Becta's ICT Test Bed research

From Becta's web site 17July 2006:

ICT Test Bed FAQ's: Organisational details

How long is the project going to last?
The project is designed to last four years, September 2002 - August 2006.

How much funding is being put into the project?
An initial amount of £20 million is being made available for 2002 - 2003 financial year and £7 million for 2003 - 2004. These amounts include the project evaluation, central and local support. Further years' funding will be announced at a later date.

How is the project being managed?
Ultimate responsibility for the project rests with DfES Ministers. In line with the new remit Becta are now managing this project on behalf of the DfES, and responsibility for this lies with Becta's Board.

A Project Advisory Board meets regularly to advise the project, and membership includes DfES Civil Servants and external bodies experienced in schools ICT such as Becta, NAACE and NCSL. A project management team, recruited by Becta, is responsible for the day-to-day implementation of the project and they work closely with the LEA and the Test Bed institutions to ensure efficient running of the project. Each Cluster, each school and each college will develop a Test Bed plan outlining the details of how they will participate in the project and the specific benefits they expect to gain, and this will form the basis of their relationship to the project.

How is the project being evaluated?
The project has set up an Evaluation Steering Group consisting of people experienced in evaluating schools and ICT projects and a range of Government agencies. There has been an initial baseline evaluation conducted by Birmingham University. This is being followed by detailed studies over the next four years and possibly beyond by Manchester Metropolitan University.

How does the project fit into other Government initiatives?
Although the project has its own, distinct, objectives, it is designed to support the Government's wider agenda for school reform. It also complements the other initiatives being undertaken by the Department and other agencies. For example, it seeks to take full advantage of the lessons learnt from ICT initiatives such as the NGfL hardware investment programme and the NOF funded teacher training scheme as well as drawing on newer initiatives such as Curriculum Online to ensure provision of appropriate curriculum related software. It also builds on wider policy initiatives to raise standards and improve attendance and behaviour in schools and links to NLN/Post-16 initiatives such as UK online and learndirect.

How will the results of the project be disseminated?
Once results are available, they will be made available to interested parties in a number of different ways including via the web, papers and conferences. Links will be made from these pages on the Becta website.