LGfL branches out across the UK

The London Grid for Learning (LGfL) Trust was incorporated and registered as a charity with educational objects in 2001. Since then it has been serving schools and local authorities as a specialist agent to procure and supply best-value leased-line broadband and associated services and content.
    
In 2011, following ten years during which central government had strategically directed grant through LAs for the pupose of ensuring all schools have a sustainable broadband connection, the Trust launched LGfL 2.0, contracted directly to schools to reflect changed circumstances. LGfL 2.0 is designed to meet the needs of schools in the modern digital age.
    
Instead of schools having to make piecemeal arrangements for connectivity, filtering, security, authentication and hosting, LGfL developed, and continues to develop, a comprehensive service-offer, specifically tailored to the school in question. LGfL 2.0 serves a community of 2,500 schools and helps to make substancial economies of scale and savings.

A nationwide launch
LGfL Trust has launched TRUSTnet, a comprehensive new package comprising discounted broadband, ICT services and digital curriculum content. Previously only available to a 2,500-strong consortium of London schools, the new service is now available nationwide, so that all UK schools will be able to benefit from the bulk buying of internet connectivity, helping to save thousands of pounds every year.

A host of handy tools
As well as broadband, TRUSTnet comes with a comprehensive array of associated services, including Internet filtering, secure filtered emails for pupils and staff, Sophos antivirus software, video conferencing, cloud based storage and access to a vast collection of premium learning resources. TRUSTnet aims to provide a cost-effective remdy for the 42 per cent of UK state primary schools 31 per cent of UK state secondary schools who are under-resourced in broadband provision. This in turn will help the pupils in more than half of all UK state schools who currently have poor access to ICT.

Brian Durrant, chief executive at LGfL, commented: “We are very excited to be able to provide the same exceptional service and value for money that we currently offer schools in the capital region. As technology becomes more and more important to learning, we feel it essential that each school has the ICT infrastructure and the wide range of digital resources it needs for its pupils to succeed.”

Curriculum Central
Curriculum Central is the new resource-discovery service for all teachers in TRUSTnet-connected schools. The aim of the tool is to efficiently and effectively help teachers understand which learning resources support which elements of the revised National Curriculum. In a matter of a few clicks to select Key Stage, subject area and an individual strand of the programme of study, the simple interface provides a filtered list of relevant links to TRUSTnet resources which support the teaching of any particular element.
    
This new service development has been designed with two specific goals in mind. Firstly, to help teachers deliver the revised National Curriculum and, secondly, to appreciate the range and depth of learning resources available as part of their TRUSTnet subscription. Historically, not all teachers have appreciated the depth of curriculum coverage within particular resources available from TRUSTnet, and this new approach offers ‘deep links’ inside many resources to support a wide range of curriculum areas.

Curriculum Central offers a modern, efficient interface to help teachers navigate the revised National Curriculum with ease and speed. Within seconds, teachers can appreciate which resource will help them deliver the National Curriculum, and access it with a single click. However, Curriculum Central is likely to become an invaluable tool for teachers who are planning specifically against curriculum aims.

Curriculum Central aims to help teachers in understand how TRUSTnet learning resources can support the delivery of the revised National Curriculum in schools with a TRUSTnet subscription. It does not attempt to include resources that can be accessed outside of the TRUSTnet service to schools. Where possible, ‘deep links’ have been used to take the teacher inside a resource to a section that will support a particular strand of the curriculum.

Further Information
www.trustnet.pro