ramsac advises schools to think twice before redeeming their Tesco ‘Computers For Schools’ vouchers

ramsac, the Surrey-based IT consultancy, is offering its experience of working with ICT departments to assist the 86% of UK schools signed up to the 2007 Tesco Computers For Schools scheme to maximise the investment from their vouchers. The 2007 scheme closed on 14th May and schools have until 7th July 2007 to redeem their vouchers and order equipment.

According to TeacherNet (a website run by the Communications Unit of the Department for Education and Skills) a typical secondary school will have on average 275 computers and 99% will have a network and Internet/broadband access, making a schools IT infrastructure akin to SME businesses. “Knowing what to specify, when to upgrade and what to replace are all major issues when purchasing IT equipment, regardless of whether you are in business or academia,” explains Robert May, the Managing Director of ramsac.

May adds, “There are schools which do benefit from experienced ICT (Information and Communication Technology) co-ordinators, however many do not and operate in a ‘break-fix’ manner, rather than taking a longer-term strategic approach to improving their ICT services. The Tesco scheme forms a valuable part of a schools IT budget, and for this reason we are advising them to use the next few months to implement or review their IT plans, to ensure the vouchers are put to the best possible use.”

By providing outsourced IT consultancy services to both the business and education sectors ramsac is well placed to provide schools and colleges with expert guidance regarding the current state of their ICT infrastructure, their existing and future requirements and what hardware and software is needed (and when) to maximise the investment in this and future rounds of vouchers.

Director of Information and Communication Technology at King Edward’s School in Witley, Surrey, Brian Turner comments on working with ramsac, “They were able to offer the school certain experience and knowledge that we lacked. ramsac has provided us with solutions to many of our IT issues, from technological development, business continuity planning, server failure and technology up-grades to recruiting the right member of staff to manage the day-to-day duties in our ICT department.“

Since its inception in 1992 Tesco has given away £100million worth of IT equipment and the 2006 scheme provided schools with over 2500 computers and more than 127,800 items of school equipment. The 2007 scheme closed on 14th May and schools will need to order equipment by 7th July 2007 in order to take delivery in the autumn term.