BSF infrastructure at Forest Hill Secondary School in Lewisham, London

BSF will promote standards and innovation, says Tim Byles

BSF infrastructure at Forest Hill Secondary School in Lewisham, London includes:

Central server farm based off-site in Portsmouth ­ supports storage and backup services and will eventually serve all schools in the London Borough of Lewisham.

Secure network with voice over IP ­allows teachers to make free external and internal calls and contact the helpdesk directly.

Interactive whiteboards in many classrooms, a laptop for every teacher and one PC for every two children, but Lewisham plans to provide more.

Managed learning environment ­ allows teachers to introduce differentiated learning
and target each child at their appropriate level. Also gives teachers access to all data on children from when they start to year 11 ­ soon to be extended to the sixth form.

Virtual learning environment ­allows children to access classroom-based learning
resources outside lesson time, as well as work on and submit assignments online, and have them marked and returned online.

“This is the first time we have been able to use this level of infrastructure,” said Tom Cooper, schools improvement officer for IT at the London Borough of Lewisham.

“In the past we have had systems that are inferior to the commercial sector, but this is towards the leading edge,” he said.

“We are really excited about the difference this is making in schools.”