Kent's BSF program, established in 2006, aims to rebuild or renew its secondary schools over a period of 10-15 years. BSF provides Kent with the opportunity to combine significant capital investment in state-of-the-art buildings and ICT facilities with a bold educational vision to transform teaching and learning and locate schools at hte heart of their community. Kent's overall Building Schools for the Future Porgram, the largest building scheme in Europe, is worth an estimated £1.8 billion.
Kent Local Education Partnership One (LEP1) is a joint venture partnership which has been established to manage and deliver the first phase of the Kent BSF program.
Work has now begun to completely rebuild or substantially refurbish the first 10 secondary schools (Wave 3) by 2011. LEP1 will also lead on the development of proposals for a further 25 secondary schools, special schools and pupil referral units in the Gravesham, Thanet and Swale districts (Wave 4 and 6).
ICT Managed Services in Kent
Northgate was appointed as Kent County Council's ICT provider in October 2008. 11 schools will benefit from the intial £29 million investment in ICT. Once completed, Northgate will begin work on the remaining 25 schools in these districts.
With ICT firmly embedded in the education vision of Kent schools, BSF will allow for even more innovative ICT to be used in classrooms as well as providing tools to help teachers improve the delivery of education. Committed to 'anytime - anywhere learning', schools will be working closely with Northgate to provide learners, parents and teachers with access to education resources via any internet enabled device.
As part of the innovative ICT available, each learner will have access to N-able, Northgate Managed Learning Environment (MLE). N-able provides students with their own personalised learning area with the support and assistance they need to maximise independant study and to progress in line with their own individual learning plan. Accessible via the internet from any location, N-able gives each learner their own online space to work on assignments, store work and access emails allowing them to communicate with teachers and fellow students. Each teacher has a digital toolbox providing them with resources to continually assess pupil's work and offer as much or as little guidance as they might need. N-able also allows the school to incorporate management and administration systems in one place, for example pupil attendance, as well as achievements in coursework and exams which can be provided to parents.
By working alongside the design and build teams, including architects and construction companies, Northgate continues to ensure ICT is embedded into the design process of each school at every stage. Kent schools will no longer have traditional classrooms but 'learning spaces' - ICT rich environments which allow learners to make full use of ICT to enhance their education experience and to engage in their own learning. Encouraging extended community interaction, the new ICT provision wil also support Kent's vision to provide a range of services and facilities for children, adults and the local community throughout and beyond the school day.
Follow the link to find out more about Northgate's ICT solution in Kent
Northgate's Interim Managed Service
Northgate commenced an Interim Managed Service into the 11 schools from Wave 3 in November 2008. This involved the transfer of the technicians in these schools to work directly for Northgate, helping to gain a deeper understanding of the different ICT needs and issues experienced by individual schools. (For more information on the TUPE process click here)
Northgate have been able to build upon expert local knowledge in order to achieve the school's vision for ICT. Northgate's early involvement enables the building of trust and a solid working relationship which is imperative for successful change management.
Lep 1 Wave 3 Schools:
Charles Dickens School, Broadstairs
Community college Whitstabe, Whitstable
Dane Court Grammar School, Broadstairs
Herne Bay High School, Herne Bay
King Ethelbert School, Birchington
Northfleet School For Girls, Gravesend
Northfleet Technology College, Gravesend
St George's CE Foundation School, Broadstairs
St John's Catholic Comprehensive School, Gravesend
Thamesview School, Gravesend
Ifield School, Gravesend (has already been rebuilt as part of KCC's Special School Review Programme band is benefiting from ICT services provided by Northgate)
"ICT is central to KCC's vision for Building Schools for the Future and by working very closely with Northgate Managed Services wer are turning our plans into reality. By equipping our BSF schools with state of the art ICT facilities we will not only improve the business of education through more efficient school management process, greater collaboration and the sharing of resources, but also raise attainment and transform the educational opportunities available for young people."
Grahame Ward, Kent BSF Programme Director
