Becta offers schools new advice on procurement

Agency says management information systems market lacks competition

Becta provides advice to IT managers in schools

Becta, the government agency that advises on technology in education, has released its School management information systems (MIS) and value for money 2010 report.

Management information systems are used in schools to hold pupil data including contact details and attendance records.

Becta's document analyses the current MIS marketplace, and focuses on optimising procurement practices within it.

The study shows that, as a result of the absence of Open Journal of the European Union (OJEU) procurement practices, MIS remains dominated by a single supplier. It is distorted owing to the impact of the statutory returns process, which increases costs to schools and local authorities and penalises smaller providers.

The report added that there is still a lack of understanding of the relevant EU and UK procurement regulations at the local authority level, coupled with concerns around the cost of change. It also states that the market would benefit from a mandated interoperability standard.

The agency has put together a list of recommendations around legal compliance and cost reduction. Among the recommendations is one stating that each local authority should conduct a review into whether their arrangements for the supply and maintenance of school MISs are in accordance with the law.

It also argues that significant savings would come from the establishment of a cost-effective national or central MIS procurement mechanism, with associated advice and guidance. It recommends that schools and local authorities look into this.