BACK TO SCHOOL How to sell IT to schools
With a new computing curriculum coming into play this September, a bigger focus on teaching children how to code, and more emerging tech in the classroom like 3D printers, schools are spending more on IT investment than ever before. But what’s the best way to sell into the education sector? Dominic Sacco asks the experts…
I
T’S THAT time of the year again – school is out for summer and parents will soon be buying their supplies for the September back to school rush.
Teachers themselves will also be making preparations for the new computing curriculum. As former education secretary Michael Gove stated, this will be “much shorter and less prescriptive than the old, discredited ICT curriculum, allowing schools room to innovate”, with children as young as fi ve learning how to code, create programs and understand how a computer works, rather than being taught about word processing and spreadsheets.
With this change comes fresh demand – more than ever before – for the tools and technology required. In fact,
24 | PCR August 2014
funding for ICT investment by schools will reach an all-time high during 2014/15. Investment in hardware replacement, peripherals, software and technical support will reach £14,220 per primary school and £65,570 in each secondary school, according to a survey by the British Educational Suppliers Association (BESA).
Parents want new tech too – 56 per cent think IT investment should be a school’s number one priority according to a survey by Samsung, while 97 per cent believe school tech needs to be up to date.
WHAT TO SELL?
Firstly, what exactly should you be supplying schools with today? Whether it’s the Raspberry Pi credit-card sized computer for teaching
“With budget constraints a constant issue, there is no value in pushing the most expensive ‘bells and whistles’ solution.”
Jon Garaway, NEC Display Solutions
children programming, 3D printers, tablets and smart boards, or more traditional computing devices like desktop PCs, laptops, scanners, printers and projectors, there is space for an array of tech in the classroom. Check out page 57 for the latest back to school hardware and software. Providing managed services is a great way of getting business with schools. John Greenhalgh, head of public sector sales at Brother UK, says: “Schools are looking for ways to cut down on print costs and paper use, demanding more effi cient print strategies from their technology suppliers. Technology that incorporates reliability, lifelong technical support and good functionality will help to ensure that printers [and
other devices] are a long-term purchase, reducing the need to invest in expensive technology on a regular basis and cutting down on the amount of equipment needed.” Of course, security is also paramount. One in seven parents fi nd unsuitable content on their child’s smartphone or tablet, according to research by BullGuard, and schools have a duty to ensure their pupils’ data is safe and secure. Whether it’s managing a school’s WiFi, internet, servers or storage, there are
opportunities for providing a reliable security service. Be mindful of emerging tech too – youth research fi rm Dubit expects devices like the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset will be used by schools in the future. Turn to
www.pcr-online.biz
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