Rm Regulatory News (RM.)

18 Sep 2006 07:00

RM PLC18 September 2006 18 September 2006 RM appointed preferred bidder for Stoke-on-Trent Building Schools for the Future contract RM confirms that it has been selected by Stoke-on-Trent City Council aspreferred bidder for the Council's Building Schools for the Future (BSF) ICTcontract. The Group announced on 7 September 2006 that, subject to the agreementof certain conditions, the Council intended to invite RM to become preferredpartner for the project. Under the terms of the contract, RM will design, implement and manage asophisticated, managed ICT service supporting, in the future, approximately14,000 pupils in 24 schools (16 secondary schools and 8 special schools) inStoke-on-Trent. The BSF programme is an important part of the City Council'stransformation agenda, with the first phase schools going live in September2007. Stoke-on-Trent City Council's BSF programme has separated the selection of itsICT and building partners. In the coming months RM will work closely with theCouncil and its chosen construction partner to ensure the integration of ICTinto Stoke-on-Trent's new schools. Commenting on the contract, Tim Pearson, CEO of RM, said: "It's great news that RM has been appointed preferred bidder for what we believeto be the largest BSF ICT contract awarded so far. The BSF programme is a majordevelopment for English secondary schools; as such, it represents a strongopportunity for RM. We look forward to working with Stoke-on-Trent City Counciland its schools to deliver educationally-effective ICT solutions. Mike Inman, Stoke-on-Trent City Council's BSF Project Manager, said: "Our BSF programme will make a major contribution to learning opportunities forchildren in Stoke-on-Trent. ICT is a fundamental part of the Council's visionfor its future schools and, during the bidding process, RM has demonstrated thatit can help deliver the Council's commitment to innovative and educationallyeffective use of technology. I'm delighted that we're working with anorganisation that shares our commitment to educational improvement." - Ends - For further information, please contact: Mike Greig/Phil Hemmings, RM plc 08709 200200 Fiona 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. In February2006 RM announced it had signed the first BSF ICT contract to be awarded; a £6.4million contract with Solihull Council. 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 Exchange