Unity City Academy

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Unity City Academy

Fujitsu is providing a managed service under a fifteen-year contract that specifies key performance indicators and service level agreements. Under the terms of the contract, Fujitsu is responsible for identifying needs, providing technical support, managing refresh and developing innovation.

The Challenge

Unity City Academy is a new 11-16 college that replaces two schools in East Middlesbrough. It is situated in an area of socio-economic deprivation. According to European measures relating to unemployment - the number of people on benefit and single parent families in this area is one of the one lowest in the UK. Approximately 63% of students are entitled to free meals.

The new Academy is the result of a successful bid to transform local opportunities for learning through a public/private partnership under the academies programme administered by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES). Unity City Academy is a charitable trust. Members of the board of the Trust represent Amey plc, Middlesbrough Local Education Authority and various local and national businesses.

The two former schools were closed in August 2002 and Unity City Academy opened immediately. It began operating on the same two sites while work commenced on a new building to cater for 1200 students. Even though the new academy initially occupies the same buildings, it has a different approach: for example, it has introduced new uniform and new guidelines for students and parents. The focus is on standards, expectations and opportunity.

The academy identified IT as one of the fundamental tools for change. "IT helps to develop clarity of thinking and the ability to learn both by oneself and in collaboration with others" said Derek Griffiths, Strategic Leader. To mark this change, Unity Academy opened with 18 interactive whiteboards to demonstrate how technology can support learning.

Meanwhile, a complex building project was underway on the new site. An icon for the area, the whole of the structure is designed around flexible learning. It is full of audio-visual facilities, including 10 plasma screens. It has a state-of-the-art lecture theatre with surround sound and a digital recording studio. As Derek Griffiths explained: "We are not simply relocating. Our aim is to achieve a mind shift in a deprived community with low expectations and little value for traditional education. We want to engage withthe community in order to change ways of thinking. Our long term vision is to create independent young people who can make judgements about their future." The trust had a clear vision for learning. It needed to find a partner with practical IT expertise who could help to bring the vision to life.

The Solution

The Academy went to tender for a contract partnership. From a long list of 25 and a short list of five, Fujitsu was selected."Fujitsu became an obvious choice in the first round" said Derek Griffiths. "We did not want tick boxes and service level agreements, we were looking for a similar philosophy about learning environments.

It was clear that Fujitsu had realised that a single company could not provide what we required. Fujitsu came with partners and a clear understanding of the goals. That was impressive. We knew that everyone had thought through the potential challenges."

Fujitsu is providing a managed service under a fifteen-year contract that specifies key performance indicators and service level agreements. Under the terms of the contract, Fujitsu is responsible for identifying needs, providing technical support, managing refresh and developing innovation.

The new building has a ground floor and three upper floors, these leading from a large open area, which is the Learning Resource Centre. This area is dominated by a large pod-shaped structure, which is the lecture theatre. Every room has an interactive whiteboard and is a complete digital environment. There are nearly 2000 data points. Each floor has break-out spaces that are technologically rich. Learning rooms are available for collaborative learning sessions. Mobile laptop trolleys are available to each learning area to provide IT access to any learning situation. The school has a mix of desktops, laptops and tablets: 600 devices for 1200 students. There is lots of wireless technology; a key feature of flexible connectivity and access. All spaces are designed to be flexible, for use by students and the wider community, in and out of school hours. "We want to engage with the community in order to change ways of thinking. Our long term vision is to create independent young people who can make judgements about their future."

The Benefits

"Moving from a traditional school to a highly rich technological environment is a challenge for members of staff and students" reported Derek Griffiths. "Morale is good, but there is anxiety and apprehension. Working with Fujitsu is a positive move as they are supporting the change management process. The smooth delivery of technology and technical support will enhance our work and reinforce the value of learning." Unity City Academy has a partner who understands the role of technology. "It’s not about technology for its own sake", said Derek Griffith. "It’s about flexibility and learning." Students will have 24/7 access to their online learning spaces and so will be able to review lesson materials at their own pace, using the learning method that best suits them. Teachers will be able to utilise various teaching styles. The school plans to introduce peer mentoring and encourage older students to set up projects to help primary school students. "We are trying to establish new models for learning and the delivery of education. We can provide software for mind mapping and online learning. We also intend to develop our own online learning materials."

According to Derek Griffith, Fujitsu is proving to be a good partner. "Fujitsu is very competitive and can see how to make things work commercially for our mutual benefit. Fujitsu has an extensive infrastructure and top level contacts. We are looking at ways to raise revenue, for example by providing services to local organisations or by selling the online materials we are developing." The partnership is actively exploring ways in which to expand its activities. Unity City Academy is talking to a local supermarket with a view to sponsoring its cyber café and giving parents confidential access to school data about their own children.

"Working with Fujitsu is a positive move as they are supporting the change management process."

The Implementation

Working in partnership with Cisco and HP-Compaq, Fujitsu is supplying consultancy advice, design, configuration, installation and network services, and user support.

Fujitsu began working with the Academy on various levels. The short term priority was to specify hardware and software, design configurations and install equipment. This had to be done within the context of the longer term strategic need to develop a successful learning environment.

The Expertise

"Fujitsu brings us innovation and best practice", said Derek Griffiths. "Unity City Academy knows what it wants to achieve but cannot do it on its own. Fujitsu brings awareness of what’s in the marketplace and what will assist learning. Unity brings a new vision for learning, new ideas and the ability to put theory into practice.

It is part of Unity City Academy’s remit to explore commercial possibilities. To sustain its vision in the long term and continue to innovate, it needs to generate revenue streams. The partnership aims to develop a go-to-market model that demonstrates its vision about learning environments. Both parties are thinking of new ways in which to utilise the managed service, one option is to sell support to other schools.