Re Contract

RM PLC
06 February 2008


                                                                6 February 2008

   South West Grid for Learning chooses RM-led consortium to deliver learning
                               platform services

RM has been appointed preferred bidder by the South West Grid for Learning 
(SWGfL) to deliver innovative network services which will provide the foundation
for a school's learning platform. The services will be delivered in partnership
with Netmedia Education. Initial term for the contract is five years, with an
option to extend for a further three years; value over the first three years is
£2.75m.

SWGfL provides broadband Internet and Web-delivered education services to 2,400
schools and over 1,000,000 educators and pupils for 15 Local Authorities in the
South West of England.

The solution will provide:

   • an integrated authentication platform, which allows secure access to
     Web-delivered services using a single set of security credentials;

   • a Schools Interoperability Framework (SIF) compliant data interchange
     service, which allows separate applications to exchange school data;

   • educational collaboration tools and an online 'learning space';

   • a virtual desktop which provides schools with an easy to navigate 'front
     end' to the complete range of services provided by SWGfL.

The solution will be built using open standards, such as SIF and Shibboleth,
which have been identified by Becta as the preferred approach for delivering
Web-delivered services in UK schools. The adoption of these standards makes it
straightforward for 3rd party service providers to offer their Web-delivered
products to SWGfL.

Commenting on the contract, Hilary Guckian, CEO of the SWGfL Trust, said:

'At a time when policy makers are increasingly looking to technology to provide
a link between home and school, we intend to provide the foundations for a
school's learning platform that allows secure access to Web-delivered education
services for all of our users. Working together, RM and Netmedia have provided
us with an innovative platform, which will be one of the first to embrace the
key open standards identified by Becta as essential.'

Tim Pearson, CEO of RM, said:

'The expectations schools and pupils have of Web technology are increasing all
the time, so it's important for SWGfL that the facilities they offer keep moving
forward. I'm delighted that SWGfL has chosen to work in partnership with RM and
Netmedia to deliver the next phase of their development. The solution that we're
developing together will clearly position SWGfL as a leading innovator in
education network and learning platform provision.'


For further information, please contact:
Mike Greig/Phil Hemmings, RM plc          08450 700300
Mark Antelme, Brunswick                   020 7404 5959


Notes to Editors:

1. Founded in 1973, the RM Group is a leading provider of educational
   products and services to schools, colleges and universities, local government
   and central government education departments and agencies. RM works closely 
   with educationalists to create new products, processes and technology which 
   improve teaching and learning. RM is listed on the main market of the London 
   Stock Exchange under the symbol RM.L

2. Netmedia Education is a leading provider of interoperability systems,
   Shibboleth sign-on systems, learning platforms, local authority portal
   solutions, e-democracy and CPD applications. Netmedia is part of the Espresso
   Group.

3. RM will provide a simplified sign-on service, a virtual desktop for
   schools based on Kaleidos Portal+, and is delivering hosting, integration,
   project management and a range of support services. Netmedia Education will
   provide SIF integration tools and expertise, MyFirstPlace as the virtual 
   desktop for early years users, and a range of integration and support 
   services.

4. SWGfL is one of ten regional broadband consortia (RBC) funded by the
   Department for Children Schools and Families to provide broadband and 
   Internet services to schools. It currently serves schools, other educational
   establishments and libraries in 15 Local Authorities in the south west of
   England.

5. Becta is a UK government agency. It leads the national drive to improve
   learning through technology, by working with industry and the education 
   service to ensure that the right technology is in place and that every 
   learner in the UK is able to benefit from it.


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange