Civica empowers schools learning with new Civica CloudBase at BETT 2011

Innovative ICT options showcased as company continues to transform outcomes for 100,000 education users nationwide
London, January 7, 2011 Civica, a market leader in specialist systems and outsourcing services that help organisations improve service delivery and efficiency, is announcing new innovations in the way that ICT services are designed and provided for schools and academies, including the new Civica CloudBase learning environment and pay-as-you-go service options, on Future Learning Spaces Stand 2 at BETT. The company provides tailored education support services including modern ICT infrastructures, its market leading learning environments and specialist support to embed technology and 24/7 technical support in schools and academy programmes. It is already helping to transform learning outcomes for over 100,000 student and staff users nationwide with safer, more flexible and personalised software-based learning environments. At BETT, Civica will be previewing CloudBase to be launched in the UK in March. CloudBase is an online platform that enables schools, academies and colleges to create a more flexible environment for study, collaboration and assessment, while embedding the schools identity fluidly in all communications and learning applications - which many proprietary platforms have so far struggled to do. In particular, Civica CloudBase allows users to make flexible use of customisable Web 2.0 resources for learning in the way that smartphones users import online applications to revolutionise their business and entertainment options. Civica also provides safe and resilient storage, networking and applications that are accessed as services over secure networks. Schools, academies and colleges can consume cutting edge ICT applications as a service and pay only for the resource they actually use. Civica is also highlighting how their expert team of ICT e-learning consultants, who all have previous teaching experience, will work with schools, academies and colleges to make the most of Civica CloudBase and embed technologies to enhance teaching and learning. In addition, an expanded 24/7 technical support team is on hand to ensure everything works. The company can host all applications and technical back-up for entire campuses on its own secure network infrastructure. Lee Burley, managing director of Civicas education division, comments: Civica has established an integrated approach for schools and academies with a track record of large scale delivery. We are committed to helping schools achieve local priorities while adapting to new policy requirements, in particular through enabling technologies that inspire staff and students to achieve their potential. The new CloudBase platform is the latest innovation from Civica, enabling schools to benefit from highly flexible communication and learning underpinned by a resilient ICT foundation

with the assurance and efficiency benefits of cloud computing. In addition, CloudBase helps create a stronger, seamless identity for the school, academy or college adopting it. Civica is already designing, installing and embedding learning environments for schools across Britain, including: Barnsley, Essex, Luton, Sheffield and Wolverhampton. The programme at Sheffield City Council won Most Effective ICT Partnership at the BSF Awards in 2009. The companys work included personalised and flexible school and home-based learning environments for children with severe learning difficulties for the Talbot Specialist School. Civica has recently achieved status of approved supplier in the Department for Educations ICT Services Framework Agreement.

Note to editors: Civica will be demonstrating CloudBase and other learning resources in the Future Learning Spaces at the following times: Wednesday, January 12th at 10.30am Thursday, January 13th at 12.00 midday

About Civica Civica Group Limited (www.civica.co.uk) is a market leader in specialist systems and outsourcing services that help organisations to improve service delivery and efficiency, with specialist expertise in local government, pensions, social housing, education, healthcare, enforcement and other regulated markets. The group supplies more than 1,800 customers in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and the USA, including 94 per cent of the UKs local authorities. Press contacts For further information, please contact: Mark Walker/Lucy Houghton/Paul Crouch, Chameleon PR civica@chameleonpr.com +44 (0) 20 7680 5500