Rm Regulatory News (RM.)

17 Jan 2008 12:00

RM PLC17 January 2008 17th January 2008 RM to be appointed selected bidder for Sunderland BSF ICT contract RM has been selected by Sunderland City Council to provide managed ICT servicesto the Council's BSF (Building Schools for the Future) programme. The City's BSF programme covers five secondary schools and three SunderlandModel academies, serving a total of 8,000 pupils. RM will be responsible fordesigning and delivering a sophisticated managed ICT service, which will beintegrated into the fabric of the schools. RM will also provide a sharedlearning platform for the schools and a Web-delivered MIS system based on itsIntegrisG2 product. Commenting on the contract, Tim Pearson, CEO of RM, said: "Sunderland has very ambitious plans for its BSF programme, with three newacademies as well as rebuilding or refurbishing existing schools. ICT has animportant role in these plans and we're delighted that the Council has selectedRM as its ICT partner. "As always, the most important thing is achieving a positive impact forlearners. We look forward to working with the Council and its chosen buildingpartner, Balfour Beatty, to do just that." Councillor Bob Symonds, Leader of Sunderland City Council, said: "This investment in a new ICT infrastructure and cutting-edge facilities willhave an enormous impact on education and the life chances of every child inSunderland. ICT is an integral part of our BSF programme and we recognise thattechnology will be instrumental in transforming secondary education to deliverour City's vision. RM's core strength is its ability to integrate diversetechnologies to deliver educational value in the classroom and we look forwardto working in partnership with them to achieve this." Tim Byles, Chief Executive of Partnerships for Schools, said: "This is an important milestone in Sunderland's BSF programme and wecongratulate RM on being appointed as the selected bidder to deliver ICTservices. BSF is transforming education for thousands of young people andteachers up and down the country by providing learning environments that inspireand engage and we look forward to seeing the difference this programme will makein Sunderland." For further information, please contact:Mike Greig/Phil Hemmings, RM plc 08450 700300Mark Antelme, Brunswick 020 7404 5959 Notes to Editors: 1. Founded in 1973, the RM Group is a leading provider of educationalproducts and services to schools, colleges and universities, local governmentand central government 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. 2. BSF (Building Schools for the Future) is the largest single schoolscapital investment programme for over 50 years. It aims to rebuild or renewevery one of England's 3,500 state secondary schools during the lifetime of theprogramme. A key part of the initiative is to ensure that local authoritiesdevelop a sustainable, area-wide ICT strategy for schools in line with theGovernment's personalised learning agenda: 10% of the funding is ring-fenced forICT. 3. Partnerships for Schools (PfS) is the delivery agency for BSF. PfS wasestablished in April 2004 as a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB), and isoperated and funded under a joint venture between Department for Children,Schools and Families (formerly DfES) and Partnerships UK. 4. Sunderland is taking an innovative approach to BSF. Linking closelywith other major initiatives, Sunderland plans to build three new SunderlandModel academies as part of its wider BSF programme. Key principles of theSunderland Model include: • Admissions policies will be the same as for schools maintained by the Council - there will be no selection • Academies will be fully accessible to pupils with special educational needs and will support policies for increased inclusion in all mainstream schools • All secondary schools, including academies, will work together on exclusion policies and practice to maintain the low levels of exclusion we have in Sunderland • Academies will be a key part of the Council's strategy for 14 to 19 learning, as set out in the 14 to 19 strategy for the City, 'Building a Better Future' • Academies will work in collaboration and partnership with the Council, other schools and the City of Sunderland College This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange