National framework deals for the education sector are being established to try to keep IT prices down and set minimum service standards.

The contracts are part of the plan to create a common digital infrastructure for the sector, a central priority of the Department for Education and Skills’ eStrategy published in March.

The government wants IT to help create a more personalised approach to learning and bring all education and child services to a standard level of technology usage within five years.

Since 1998 there has been significant IT investment in schools, with more than 99 per cent now having internet connection. But there needs to be a common strategy to maximise the technology, says the British Education Communications and Technology Agency (Becta), which is brokering the contracts.

‘Reliability, coherence and diversity of the IT infrastructure remain significant issues in many institutions, [despite huge progress in the volume of equipment],’ says documentation issued by Becta.

‘The causes are a combination of devolved management, piecemeal design and investment, and inadequate technical support provision,’ it says.

The deal is divided into two lots – the provision of managed infrastructure services and continued maintenance and support.

Becta says the plan will allow a service-based approach to IT provision that will let schools concentrate on education.

‘Combining common standards, agreed minimum specifications, aggregation of demands and a move towards a service culture will drive fundamental change in the provision of institutional infrastructure,’ according to the organisation.