Education technology agency Becta has welcomed Microsoft’s Subscription Enrolment Schools Pilot (SESP) agreement for UK schools.

Initially only available through education large account resellers (EdLARs) the SESP pilot aims to provide schools with greater flexibility and choice when using a Microsoft subscription agreement.

The SESP licensing agreement removes the requirement that schools using subscription agreements have to pay Microsoft to license systems that are using a competitor’s technology.

Building on Microsoft's existing subscription licensing School Agreement, the SESP means for the first time schools using Microsoft’s subscription licensing agreements can make their own decisions about how much of their IT estate they wish to license.

Stephen Crowne, chief executive of Becta, said: “We welcome the launch of the licensing pilot. The new flexibility will facilitate greater competition and choice in the marketplace and provides schools who wish to use Microsoft software with improved opportunities to achieve greater value for money.

“It will also make it easier for such schools to use a mix of proprietary and open source products as they see fit. It will be important that schools and local authorities who wish to use Microsoft software now review their perpetual or subscription licensing options in the light of this new flexibility.”

Dr Nicola Hodson, senior director UK public sector at Microsoft, said: “We have been able to work with Becta over the last 12 months to develop a pilot of new licensing options for UK schools. The pilot provides expanded choices of subscription licences, which may benefit schools whether they currently buy Microsoft subscription or perpetual licences.

“UK schools are world leaders in harnessing technology for teaching and learning; this pilot will enable schools to customize their licensing to match the individual needs of their school.”