Education services specialist brings further cloud-based learning to schools; gains NAACE quality mark
31st October 2012, Civica, a market leader in specialist systems and business process services that help organisations to transform the way they work, has been awarded multiple contracts to provide enhanced digitally-based learning services to an additional 22 schools since the start of the year. The company’s strong track record of supporting schools with innovative learning services has also seen it claim an important quality endorsement from education ICT experts Naace.¹
The new digital learning environments will be implemented by Civica’s education division using its strategic approach to advancing learning through bespoke learning solutions. This includes the use of Civica’s CloudBase learning platform and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) technologies, which enable schools to embed the most advanced and secure ICT-based teaching and school administration applications into daily school life - even where capital and operating budgets may be limited or the school may initially be using legacy buildings, facilities and equipment.
The installations all feature Civica’s very experienced and respected education learning consultants working in conjunction with the schools’ staff to embed technologies into every day practice. Another key feature of the success is Civica’s ability to work flexibly with school management in partnering models that are characterised by a greater degree of openness, communication, mutual trust, and information sharing.
The 22 programmes include the following high profile school projects:
• Aylesbury Vale and Chiltern Hills Academies and Berryfields Primary School in Buckinghamshire have chosen Civica to provide e-learning services, CloudBase and VDI. Civica will use its expert skills to build a flexible range of school-specific modules from training and support to exploring innovative technologies
• St. Anne’s Academy in Rochdale has migrated to Civica in a three-year partnership to improve ICT adoption. Through a range of technologies and services including Microsoft Office365, Civica will support the academy embed the use of ICT
• Civica will be working with Greenwich, Reach Academy, Sandymoor and Wapping free schools over the next five years to implement a range of technologies including CloudBase and VDI as part of five-year managed service agreements.
- Civica’s approach to support summer school activity prior to their first term, demonstrated our partnering model to support their critical school start-up activities.
- Civica has also tailored ICT solutions to individual schools’ temporary accommodation requirements, ensuring that value for money will be achieved when they transition into their permanent buildings.
- East London-based Wapping High school, endorsed by Dame Helen Mirren, has asked Civica to provide a VDI platform to support its new Google-hosted computing environment as well as to provide Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training days from Civica’s dedicated Education Learning Consultants (ELC) to support teaching methods using this new technology.
- Cheshire-based Sandymoor free school has chosen Civica to provide VDI technology as well as Civica’s CloudBase learning platform to promote study and continue learning outside of school hours. Civica is also providing expert e-learning services and staff training and support with school’s teachers.
Civica education’s technical capabilities and service delivery excellence over many years have led to the company being awarded the service provider mark of quality assurance from, Naace, which is regarded as the foremost professional association for advancing the role of technology in education.
Lee Burley, managing director of Civica’s education division, said: “Schools of all levels are looking into how to provide the best learning environment for their students. We are successfully supporting schools with flexible, cloud-based, digitally enhanced learning tools to boost academic results where ICT infrastructures may be limited or capital funding is severely constrained. Our teams are helping transition these schools to Cloud-based and other cutting edge study environments as well as supporting them cost effectively over the long term to ensure the maximum return on the investment made.
“We are delighted with the Naace quality assurance mark. It’s a testament to the tremendous enthusiasm and skills of our education, technology and project management experts. They are making digitally-enabled learning the hub of these exciting schools’ life and academic attainments.”
Kevin Patrick, Principal, Chiltern Hills Academy, said: “We have been impressed that Civica understands our ethos and shares in our vision to make a real difference to the teaching and learning for the young people at Chiltern Hills Academy.”
Note to editors:
¹ Naace is the professional association for those who are concerned with advancing education through the appropriate use of information and communications technology (ICT). http://www.naace.co.uk/106
About Civica
Civica (www.civica.co.uk) is a market leader in specialist systems and business process services that help organisations to transform the way they work. Through experienced people who understand service delivery, the Group applies software, managed services and outsourcing to help customers streamline their activities. Civica supplies more than 2,000 organisations in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Canada and the USA, helping our customers to achieve a successful and more cost-efficient way of working.
About Civica’s education division
Civica’s education division works in close partnership with a range of education institutions to develop learning outcomes based on new technologies that become available as a way to inspire, encourage creativity and increase efficiency in learning. The division’s E-Learning service enables schools to maximise the investment they have made in technology to date such as using technology, software and their support staff effectively to ensure that future purchases are strategically made and implemented.
Press contacts
Mark Walker/Lucy Houghton/Paul Crouch, Chameleon PR
civica@chameleonpr.com
+44 (0) 20 7680 5500
