ICT in BSF
Q. Why is 10% of BSF funding ring-fenced for ICT? Is it for hardware or software?
ICT plays a very important part of BSF with a high level of capital funding (equivalent to £1,675 for every pupil). This is becasue we need to ensure that the infrastructure in BSF schools is suitable for tomorrow’s educational technology, not just today's.
ICT is an integral component which links buildings with teaching and learning. BSF will provide:
- a step change in the level of ICT provision in secondary schools in England
- buildings designed to maximise use of ICT managed ICT services which guarantee availability and reliability
- incentives to develop the use of ICT in teaching and learning
BSF funding for ICT will pay for passive network infrastructure, active network equipment, hardware (computers and peripherals), software and setting up an area-wide Managed Service for ICT. Schools are expected to join a Managed Service and to pay an annual revenue charge per pupil which is likely to provide a saving on schools’ current expenditure on procuring, managing, maintaining and refreshing their ICT infrastructure and equipment.
Q. Does BSF encourage the use of Wi-Fi in schools?
The majority of schools are considering the use of Wi-Fi so that students and teachers can use computers and the Internet throughout the school in line with ‘any time, any place’ and personalised learning. In some cases, Wi-Fi can also be used by for students to log on at home, as well as by members of the local community. The Health Protection Agency, Department for Children, Schools and Families, and Becta all highlight the fact that there is no scientific evidence to date that Wi-Fi and WLANs adversely affect the health of the general population, and therefore no reason why schools should not use Wi-Fi equipment.
Q. What level of ICT is expected to be delivered by BSF?
Procuring ICT in the BSF programme is not about pulling together a list of the equipment you would like. The whole process begins with the local authority and its schools drawing up a vision for improving secondary education. This vision is informed by an understanding of the ways in which new technologies can improve educational provision. In turn, the wider vision informs the development of an ICT strategy which sets out the steps to be taken to help realise the local authority’s and schools’ aspirations.
PfS has developed a template output specification for ICT, which is on the PfS website under BSF standard documents.
