School scheme faces criticism

Poor design in schools is leading to substandard computing facilities

Industry groups have raised concerns that the government’s £45bn Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme could create substandard environments for IT users, amid continuing concerns over managed services contracts.

IT makes up 10 per cent (£4.5bn) of the BSF budget, but in many cases, the physical design of schools does not properly consider or accommodate computer facilities.

“The IT community has a large slice of the budget and needs to be thinking about where the rest of that money is being spent,” said Mairi Johnson, interim director of enabling at architecture organisation CABE, who is soon to take up the post of Director of Design at Partnerships for Schools, the public body responsible for BSF.

“It’s a waste if IT is put into an environment that cannot support effective learning.

“Computing facilities are being put into the middle space of an open plan area, which people need to cross. Often there are no windows, and lighting and ventilation are not considered, so users are getting a raw deal.

“We want to see the design and the IT working together to get the best interface between teachers and students.”

Melissa Frewin, programme manager at IT trade body Intellect, said: “Intellect supports BSF’s educational vision, but we are concerned that there has not been consistent engagement with industry.

“For technology to create an environment where children are able to engage in a wide range of high-quality and personalised learning experiences, suppliers will need to be selected based on their educational vision.”

And schools are already casting doubts about the managed services element of the programme.

Tollbar Business and Enterprise College in Grimsby is threatening to reject nearly £14m in funding if it is forced to sign up to a centrally procured and managed IT system.

“We believe a school should be in control of its system and its staff, and we cannot see how a managed service system would raise standards or allow us this control,” said headteacher David Hampson.

“We are prepared to pull out unless we get a categorised assurance that we can get the build money without having to join the managed service. I’ve had emails from other heads voicing similar concern.”

A spokeswoman for Partnerships for Schools said: “The local authority,
supported by PfS, is still in dialogue with this particular headteacher in the hope of reaching a solution which is viable within BSF, and which also meets the needs and aspirations of the school.”