Project Amsterdam

Background of the Project
The curriculum managed services has been in our schools for the last four years. It has many of the facilities required for teaching and learning. One of the main further developments requested by schools is the ability to easily collaborate between schools allowing users to share good practice. We have carried out feasibility studies to find the most appropriate solution to facilitate this through a single point of entry.

Using portal technologies we are going to develop NPTLG NPT Learning Gateway. As an authority we are sure that this will enable schools to develop a culture of anytime anywhere learning.

The aim of project Amsterdam is to implement a learning platform that ties together the current facilities of the managed service system into one view accessible over the internet at school and at home.

Reasons for Commissioning the Project

• To further develop the current managed service system enabling easier anytime anywhere access.
• To enable teachers and learners to collaborate on projects and share materials within and beyond the traditional school boundaries.
• To facilitate, support and enable, through the use of ICT, some of the authorities other education priorities such as Self Evaluating Schools, the Learning Agenda, the Revised Curriculum for Wales, 14 – 19 Learning Pathways, the ICT Strategy for Schools, Inclusion and Community Learning.
• To provide the opportunity for schools to allow greater parental involvement in the learning process by providing them with real-time information showing how their children are progressing, their current learning tasks, assessments and access to relevant learning materials.

Benefits Expected to be Achieved by the Project
Some of the main benefits of NPTLG will depend largely on the schools to drive this forward. Project Amsterdam will deliver a platform which will include a range of facilities enabling schools to use the platform to support their aims and current priorities.

Initial benefits include:

• A single point of entry into educational and administrative information systems and services.
• A system that recognises the individual user, allowing them access to facilities they have permission to use.
• The provision of an agreed structure, methods of governance, and a core set of tools and an initial base set of facilities that will enable development and growth.
• The provision of facilities to enable users to collaborate on projects and share information.
• The provision of facilities to enable schools to engage parents more fully within the ongoing learning process.

Objectives of the Project

The project aims to:

• Raise awareness of the potential of the NPTLG to improve teaching and learning.
• Provide an internally-hosted learning platform (NPTLG) to all current users of the managed service system. This includes schools, libraries and ACL (Adult Community Learning).
• Incorporate the access to managed service facilities through NPTLG.
• Agree a structure of Governance that supports the development of the learning platform.
• Plan and deliver training for users of NPTLG.
• Enthuse and encourage use of NPTLG.

Outline Project Timetable
Final timescales for Project Amsterdam are to be discussed by the project board. The project will be initiated during September and will be split into three stages:

• Stage One
  • Formal project activities, creation of project control documents and project start.
  • Initial discussions of aims, facilities, design, user requirements, implementation, marketing, hardware and software platform.
  • Initial build and QA of the NPTLG design and approach.
  • Creation of information materials and initial presentations and discussions with users.

• Stage Two
  • Governance structure.
  • Presentations and discussions with users.
  • Conversion of current externally hosted system.
  • Initial targeted user training.
  • Publication of NPTLG launch.

• Stage Three
  • Implementation of SIMS web parts in Secondary Pilots.
  • Provision of facilities to enable schools to allow parental access.
  • Additional presentations and discussions with users.
  • Development of user requirements, tools and facilities.
  • QA of NPTLG advanced functions and facilities.
  • Launch of advanced facilities and functionality.
  • Roll-out of SIMS web parts in Secondary Schools.
  • Formal project closure.

Other Information

Project Board Members
In order to control the project we require a Primary and a Secondary school Headteacher to sit on the project board to undertake together with a representative from ACL to fulfill the role of Senior User. 

This role is responsible for ensuring that user needs are specified correctly and that the solution meets those needs.  If you are interested in becoming a member of the Project Board please contact Chris Jones.

Client Open Forums and Workshops
To ensure that the NPTLG has the functionality to support the development of teaching and learning that everyone wants BITC is going to hold a number of open forums/workshops with selected customer groups to discuss requirements and enhance awareness of the existence of and ways in which the NPTLG could be used.

It is important to remember that this is not an ICT initiative; it is a whole school teaching and learning tool. We will, with the support of EDIS, be actively involved in extending this across all areas of the curriculum, including all subjects and themes.

We would like the support of all Headteachers in enabling their staff to attend these events in order to ensure involvement and that all customer groups requirements are recorded. 

School staff that attend these events will be providing BITC with information that will enable the development of functionality and will ensure that the NPTLG is fit for purpose.

Finally, all staff that attend the events will be invited back later on in the year so that they can review the changes, developments and functionality available within the NPTLG to verify that the changes made have accurately reflected their requirements and are providing a facility that will be useful.

Dates and Client Groups for Events
Specific dates for the client group events and workshops have not yet finally been agreed. It is anticipated that that these events will take place before the end of the Autumn term. Once the dates are finalised they will be circulated to all Headteachers.

If you are interested in participating in these events please speak with your Headteacher to gain approval for attendance and then e-mail Chris Jones to register your interest. Chris will confirm your attendance a few weeks prior to the event.

Neath College
Neath College have been invited to be part of the Project Board, their involvement will enable the current and future development of the 14–19 year Learning Pathway.

Contact Details
If you require any further information please contact Chris Jones, Amsterdam Project Manager by emailing him at c.jones6@npt.gov.uk or by telephoning 01639 779507.