EDUCATION-JAN10-PG21-22:Page 6 24/12/2009 13:32 Page 22
BETT Highlights
I normally visit the show during weekdays implement your school’s learning platform, if The advice that I would offer to other primary
however, over the past few years as the exhibition you’ve even got around to procuring one? head teachers is to think carefully about what you
has become bigger and better, I now plan to Whether facing issues with funding, new want to get out of the show and make sure you
attend BETT over 2 days. This is because it enables initiatives or procurement, these challenges need and your team pre-plan beforehand. The BETT
me to see everything in detail – one day at BETT is solutions and BETT is a great place to discover website enables you to create your own personal
simply not enough! I would encourage all some of these. route around the show by creating an individual
teachers to visit the show, if only on the singular I am an experienced visitor to BETT, having floor plan highlighting the exhibitors that match
occasion, as it is a completely unique, free event attended the show for the last 20 plus years. A your interests, so take advantage of this.”
enabling you to truly improve your school for the world-class exhibition, BETT is packed full of Christine Terrey, Headteacher at Grays Infants
future.” Anthony Witte headteacher at interesting exhibitors as well as inspiring seminars, School, Newhaven.
Rosebrook Primary School in Mansfield and it has never failed to help me learn about
“Head teachers are constantly facing how to move my school forward. As a school uFor more information, visit the
challenges with how to best run their school leader, you are under pressure to make good Becta stand at BETT and the
environment. How should you address procurement decisions and BETT can help ensure website on www.becta.org.uk
personalised learning? How do you smoothly you make the right ones.
Becta’s advice on ICT procurement
ICT is such a significant investment that a school Even more vital for you is the assurance that
What you can do
can save thousands of pounds every year by your learners will be safer with systems that
adopting approaches that secure value for reduce the dangers that exist online.
Check your development plans for technology
money.
This is not just about saving money by Key Issues
– is it about the technology itself, or the
outcomes that you want to achieve?
reducing initial costs on purchases. The total
expenditure over the time the school uses the Be clear about what you want to achieve – your
Read Getting Best Value From Your Investment
equipment and services needs also to be vision for learning. You will then need to make
– A Guide for School Leaders, it will help you
calculated. sure that you are buying the right technology to
save money, step-by-step.
Buying low-cost hardware or failing to take achieve this from quality assured suppliers at the
aspects such as reliability, ongoing support or best possible prices.
Approach your local authority to see if they
compatibility with existing systems into account It is important to recognise all the resources
have systems in place for purchasing products
can lead to increased costs in the longer term. and costs involved in the provision and support
and services.
Failure to address issues such as security of data, of technology to understand whether this is
software management and licensing is likely to achieving value for money.
Refer to Becta’s functional requirements and
have legal implications for you and your school. This may include an awareness that locking
technical principles when developing ICT
your school in to proprietary products may lead
requirements.
to an ‘exit cost’ when you want to change.
Considering alternatives to managing ICT
Evaluate your current provision
within the school can help to ensure that
www.becta.org.uk/schools/fits, or watch the
valuable resources are focused on teaching and
video.
learning, rather than supporting technology.
Your local authority, or other networks, may
Investigate the potential benefits of Becta’s
be able to provide a more efficient procurement
procurement frameworks.
service by aggregating your requirements with
other institutions. This will drive increased value
for money through economies of scale.
22
www.education-today.co.uk January 2010
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