Press release: BSF computer contract will aid Manchester schools
14 September 2007
Manchester City Council Press Release
Massive computer contract will aid Manchester schools Manchester City Council has awarded Ramesys Limited a multi-million pound computer contract as part of its £500 million re-building and refurbishment of more than 30 schools in the city.
Ramesys will provide sophisticated information communication technology, coupled with a managed service across 17 secondary and special educational needs (SEN) schools in the city.
Wright Robinson College in Gorton has already gone live with new centralised and local ICT systems, installed and being run by Ramesys under the managed service agreement.
These applications and services run on a central server based in Manchester and will eventually be accessed by all 17 schools. They will enable students to link into the school computer system to do homework projects or to work from their local library, receiving prompt assessment and feedback. Teachers also benefit from having a wealth of curriculum content and teaching information available at the click of a mouse.
Other components in the £17 million contract include education transformation services; school-based servers and applications; individual school funds to provide tailored hardware, curriculum software and specialist equipment; a comprehensive management service provided by Ramesys, using local skilled technicians backed by technology experts in Manchester and the rest of the UK; flexible training packages and the means to evolve the system.
Councillor Sheila Newman, Executive Member for Children's Services on Manchester City Council, said: "The Ramesys contract is a major milestone in our mission to transform teaching and learning to benefit thousands of young people across the city.
"We are determined that young people in Manchester get the very best learning opportunities, and this investment will go a long way towards achieving this."
The Chief Executive of Ramesys, Bill Donoghue, said: "We are delighted to be working in partnership with Manchester City Council and schools. Computer technology is central to the transformation of teaching and to developing our learners for 21st Century working and living. We share Manchester's passion for delivering this change to the wider community across the city and for the development of a world class, innovative learning and resource platform for all."
Partnerships for Schools' Chief Executive, Tim Byles, said: "We congratulate Manchester for achieving financial close with Ramesys to deliver the ICT for their BSF programme. We look forward to working with the council and Ramesys to see the new and refurbished schools make a real difference to the young people, teachers and local people of Manchester."
More than 30 schools are being rebuilt and refurbished in Manchester over the next five years as part of Building Schools for the Future (BSF), the Government-backed improvement programme. Enhanced computer technology is a crucial part of the improvements, and the City Council has recruited world-leading organisations in the fields of computers and IT, communications and media, health, housing and building, all of which will be lending their expertise and support so that youngsters experience the world of work in school.
Ends
Notes to Editors:
- Building Schools for the Future (BSF) is the largest single schools capital investment programme for over 50 years. The aim is to rebuild or renew every one of England's 3,500 state secondary schools during the 15-year lifetime of the £45 billion programme.
- Ramesys is one of the UK's fastest growing providers of ICT solutions to education, and a leading ICT partner in the Building Schools for the Future and Academies programmes. The company employs 250 staff throughout the UK and has offices in Manchester, Wolverhampton, Nottingham and London.
- Partnerships for Schools (PfS) is the delivery agency for Building Schools for the Future (BSF).
Media contact: Jane Lemon, Manchester City Council Press Office, Tel: 0161 234 3179
