BRISTOL, England, September 6 /PRNewswire/ --

Introduction

Northgate is proud to be providing ICT managed services to Bristol City
Council. As part of the Government's Building Schools for the Future
Programme, we are delighted to be working with four schools in the area:
Bristol Brunel Academy, Brislington Enterprise College, Whitefield Fishponds
Community School, and Hartcliffe Education Campus.

At the heart of the schools' infrastructure will be Northgate Education's
innovative Managed Learning Environment (MLE), developed in collaboration
with Bristol City Council's Children and Young People's Services BSF Team, to
enable the transformation of teaching and learning in our schools.

The introduction of the MLE in schools across Bristol will provide a new
and exciting, media-rich, online environment where students, parents and
teachers have access to information and resources via the internet, whether
at school, at home or anywhere with web access.

- The MLE enables students to share information with each other, email in
their homework, submit and view timetables and tasks online. Instant
messenger technology allows them to work live with classmates on projects.

- Parents can now get actively involved in their children's education and
keep an eye on their development, all in a securely monitored environment to
ensure everyone stays safe from bullies, inappropriate websites and
strangers.

- The MLE brings together all the information teachers need into one
place. They won't have to log in to multiple programmes to find out what's
going on with a student.

Northgate Education's Managed Learning Environment

A unique and comprehensive solution

Northgate's fully integrated MLE has been designed with the assistance of
teachers and learners to provide a unique and comprehensive online
environment. The fully integrated environment embraces facilities management,
management information, cashless catering, e-registration and access to the
library and virtual learning environment, containing over 70 packages
available to students and pupils.

Web portal

The MLE has much in common with a website, giving learners a familiar
environment in which to learn. Students will be able to have access safely
and securely using their own personalised username and password.

Anywhere access

Students are able to access the MLE from school, home or anywhere else 
where they have access to the internet. And access is not limited to 
computers - the MLE can be accessed via games consoles, and even mobile 
phones. All they need is a Web Browser.

Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)

The Virtual Learning Environment provided by Fronter, brings together 
online resources and supports personalised learning and collaboration with 
other students. The VLE includes a personal work portfolio which is the 
student's personal online space where their work, information on assessments 
and progress in their personal learning plan are held. The VLE also allows
collaboration between teachers, parents and the local community.

Resources and applications

The MLE gives access to an array of new applications and resources which 
make learning fun, interactive and interesting.

Smart card

The smart card is literally the key to the school, allowing access to all
areas within the school building. The smart card is also used to
electronically register students for classes. Students are able to view all
the information on their attendance when they access the MLE. The smart card
is also used for cashless catering in the canteen - eliminating the need to
bring money to school each day - they can simply top up the card at leisure.
It is also used in the library.

Collaboration and communication

As well as sharing information with other students, the learner will be 
able to use email, submit homework and view timetables and outstanding tasks
online. They will have access to instant messenger technology,enabling them
to collaborate with friends in real time and work together remotely on
projects.

E-Safety

Everything is rigorously monitored to ensure that everyone stays safe 
from bullies, inappropriate websites and strangers.

Teacher Information Centre

The MLE brings together all information and data for teachers into one 
place - this means that there is no need to log in to multiple programs to 
find out what is occurring with a specific student. Teachers are also able to 
set up automatic alerts, enabling them, for example, to find out when certain 
events have occurred, such as a student missing a set number of days in a 
term.

Parents' Centre

Parents can now get actively involved in their children's education,
contribute views on their child's teaching and get more involved in decisions
the school makes. Information on school events, activities and specific
information provided by the child's teacher are all available in the Parents'
centre.

About Northgate Education

Northgate in Bristol

Northgate's contract with Bristol Local Education Partnership was the 
first integrated ICT contract to be awarded under the Building Schools for 
the Future programme. Under this programme Northgate is working to deliver:

- personalised learning - customising the traditional methods of learning
to provide an interactive environment, with students actively involved and
engaged in the direction of their education;

- improved access to ICT for all students, helping to narrow the digital
divide;

- anytime, anywhere learning - aimed at breaking down the barriers that
exist between schools and local communities and promoting lifelong learning;

- enhanced assessment - enabling teachers to respond more effectively to
individual learning needs and use teaching methods most appropriate to meet
those needs;

- rising attainment levels - embedding innovative ICT into the learning
process that can bring both enjoyment and attainment to students
traditionally 'turned off' by education;

- reduced bureaucracy - enabling teachers to focus on education rather
than paperwork.

Our approach

Northgate Education helps to build schools fit for the future by
providing sustainable information technology solutions today.

We work in partnership with the public and private sectors to create
innovative solutions - trusted services and leading edge software - to
address key issues facing our public services and business communities, and
to make a practical difference to people's lives.

Education is our number one concern. The UK has to meet the challenge of
competing in an increasingly competitive world. Our commercial success rests
on our ability to assist our communities in meeting the skills and technology
needs of the future. Our business imperative is to harness the power of
technology to promote educational excellence and lifelong opportunities for
all.

Our vision

Our vision is of teachers and learners empowered by technology, working
within managed learning-led environments that are fit for the twenty first
century. A vision where the learning and teaching experience is enhanced
through personalised learning; with learners and parents collaborating with
teachers, who manage the process throughout; and with the barriers between
education and the wider community removed.

Our practice

We pride ourselves on providing practical and affordable solutions that
place the needs of teachers and learners and parents first. We seek to embed
our ICT services into the teaching and learning experience of our users, to
transform the education process and enhance both attainment and assessment
through a managed learning environment.

The technology services we provide give children, young people and adult
learners the chance to acquire top class learning and ICT skills, whilst
offering teachers and lecturers the time and flexibility to focus on
improving the learning process through integrating learning delivery and
business operations, rather than falling victim to bureaucratic
administration.

What they say about us?

Jimmy Stewart, Director of C2k:

"Northgate has earned its reputation as leading specialists in the
education sector with a proven track record in the provision of large,
complex managed service projects to the public sector . . . We are confident
that our partnership with Northgate will set a new precedent for the delivery
of education and learning across the UK, and bring us significantly closer to
achieving all the objectives of the Education Department's emPowering Schools
Strategy."

Our key commitments

Northgate Education is committed to:

- transforming children and young people's achievement and well-being
through the excellent use of IT to support education;

- enhancing the skills and capacity of all teachers through using
technology to reduce bureaucracy and improve the business of education;

- developing education provision beyond the school through the support of
technology;

- encouraging multi-agency working through the intelligent use of
technology;

- supporting schools in drawing in parents as their child's co-educators,
engaging them and increasing their capacity to support their child's
learning.

Working in partnership
Northgate Education is committed to working in partnership with teachers and
local schools to deliver education solutions which practically engage with
local communities.

Northgate Education is the first private sector company engaged in
Building Schools for the Future to publish a community consultation
framework.

We will ensure open and honest communications during the transformation
of Bristol's schools, as Northgate is committed to:

- keeping people informed and hearing concerns about ICT in education;

- raising awareness of how ICT can transform the education process;

- ensuring that the needs of diverse communities are taken into account;

- supporting research on ICT in education and promoting public debate;

- working in partnership to deliver educational excellence.

Further information

    For further information about Northgate Education and the MLE contact:

    Kathy Sutton,
    Fellows' Associates
    +44(0)20-7849-3403(w);
    +44(0)7966-890401(m)

    Naomi Stevenson,
    Fellows' Associates
    +44(0)20-7849-3508(w);
    +44(0)7966-890403(m)