Liason with Local Authorities

The partnership has already opened a debate with the two key target Local Authorities and both have representation on the steering group. The partnership wishes to stress the weight and importance of the Local Authorities' roles in terms of steering, monitoring and quality assurance. The local steer in terms of schools' priorities will enable the partnership to deliver a relevant programme, monitoring by the Authorities through the steering group will ensure focus and purpose to the programme, and the quality assurance role will ensure a direct and auditable link between delivery and the customers of delivery.

It is intended that training will be closely related to the roll-out of the National Grid for Learning and the partnership is discussing the best way of achieving this. It is likely that one third of all primary schools in both Local Authorities will be ready to commence training in 1999-2000 with designated secondary departments concentrating on literacy and numeracy in the first year. However, there is a need to consult with individual schools to accommodate their own ICT development plans which have been formulated in consultation with the Local Authority.

The Local Authorities will be invited to play a major role in the monitoring of quality and to ensure that training is appropriate to their educational strategic plans, thus providing integration as described in the first paragraph above.

Liason with External QA Agencies