Why partner with Leverstock?

Finance

The government recognises that ICT is essential in improving the teaching and learning environment for pupils of all ages and abilities. Their aim is to allow schools greater flexibility to determine their own ICT spending according to their local priorities.

Below are some of the methods available for financing your ICT facilities:-

Government funding

Devolved Formula Capital

• Charles Clarke announced earlier this year that from 2004-05, schools will have the flexibility to use their devolved formula capital (DFC) to purchase ICT equipment.
• A typical primary school will receive approximately £24,750 DFC funding in 2004-05 and a typical secondary school will receive approximately £84,750.
• In addition DFC can be rolled forward for up to 3 years to enable larger projects to be planned.
  

Standards Fund 31a

This embraces:

• ICT infrastructure purchases.
• The Hands on Support programme, which provides funds for helping classroom teachers to get to grips with ICT in their subject.
  

Electronic Learning Credits (eLCs)

• For the purchase of software that is specifically targeted to support the teaching of the curriculum.
• Credits must be used by August each year.
  

Public Finance Initiatives

Where the government, in partnership with the private sector, sponsors projects. These include:

• The Specialist Schools Programme.
  Allowing secondary schools to raise standards in their particular specialism.
  These projects require schools to raise £50,000, which is then matched by the government.
  This programme will be phased out from 2005-06.
• Building Schools for the Future programme. Which aims to replace or renew all secondary schools over 10 to 15 years from 2005-06, with Primary schools benefiting too. Schools will be able to use PFI credits to fund these projects.
• Both programmes encourage the inclusion of ICT facilities.

Independent/State School Partnerships (ISSP) Or Building Bridges

• Encourages collaborative working between independent and maintained schools.
• Successful partnership bids have included the use of ICT in teaching and learning.
• 46 partnerships were awarded funding in 2004. Grants will total £858,000 in 2004-05; and £541,000 in 2005-06.
  

Special Educational Needs Funding

• Special Educational Needs Standard Fund
  Supports schools by removing any barriers which prevent SEN children achieving their full potential. In 2004-05 it will end with the allocation of funds being decided locally.
• The Communication Aids Project (CAP)
  This is designed to help pupils who have a significant difficulty in communicating with others. Where a pupil is eligible for CAP funding, it provides hardware and software plus training for the pupil and teaching staff.

Additional Grants include the following :

e-Learning Foundation

• The Foundation, a registered charity, aims to ensure that all children, irrespective of their background, can have access to ICT for learning, not just for a few hours a week in the classroom, but when and where they want.
• Schools are required to become charitable trusts before applying.
  

BT / The Guardian Schools Awards

• Providing £2,000 for up to 240 Citizenship and Communication projects.
• Bids involving ICT are successful as long as the technology actually enhances speaking and learning skills or citizenship.
  

Leasing

Leasing has become a popular method for funding all or part of the finance required. The advantages of leasing to schools include:

• It can spread the cost of ICT over its useful life. Typically 3 to 5 years.
• Leasing can be used for both tangible equipment - such as computers, monitors, whiteboards and printers - and for intangibles such as software, installation, cabling, maintenance and training.
• Schools do not have large cash reserves to draw upon. Instead, they tend to receive money on an incremental basis. Leasing allows equipment to be paid for on an incremental basis. It's simply a good match between income and spending patterns.
• Leased equipment is not an asset and therefore its depreciation does not appear in your accounts.
• The ability to upgrade your facilities as needs arise, by rescheduling your lease, without the requirement for a large capital outlay enabling you to stay current with technology.
• Leasing allows your school to have the most up-to-date ICT resources for today's pupils rather than saving up budgets over future years for tomorrow's pupils.

Leverstock in conjunction with Syscap can provide the most appropriate leasing solution for your school.