Monday 22 January 2007
The London Grid for Learning, the broadband consortium for London schools in its 33 member local authorities, has picked Fronter UK as its preferred learning platform supplier.
LGfL chief executive Briant Durrant (left) described the system as "a mature and highly functional learning platform which, with the specified overlay of full MIS integration, may be expected to contribute to a sea change of improvement in London schools, and contribute strategically to making the personalisation of learning a reality".
The Fronter system was selected after a selection process based on the Becta learning platform framework agreement (which includes Fronter). It will be supplied by a partnership of Fronter UK (the UK company representing Norwegian parent company Fronter AS) and LogicaCMG.
The LGfL has already supplied its schools with the Digital Brain virtual learning environment along with a selection of content, including Espresso and Pathé News, free of charge. Fronter is intended as a (paid for) upgrade so that schools can get a full learning platform within the terms of Becta's definition. This means that subscribing schools will get a system that can provide them with all the content currently on offer plus the communication and collaborative tools they need - with the extra links that will provide full pupil data (most London schools use Capitas SIMS system).
The impetus for the this procurement has come from the Government's Building Schools for the Future programme.
Fronter, which describes itself as an "open learning platform", originates from Scandinavia and is in use in 2,000 learning institutions across Europe.
Representative of all LGfL authorities will met for a presentation on January 25, and there will be an event for schools on March 29. Pilot schools are expected to be up and running from Easter and the LGfL hopes to be ready to offer the services to schools and BSF schools from September.
For press coverage of Fronter's use at Crossways Academy in Lewisham, London, visit:
http://education.guardian.co.uk/elearning/story/0,10577,1387167,00.html
More information, along with a free trial of the service, available from:
www.fronter.com
