors are: 3E's Enterprise, Brian Farrington, Cambridge Education, Cocentra, Deloitte MCS Ltd, EdICTs Ltd, Edunova (WSP Building Ltd), Enterprise MCP Ltd, Four S, Hornagold & Hills, Improcom, Logica CMG, Mantix, Mason Communications Ltd, Mouchel Parkman Services, NCC Services, Novatia, PriceWaterhouseCoopers
PricewaterhouseCoopers
PricewaterhouseCoopers is a global professional services firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest professional services firm measured by revenues and one of the "Big Four" accountancy firms....
Ltd Liability Partnership, RM
RM plc
RM plc is a British company specialising in providing products and services to schools, colleges, universities and government education departments & agencies...
, Serco, Socitm Ltd, Tribal Group
Tribal Group
Tribal Group plc is a business services company based in London in the United Kingdom. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE Fledgling Index.Tribal provides services to the public sector, primarily within the UK....
.
Becta recognizes that the overlap between these companies who may be managing the procurement on behalf of the schools, and the companies who would eventually be bidding to supply the contracts, could result in conflicts of interest. To overcome this, Becta allows a company to "withdraw from the process once the specification for the ICT infrastructure [which they have written] is defined" before competing for the provision of the infrastructure.
Laptops for Teachers
(40 suppliers.)A three year "Laptops for teachers" framework agreement ran from 2003 to 2006.
Becta claims on its website that the advantages of their regime were the extended warranties, and savings of £45 million. The framework agreement is now closed
Interactive whiteboards framework
(23 suppliers)This framework agreement ran from 2004 to January 2007 and is now closed.
Non-curriculum software licensing framework
A new procurement framework for software licensing was launched by Becta in collaboration with OGCbuying.solutions on 9 October 2008. The new arrangements replace the previous Becta software licensing framework agreement. The new framework will provide the education sector with a quick, EU-compliant route to procure software.The 12 successful suppliers are: Academia Ltd, Civica Services Ltd, European Electronique, Insight Direct (UK) Ltd, Joskos Solutions, Pugh Computers Ltd, Ramesys (e-business services) Ltd, RM plc, SCC, Sirius Corporation
Sirius Corporation Ltd
Sirius Corporation ltd is a company based in Weybridge, United Kingdom which provides a range of open source services to medium and enterprise level organisations to allow them to maximise their productivity whilst minimising their risk...
, Trustmarque Solutions and Viglen Limited.
The new agreement will run for four years.
Internet Services Accreditation
The Internet Services Accreditation was set up as a result of an initiative from the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) to provide guidance on this subject. The service enables schools to purchase internet services from accredited suppliers that meet and maintain specific standards in content filtering and service performance.Management information systems
In 2005, recognizing the serious issues posed by the overwhelming market dominance of Capita SIMS and the lack of competition, Becta commissioned a report called “Management Information Systems and Value for Money”,Becta report highlighted the fact that the charges to schools of maintaining current Management Information Systems (MIS) from the dominant supplier has increased up to threefold since 1999. BECTA suggests that many schools and colleges are being charged ever-increasing amounts to maintain their MIS and are not receiving value for the money they spend.
The key issues that also emerged from Becta report were as follows:
- For many schools costs are escalating very significantly with charges from the dominant supplier, now between 2.5 and 3 times their 1999 levels
- There are very significant barriers to the effective choice by schools/LAs and there is a lack of any significant contractual commitment between the dominant supplier and schools/LAs regarding the timeliness and quality of software provided
In line with this, Bromcom Computers Plc has recently brought a case against Capita to the Office of Fair Trading, alleging that Capita has been abusing its dominant position. Bromcom has stated that they used Becta’s 2005 report as the starting point of their complaint.
Becta has made an official public statement in relation to this compliant, stating that, “We continue to receive reports that the market is not operating in an effective manner … Becta will review the existing information and where necessary commission additional research."
A consultation on the functional requirements for information management (including MIS) closed on 30 September 2006. Over the consultation period of two months there were eleven comments submitted.
The functional requirements for information management was published on 9 October 2006.
Becta’s Circular to Local Authorities: School MIS and Value for Money
Becta has recently sent a circular informing all Directors of Children's Services in Local Authorities that serious concerns are continuing in relation to the marketplace for school Management Information Systems (MIS) and supplier provided support. They have identified that following the 2005 report a new independent review will now be commissioned.
The circular highlights that in June 2005 the report identified concerns about the effective operation of the market that is associated with School Management Information Systems. The main concerns included considerable impediments to the exercise of effective choice by schools, substantial increases in licensing costs of products from the dominant supplier (Capita), as well as issues around the timelines and quality of Management Information Software.
Becta accepts that whilst some progress has been made since 2005 in some areas cause for concern still remains. The present and general approach adopted by some Local Authorities in procuring for their MIS and associated software in line with their legal obligations under EU procurement regulations is a cause for concern, thus Becta is commissioning a follow up investigation and independent review.
In essence the circular highlighting the need for assessing ‘value for money’ in making choices rather than simply buying from the incumbent/dominant MIS supplier (Capita) without appropriate evaluation / market-testing. Becta proposes to undertake a study on behalf of Local Authorities for this purpose.
It is indicated in the circular that Becta hopes to have the result of its review and be able to advice Local Authorities by the beginning of the new financial year in April 2010.
School MIS and value for money report 2010
The Becta report has was published with strong recommendations proposed ″Recommendation 1 – Each local authority should urgently conduct a review to determine if the
specific arrangements they have put in place for the supply and on-going maintenance of school
MIS systems are in accordance with the law. This recognises that the Market Study identified a
significant number of MIS procurement activities which are potentially non-compliant with EU and
UK procurement law (Paragraphs 1.14 to 1.21)″
Self-review framework
The self-review frameworkSelf-review framework
The Self-review framework is a free, online tool that schools in the United Kingdom can use to assess and benchmark their use of ICT across all their activities....
is a free, online tool created by Becta and its partners that schools can use to assess and benchmark their use of ICT across all their activities.
It enables schools to identify where they are and shows the practical steps they can take to gain even greater benefit from their use of ICT.
In many areas, it complements the work schools currently undertake for Ofsted and can be provided as evidence for a school’s Self Evaluation Framework (SEF).
The self-review framework offers schools a route to achieving the ICT Mark, which is a nationally recognised accreditation scheme which gives schools recognition for their achievements in reaching a standard of maturity in their use of technology.
Curriculum Online
The Curriculum Online website, managed by Becta since January 2005, gave teaching professionals access to digital learning resources that could be bought using e-learning credits (eLCs).The website is now closed because ring-fenced funding via eLCs ceased at the end of August 2008.
Becta and open source
In May 2005 Becta published a report of eight case studies where Open Source software was deployed in Schools on servers and in the classroom, often mixed with Microsoft products. The conclusions were positive and the considerable savings in cost were noted.Becta encourage the increasing use of Open Source software in schools and fund the Open Source Schools community.
In spite of this experience, Becta's infrastructure framework for suppliers to schools outlined above has been accused of excluding open source systems by its choice of companies.
Interoperability
A long predicted issue has arisen over the ability of the proprietary software supplied with the many Interactive Whiteboard systems to inter-operate. In a press release, Becta states:Criticisms
In January 2008, Becta was accused of excessive political correctnessPolitical correctness
Political correctness is a term which denotes language, ideas, policies, and behavior seen as seeking to minimize social and institutional offense in occupational, gender, racial, cultural, sexual orientation, certain other religions, beliefs or ideologies, disability, and age-related contexts,...
when it eliminated a children's interactive CD-ROM story book called The Three Little Cowboy Builders (based on Three Little Pigs
Three Little Pigs
Three Little Pigs is a fairy tale featuring anthropomorphic animals. Printed versions date back to the 1840s, but the story itself is thought to be much older...
) from an educational awards ceremony on the grounds that it could be considered offensive to builders and Muslims. Becta subsequently claimed that the independent judges (teachers) had rejected the story because it "failed to reach the required standard across a number of criteria" and was "not sufficiently convincing on curriculum and innovation grounds to be shortlisted", although Curriculum Online
Curriculum Online
Curriculum Online was part of the UK government's drive to get more ICT and multimedia resources in classrooms across the country. This was done primarily through the eLearning Credits scheme, which was operated by Curriculum Online. The project was closed down in the autumn of 2008, when the ELC...
(a website run by Becta) had previously given the book an enthusiastic thumbs-up.