Rm Regulatory News (RM.)

1 Aug 2007 07:00

RM PLC01 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 announcedthat it had been selected as preferred bidder for this contract on 21 November2006. Under the contract, RM will provide both managed ICT infrastructure in each ofseven newly-built learning centres and a shared data centre. As well as thismanaged network, RM will deliver a range of other services including telephonyand electronic registration. RM is also providing the Council with aPersonalised Learning Environment, which will be built on the Group's KaleidosLearning 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 ambitiouseducational transformation programme. ICT will be a key part of thistransformation, with technology being used to deliver a personalised learningexperience for each pupil. We look forward to providing a service that will makea real contribution to improving life chances for pupils in Knowsley. "I'm also pleased that our success is helping us build a broader relationshipwith Knowsley MBC. In addition to the BSF contract, RM has also been selected tosupply Knowsley's Computers for Pupils initiative. This is an importantinitiative which will provide personal access to ICT hardware for the mostdisadvantaged 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 learningcentres, confirmation of our IT contract with RM comes at an exciting time inour Building Schools for the Future journey. We are looking forward to afruitful relationship with the company." For further information, please contact:Mike Greig/Phil Hemmings, RM plc 08450 700300Mark Antelme, Brunswick 020 7404 5959 Notes to Editors: Founded in 1973, the RM Group is a leading provider of educational products andservices to schools, colleges and universities, local government and centralgovernment education departments and agencies. RM works closely witheducationalists to create new products, processes and technology which improveteaching and learning. RM is listed on the main market of the London StockExchange under the symbol RM.L. 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. Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council's BSF programme will replace elevenexisting secondary schools with seven newly-built learning centres. The Councilprocured the ICT and design & build elements of its BSF programme separately.The design & build contract was awarded to Transform Schools; RM and TransformSchools will work together under a formal interface agreement. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange