Transforming
education

A key component in the BSF programme is the inclusion of Information Communication and Technology (ICT), provided for the Skanska consortium by Northgate Managed Services, which has a five-year contract.

The contract takes advantage of an unprecedented government investment of £1,450 per pupil for ICT and is enabling the creation of a platform that consists of:

• ICT infrastructure including wireless and wired networks
• Internet access devices for students, tools such as interactive whiteboards for teachers
• Web services across the whole schools estate.

Bristol Brunel Academy Principal Armando Di-Finizio explains his goals for the school’s ICT capabilities: “We’re creating a system where teachers can allow students to work independently in learning spaces. That’s what we want to be about. We’re not just going to raise results – we want to create learners who are flexible in the wider world, and the only way to do that is to give them freedom.”

For Skanska and its consortium partners, including ICT in the contract has made a huge difference to the design of the building as well as to how the whole team operates. Skanska ID’s Development Manager for ICT, Neill Davies, says: “Being involved in ICT ultimately leads us into the classroom, which involves us in very different relationships and a very different role in teaching and learning than a development or building firm would normally expect to have. Overall it’s giving us a much deeper experience of education.

Neill adds: “Naturally, there are also building design features that support the ICT, and we’ve created a mix of rooms that will support pervasive use of ICT. Some may need mechanical venting, however many of the spaces are designed supporting Skanska’s commitment to natural ventilation.

“Our ICT partner has contributed to the design of the layout, furniture for the building and to how the space is used. For example, we’re moving away from a classroom which has 30 students and one teacher, to a more flexible and adaptable approach that allows for one-to-one, group based or seminar based teaching and learning.

“Lastly an integrated approach to smart cards provides for access control into and through the building, cashless catering where the pupils use ‘smart cards’ charged with money to pay for meals and printing where printing is only activated by use of a smart card."