IT sent back to school

Government seeks to simplify procurement process for schools

The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) has launched a second phase of accreditation for IT services suppliers to the education sector, to simplify the procurement process for schools.

The accreditation, awarded to suppliers of good-quality, low-priced services, will be run by the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency, the government's lead agency for IT in education.

There have been concerns that schools were struggling with the procurement and management of IT systems.

A representative for the DfES said: "The networks schools are procuring are complex to install and require skilled maintenance.

"They require updating as the underlying technologies change and as schools place further demands on their capability."

Jonathan Taylor, marketing manager at reseller Trustmarque Solutions, explained that the government wants to control IT costs, as technology represents a growing proportion of public sector budgets.

"It is trying to create a framework to ensure people aren't going to be ripped off and ensure they will be dealt with in an appropriate way," he said.