[Advisory] RE: [Secondary] Re-evaluating Becta in a time of budgetary restraint
Gary Clawson
gary.clawson@nwlg.org
Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:28:17 -0000
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I think that rather than think about what would we miss from BECTA, a more
important question would be what could BECTA do differently under new
circumstances of reduced funding, not simply to justify their own existence,
but to assist the many LAs and schools in the financial challenges that they
face.
I wouldn't miss their work on ICT Mark and Single Review framework as these
will continue without BECTA at the level that schools want to adopt them. As
for research papers it is unlikely a ?50M per year organisation will be
retained just to produce these (that's nearly ?2.5K per school by the way).
This leaves us with procurement frameworks which BECTA claim to save ?250M,
a 500% return. But of course money is saved by the efforts of Regional
Broadband Consortia and Local Authorities with the actual development of the
frameworks only part of the process. These frameworks would be missed but
less so with procurement reducing as financial constraints kick in.
So BECTAs past activities don't secure its future any more than the past
activities of any of us mean that we have a useful role in the future. Some
of their activities are devalued through the time they have run, the impact
that they have and, more importantly, the changes due in finances that we
all have to deal with.
That does not mean that BECTA do not have a very useful future role but like
all of us they need to focus on reducing the cost of ICT through methods
that do not depend on procurement but on helping to reduce current
expenditure. The successful and widespread adoption of Open Source could be
led by BECTA if only they would bite the bullet of perceived resistance from
the commercial sector. The sharing and exploitation of infrastructure across
Local Authorities and even across other sectors could be another which in
turn would mean greater standardisation and reduced costs. This needs more
than just putting procurement frameworks in place.
There are undoubtedly many people in BECTA with great knowledge, expertise
and commitment and I empathise with what they must be feeling right now -
but I question the focus they have and the direction they work in if they
don't evolve what they do, and quickly. Parts of a single community come
together to support each other when they are working together on a common
agenda - BECTA need to change with the times to survive the times, as we all
have to do.
http://agent4change.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=443:bec
ta-saves-more-than-it-costs-stephen-crowne&catid=91:government-strategy&Item
id=461
http://agent4change.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=476:why
-ict-budget-cuts-can-be-a-good-thing&catid=94:platform&Itemid=464
Kind Regards
Gary Clawson
Chief Executive
North West Learning Grid
eGovernment National Awards 2006
Excellence in Education - Winner
-----Original Message-----
From: secondary-admin@talk.naace.org
[mailto:secondary-admin@talk.naace.org]On Behalf Of Mike Bostock
Sent: Wednesday, December 16, 2009 2:58 PM
To: advisory@talk.naace.org
Cc: secondary@talk.naace.org
Subject: [Secondary] Re-evaluating Becta in a time of budgetary restraint
Dear Colleagues
With the pressures on education budgets and Quangos a clear target for
cuts, I am hoping that those areas of Becta's work that Naace members most
value could find support through a strong voice from this association. An
obvious question is 'If there were to be cuts to Becta's work what things
would members miss the most?'
For me, it would be their research publications and any kind of activity
that encouraged teachers to get involved with professional development. I
would put high on my list initiatives that enhanced Naace members' ability
to get more involved with school developments - the commissions that we have
seen from time to time. I had experience of the Future Learning and ICT
Knowledge Base work which drew from the expertise of nearly 100 members, and
this example would fit my template perfectly.
I would also include the ICT Mark as something that can be tracked into
positive change in many schools.
My chief criteria seems to be 'impact' and 'involvement'.
But I know too that there is an enormous amount of activity in the field
of regulation and responding to government, but I am affected much less by
that. And there will be other stuff that I possibly should know about but
don't. Others will no doubt make a case for the value of such things.
So. A couple of questions:
1. What would Naace members wish to see retained in any revision of
the work of Becta?
2. What criteria would members use in judging those areas of Becta's
work that is of the greatest value for them?
Mike Bostock
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<DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D062315715-16122009><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D062315715-16122009><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2>I think that rather than think about what would we miss =
from BECTA,=20
a more important question would be what could BECTA do differently under =
new=20
circumstances of reduced funding, not simply to justify their own =
existence, but=20
to assist the many LAs and schools in the financial challenges that they =
face.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D062315715-16122009><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D062315715-16122009><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2>I=20
wouldn't miss their work on ICT Mark and Single Review framework as =
these will=20
continue without BECTA at the level that schools want to adopt =
them. As for=20
research papers it is unlikely a £50M per year organisation will =
be retained=20
just to produce these (that's nearly £2.5K per school by the way). =
This leaves=20
us with procurement frameworks which BECTA claim to save £250M, a =
500% return.=20
But of course money is saved by the efforts of Regional Broadband =
Consortia and=20
Local Authorities with the actual development of the frameworks only =
part of the=20
process. These frameworks would be missed but less so with procurement =
reducing=20
as financial constraints kick in.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D062315715-16122009><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D062315715-16122009><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2>So=20
BECTA<SPAN class=3D031492110-18122009>s</SPAN> past activities don't =
secure its=20
future any more than the past activities of any of us mean that we =
have a=20
useful role in the future. Some of their activities are devalued =
through=20
the time they have run, the impact that they have and, more importantly, =
the=20
changes due in finances that we all have to deal =
with.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D062315715-16122009><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D062315715-16122009><FONT face=3DArial><FONT =
color=3D#0000ff><FONT=20
size=3D2>That does not mean that BECTA do not have a very useful future =
role but=20
like all of us they need to focus on reducing the cost of ICT through =
methods=20
that do not depend on <SPAN =
class=3D031492110-18122009>procurement</SPAN> but=20
on helping to reduce <SPAN class=3D031492110-18122009>current=20
</SPAN>expenditure<SPAN class=3D031492110-18122009>.</SPAN> The =
successful and=20
widespread adoption of Open Source could be led by BECTA if only they =
would bite=20
the bullet of perceived resistance from the commercial sector. The =
sharing and=20
exploitation of infrastructure across Local Authorities and even across =
other=20
sectors could be another which in turn would mean greater =
standardisation=20
and reduced costs. <SPAN class=3D031492110-18122009>This needs more =
than just=20
putting procurement frameworks in=20
place.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial><FONT color=3D#0000ff><FONT size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D062315715-16122009></SPAN><SPAN=20
class=3D062315715-16122009></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D062315715-16122009><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2>There=20
are undoubtedly many people in BECTA with great knowledge, expertise and =
commitment <SPAN class=3D031492110-18122009>and I empathise with =
what they=20
must be feeling right now - </SPAN>but I question the focus they have =
and the=20
direction they work in if they don't evolve what they do<SPAN=20
class=3D031492110-18122009>, and quickly</SPAN>. Parts of a single =
community come=20
together to support each other when they are working together on =
a common=20
agenda - BECTA need to change with the times to survive the times, =
as we=20
all have to do. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D062315715-16122009><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D062315715-16122009><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2><A=20
href=3D"http://agent4change.net/index.php?option=3Dcom_content&view=3D=
article&id=3D443:becta-saves-more-than-it-costs-stephen-crowne&ca=
tid=3D91:government-strategy&Itemid=3D461">http://agent4change.net/in=
dex.php?option=3Dcom_content&view=3Darticle&id=3D443:becta-saves-=
more-than-it-costs-stephen-crowne&catid=3D91:government-strategy&=
Itemid=3D461</A></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D062315715-16122009><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D062315715-16122009><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2><A=20
href=3D"http://agent4change.net/index.php?option=3Dcom_content&view=3D=
article&id=3D476:why-ict-budget-cuts-can-be-a-good-thing&catid=3D=
94:platform&Itemid=3D464">http://agent4change.net/index.php?option=3D=
com_content&view=3Darticle&id=3D476:why-ict-budget-cuts-can-be-a-=
good-thing&catid=3D94:platform&Itemid=3D464</A></FONT></SPAN></DI=
V>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D062315715-16122009><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D062315715-16122009><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #993300; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; =
mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">Kind=20
Regards<o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV></DIV>
<DIV class=3DSection1>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #993300; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; =
mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">Gary=20
Clawson<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">Chief=20
Executive<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">North=20
West Learning Grid<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"><A=20
href=3D"http://www.publictechnology.net/modules.php?op=3Dmodload&name=
=3DNews&file=3Darticle&sid=3D7437"></A>eGovernment=20
National Awards 2006</SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoAutoSig style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: =
12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"></SPAN><SPAN=20
lang=3DEN-GB=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: red; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; =
mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">Excellence=20
in Education - Winner </SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New =
Roman'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: red; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: =
11.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: red; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: =
11.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV class=3DOutlookMessageHeader dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><FONT =
face=3DTahoma=20
size=3D2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>=20
secondary-admin@talk.naace.org =
[mailto:secondary-admin@talk.naace.org]<B>On=20
Behalf Of </B>Mike Bostock<BR><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, December 16, =
2009 2:58=20
PM<BR><B>To:</B> advisory@talk.naace.org<BR><B>Cc:</B>=20
secondary@talk.naace.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> [Secondary] Re-evaluating =
Becta in=20
a time of budgetary restraint<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=3DSection1>
<P class=3DMsoNormal>Dear Colleagues<BR><BR>With the pressures on =
education=20
budgets and Quangos a clear target for cuts, I am hoping that those =
areas of=20
Becta's work that Naace members most value could find support through =
a strong=20
voice from this association. An obvious question is 'If there were to =
be cuts=20
to Becta's work what things would members miss the =
most?'<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal>For me, it would be their research publications =
and any=20
kind of activity that encouraged teachers to get involved with =
professional=20
development. I would put high on my list initiatives that enhanced =
Naace=20
members' ability to get more involved with school developments - the=20
commissions that we have seen from time to time. I had experience of =
the =20
Future Learning and ICT Knowledge Base work which drew from the =
expertise of=20
nearly 100 members, and this example would fit my template=20
perfectly.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal>I would also include the ICT Mark as something =
that can be=20
tracked into positive change in many schools. <BR>My chief criteria =
seems to=20
be 'impact' and 'involvement'.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal>But I know too that there is an enormous =
amount of=20
activity in the field of regulation and responding to government, but =
I am=20
affected much less by that. And there will be other stuff that I =
possibly=20
should know about but don't. Others will no doubt make a case for the =
value of=20
such things.<BR><BR><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal>So. A couple of questions:<BR><BR><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoListParagraph=20
style=3D"TEXT-INDENT: -18pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><![if =
!supportLists]><I><SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-list: Ignore">1.<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT: 7pt 'Times New =
Roman'"> =20
</SPAN></SPAN></I><![endif]><I>What would Naace members wish to see =
retained=20
in any revision of the work of Becta?<o:p></o:p></I></P>
<P class=3DMsoListParagraph=20
style=3D"TEXT-INDENT: -18pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><![if =
!supportLists]><I><SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-list: Ignore">2.<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT: 7pt 'Times New =
Roman'"> =20
</SPAN></SPAN></I><![endif]><I>What criteria would members use in =
judging=20
those areas of Becta's work that is of the greatest value for=20
them?<o:p></o:p></I></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal>Mike Bostock<o:p></o:p></P>
<P =
class=3DMsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>
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