Datapact goes back to school

HP Centre of Excellence expands product and services programme

Datapact, a Hewlett-Packard Centre of Excellence, is expanding its product and services programme to provide IT for primary schools.

This follows the success of a pilot scheme involving 20 London schools that has been running for a year.

"We are expanding the services we provide and looking for customers outside London, after the pilot scheme went so well," said Ben Parker, education manager at Datapact. "We are now offering a fuller managed services offering and have adjusted the terms of the contract."

Datapact has employed an education expert to advise teachers on getting the best out of IT. A shortage of IT knowledge and a high workload means extra support is required in primary schools, Parker said.

Roland Westlake, managing director of VAR Links Education, said local, expert support is essential for primary schools.

But he warned: "You must have the expertise to understand the education sector as well as IT to sell into this market."