Community project connects 600,000 pupils and teachers

More than 600,000 pupils and teachers in the East Midlands will have 24-hour access to advanced educational multimedia technology, as part of a local authority project to connect communities.

Synetrix, the managed service provider for EMBC, a portal owned by eight local councils, has signed a deal with communications firm Affiniti to provide broadband for 2,100 schools in the region.

The network will connect schools into a learning community, allowing them to access Synetrix’ educational systems, where they can share schoolwork and teaching online, chat, email and create personalised web sites, in a secure community.

"The strength and reliability of the network has ensured that our teachers and pupils can get easy, consistent access to the applications and multimedia resources they need, when they need them," said Michael Kendall, managing director of EMBC.

"Affiniti has provided a solid foundation enabling us to transform the delivery of educational services in the East Midlands, and remains a vital partner as we continue to roll out new services into the future.”

EMBC is jointly owned by Derbyshire, Leicester City, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottingham City, Nottinghamshire, and Rutland councils, and focuses on helping local authorities and schools achieve educational aims and obligations.