When Liverpool Direct Limited (a joint venture between BT and Liverpool City Council) were presented with the opportunity to deliver the ICT elements of Building Schools for the Future (BSF), they were landed with a significant challenge. WIth the school year ending, it was imperative to commence engagement with the schools and begin the huge task of creating functional and technical specifications for 8 new High schools and two major refurbishments. 

Computeam were approached and immediately commenced work with the schools. A series of meetings and workshops were setup and consultants began pulling together high level ICT visions and practically focused approaches to ICT within a 21st century learning environment. Critical to the success of the initiative was the full engagement from schools and the open and honest relationship created between consultants and staff. This relationship was only possible through Computeam consultant's knowledge and experience of education and education technology.

All the new build and refurbishment schemes were subject to the same level of treatment and within 4 months the first drafts of each functional and technical specifications were presented.

Functional Specification: This document details how the new school will operate and how ICT will be used to support and deliver the teaching and learning processes. It covers every curriculum and administrative area including community functions.

Technical Specification: A fully costed and itemised view of the technology required to execute the functional specification including delivery, installation and warranties.

The process and document design by Computeam has since been emulated by other companies involved in Building School for the Future. But as they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!