Mixed reactions to open source plan for schools

Schools are already using open source, but there is more demand, say experts

Education procurement agency Becta has invited 21 suppliers to tender for £80m of proprietary and open source software supply for schools, as it seeks to replace its software licensing framework agreements.

But there are doubts as to whether the official sanctioning of open source in education will make a difference to the most technologically advanced schools.

Certain schools are already working outside the Becta framework, and even those involved with Building Schools for the Future (BSF) could continue to use software such as Moodle, according to Ian Lynch, a member of the Open Schools Alliance.

“Those already using open source are probably the most technologically self-sufficient. They’re not going to pay to give up their autonomy,” he said.

“Why would I go to a firm to buy what I can get off the web free, without the associated overhead of dealing with a large organisation? Possibly because there is support, quality assurance and training provided by the Becta framework supplier, for example.

“In practice, even the implementation of BSF varies, so there is probably scope to use open source outside the BSF offer.”

OGCbuying.solutions, the purchasing agency of the Office of Government Commerce (OGC), said the open source solutions will include operating systems, network software, security and maintenance and enterprise resource software. Completion of the procurement is scheduled for October and OGC expects to sign framework agreements with up to 10 suppliers.

“If schools want open source at the moment, they must go outside the framework,” said Mark Taylor, chief executive of Sirius, rumoured to be among the bidders.

“It’s good to see official recognition of the market reality, which is that there’s a lot of open source software already in the sector and more demand for it. This clarifies that it is OK to procure it. It’s a welcome step, as one of the things holding back open source in schools is the lack of clarity around where to start.”