Learning Schools Programme

RM PLC
26 April 2001


RM plc - over 25% of UK teachers now signed up to the OU/RM Learning Schools
                                  Programme

RM plc (RM), the leading provider of information and communications
technology to UK schools, has now signed up over one quarter of the UK's
teachers to the Learning Schools Programme (LSP) ICT training service.  LSP,
which is a venture in partnership with the Open University (OU), is an
approved training course provided through the government's £230 million
Lottery funded ICT teacher training initiative.

The lottery funded teacher training initiative is a key part of government
educational ICT policy and is intended to drive forward the use of
technology in schools.  RM and the OU expect the initiative to have a
significant effect on embedding the use of technology into the everyday
classroom practice of the UK's 450,000 teachers.

More than 125,000 teachers have registered to receive training under the
Learning Schools Programme and 84,000 have started (or already completed)
training.  LSP services are being delivered to schools in over 90% of local
education authorities in the UK. Teacher response to LSP has been extremely
positive, with over 85% of schools completing their training report stating
that the Programme has increased teachers' confidence in their use of ICT
and encouraged them to extend their use of ICT in the classroom.

Richard Girling, Chief Executive of RM plc commented: 'The lottery funded
training initiative demonstrates the government's strong and far-sighted
commitment to educational ICT.  Working with the Open University, RM set out
to provide excellent training materials and a highly effective training
operation.  Response from schools to the Learning Schools Programme suggests
that we've succeeded.

'We are confident that ICT can play an even bigger role in improving
standards in the UK's schools.  The Lottery-funded training initiative is a
major driver of change in the UK education system and will result in a step
change in ICT usage in the UK's classrooms.

'LSP also points the way to new methods of delivering continuing
professional development for educators.  We've shown that ICT is an ideal
medium for engaging busy teachers - the online conference that all LSP
delegates use is now one of the busiest online teacher forums in the UK.'


For more information please contact:
Mike Greig/Phil Hemmings, RM plc, 01235 826000

Andrew Fenwick/Deborah Done, Brunswick, 020 7404 5959

Notes to editors:

  1. The £230 million Lottery-funded training initiative is being managed by
     the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) and is intended to provide training in  
     the curricular use of ICT for all teachers in the UK.  Schools are able  
     to purchase training from a range of suppliers accredited by NOF. Schools
     must register with an approved provider before April 2002 and complete 
     training before April 2003.
  2. Not all teachers in the UK have yet registered with a NOF-approved
     training provider.  RM is continuing to sign up teachers for LSP and  
     estimates that its current market share is in excess of 30%.
  3. LSP is delivered using a school-based, supported self-study model
     including the delivery of the training material and advisory support
     electronically over the web.  A key element of LSP is a moderated online
     conference, which allows teachers to engage in dialogue with their peers 
     about the use of ICT in the classroom.  The LSP conference has proved
     particularly successful in building a large network of ICT-enthusiastic 
     teachers.
  4. RM and the Open University are monitoring and researching the experiences
     of teachers undertaking LSP.  An interim report detailing these findings 
     will be available shortly.