New LGfL Email

The London Grid for Learning will be providing a new email service from this Autumn. The new system will use Microsoft Outlook and the attached flyer provides further details of the functionality and services provided.

This new email system will replace the existing LGfL email services and further information will be provided so that school's email accounts can be migrated to the new service.

Please note that dates of birth are required for members of staff. The CEO of the LGfL explains why, "Unlike names (where there are frequent duplications and similarities) Date of Birth is an item of discrete and unambiguous personal data (for almost everyone, the Queen excepted) which when combined with name and other fields provides a much higher confidence level and reinforces security and data integrity.

It also provides a clear additional distinction between data sets for staff and pupils.

I can appreciate some teachers being initially a little coy, but if they understand that (a) the information is held securely and (b) the purposes (see above) for which the data is required, (c) the advantage to themselves of their identity being safely distinct from anyone else's, then hopefully they will have sufficient appreciation of the importance of data security to be able to supply the appropriate information.

Banks routinely require DoB, and use this for security validation amongst other purposes, the requirement by LGfL systems to provide this data reflects a similar level of commitment to data security.

Absence of this key data field undermines the work of those who are responsible for assembling and successfully managing large and complex data sets and necessarily comprises the quality of service which can be provided."


In the meantime, if you have any questions please contact Richard Charlton

View the flyer > >

On-line Reference Works for Free

Every Londoner, old or young, may access a range of useful on-line reference works for free via their Local Authority Library website.

These sites often include the Encyclopaedia Britannica (Adult and Junior versions), Oxford Reference, Oxford Dictionary, Grove Art & Music and many more.

You will need the number on the back of your library card to access the resources (if you haven't got one, join your local library now!).

To get to the resources, please follow the link below. Great for help with homework!

Go to the Resources > >

The Olive Centre on Teachers' TV

On Wednesday 30th July Teachers' TV will be screening a programme about a group of newly arrived year 10 students from the Olive Centre, who have taken part in a year long multimedia course at Lambeth City Learning Centre. The programme was referred to by Robin Richardson at last week's EMAT conference.

Watch the programme > >

Spring 2009 MLE Order

Schools Minister Jim Knight announced in January that from September 2008 all maintained schools will be expected to start the move towards online reporting. Secondary schools are expected to be providing parents with online reports by September 2010 and primary schools are expected to do so by September 2012.

A letter introducing Becta's introductory pack has been sent to all maintained schools. The pack provides more information about the resources and advice available on the Becta website to help schools implement the expectation.

In order to meet the targets, schools will need to implement and make effective use of an MLE. The London Grid for Learning has tendered for provision of an MLE and has contracted Fronter to provide the London MLE. Currently 6 primary schools in Lambeth are piloting the MLE while an additional 6 schools are trying an alternative product from Digital Brain who provides the current Learning Platform. Secondary schools and secondary phase special schools provision will come from the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.

Funding to assist schools will be available from the Harnessing Technology grant which is managed by CYPS Standards division and from the BSF programme. Training and additional support will also be provided.

Schools wishing to adopt the London MLE in the Spring Term of 2009 should complete the form following the link below. For details of pricing, please visit the London MLE website. The closing date for phase 2 is the 5th December 2008.

Complete the order form > >

Digital Brain & LGfL Migration Strategy

Migration strategy document from the LGfL from the Digital Brain Learning Platform to the London Managed Learning Environment (MLE) by 2010.

View the strategy > >