Our aims and intentions.
Building on the successful procurement that took place during 2009/10 for the managed service contract, we will effectively manage and ensure that the new service is delivered, ensuring safety and security at all times and that our objectives of providing greater choice, flexibility and value for money are achieved with a high degree of customer satisfaction. The enhanced use of broadband and the use of rich multimedia resources by schools to deliver transformational learning will require increasing bandwidth and reliability of the SWGfL infrastructure.
We will work to continually develop, inform and promote good practice and provide the necessary expert advice and practical support to our members and schools in order to ensure the safe and effective application of technologies for the benefit of learners across the region.
An effective communication strategy will be key to promoting and raising awareness of the benefits and work of SWGfL together with regional and national opportunities for member LAs and schools. An emphasis on how to exploit technology to enhance learning and teaching has always been central to SWGfL and the development of its services. Thus we will invest appropriate resources to the achievement of this aim which in turn will assist with building a more sustainable future for SWGfL.
Effective and efficient contract management will be a key aspect of ongoing work. The management of two multi- million pound contracts and many smaller value contracts underpinned by world class procurement processes that ensure the combined purchasing power of the members is maximised in the purchase of services defined by our user community will be an ongoing priority.
Our annual ICT and E-Safety conferences have an outstanding reputation for innovative themes and quality content and delivery that help to inform the user community and policy makers alike. We will continue to offer similar events enhanced by targeted services such as Framework for ICT Support (FITS) courses which will develop the technical and professional skills base across schools in the South West
It is recognised at national level that SWGfL delivers a range of technologies and advisory services across the region in partnership with member Local Authorities to its schools and supports the national vision for a joined up approach to broadband. Using our expertise and knowledge to influence, inform and develop National Standards, Government and Industry policy through the National Education Network, national forums and research will be an important aspect of our work. Supporting our members’ BSF programmes will also be a priority.
Our membership of UKCCIS will help set the agenda in the area of E-Safety and in partnership with Childnet and IWF we will be recognised as one of the leading experts on E-Safety both nationally and internationally through the delivery of the UK Safer Internet Centre due for rollout in 2011. SWGfL will be informing national strategies and translating these for regional and local purpose to ensure that schools, staff, parents and most importantly, children, are safer when online.
Our ongoing development and roll out of SWGfL Merlin and our membership of SIFA and UKAMF will keep us at the forefront of developing secure frameworks of interoperability for learning technologies utilising national standards such as SIF and Shibboleth and promoting E-Learning and teaching in a safe and secure environment
In order to achieve our aims we will require a robust
organisational infrastructure. We will seek to grow our
business through the development of new products, services and markets including the emerging opportunity of Public Service Network provision across the South West. We will invest in our people, our business and our processes to ensure we are recognised as a professional organisation that is efficient and sustainable in the long term and which
delivers on its purpose which is to enable and enhance positive outcomes for learners through the advancement and use of technology in the South West Region.