1. e-sy.info The South Yorkshire e-Learning Programme
Steve Farnsworth
Deputy Director of Education – Sheffield
David Brooks
e-sy.info Programme Director – RM plc

2. Contents The Objective 1 context Key programme features
Why e-learning?
Why schools?
E-learning and state policies
The Big Challenges
Public Private Partnership

3. Cultural transformation
The Objective 1 Context
Economic step change
Cultural transformation

4. The South Yorkshire Objective 1 Programme
e-sy.info is one of the largest projects in the South Yorkshire Objective 1 programme
Delivered by an extensive public private partnership
Covering the four Local Education Authorities
Engaging the life long learning spectrum from the age of 10 (Year 6)
Requiring a unique approach in spending European structural funds on schools

5. Objective 1 Priorities P1 – High Growth Industry P2 – SMEs
P3 – Learning & Skills
P4 – Community
P5 – Infrastructure
P6 – Investment
And … the ‘cross-cutting’ inclusion themes

6. Delivery Partnerships
The Objective 1 vision
EXPLOITING INNOVATION
Delivery Partnerships
Teachers & Trainers
Mentors & Parents
Curriculum & Courses
Learning
Foundations
Technology Services
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Progression to
Higher Levels
Key & Basic Skills
Vocational Curriculum
Sector Specific Skills
ECONOMIC
GROWTH
Jobs
Adaptive
Skills
CULTURAL CHANGE
Aspiration
Inclusion
Employability
Flexible Learning
SATS & Exams
Growth of
Companies
G D P
Step change from a vicious spiral to a virtuous circle

7. Key programme features
Not kit alone ~ skills, tools and a new way of teaching and learning
Focus on school age learners ~ the next generation workforce
Link schools with businesses ~ especially through our High Growth Clusters in manufacturing & digital
Include the ‘hard to reach’
Excluded pupils (e.g. GCSE English Online)
Minority communities through the Portal
Small enterprises through the POD programme
Sub-regional implementation

8. Why e-Learning? An engaging curriculum, anytime-anywhere
Teachers in learning communities
A regional Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)
Raised attainment
A developed workforce
Higher value jobs

9. Why start in schools? the ICT platform is already there
ICT as a key skill at 16
changing attitudes of young adults to learning has to achieved there
common ICT tools, such as the VLE, are a vital aid to transition at KS2/3 and from school to further education
ICT is fundamental to more and more jobs
accreditation is moving on-line
skills previously gained in the workforce are now vital to the school experience

10. The double helix metaphor
Tertiary & work-based learning
Secondary
Primary
Early Years
Family Learning

11. The double helix metaphor
Tertiary & work-based learning
Secondary
Lifelong learning; homes and communities
Primary
Early Years
Family Learning

12. The double helix metaphor
Tertiary & work-based learning
Secondary
Lifelong learning; homes and communities
Primary
Early Years
Family Learning

13. The double helix metaphor
Tertiary & work-based learning
VLE
Secondary
Lifelong learning; homes and communities
Primary
e-tools &
e-skills
Early Years
Family Learning

14. E-learning and state policies
DfES ~ Towards a Unified e-Learning Strategy
14-19 reform
Regionally: Learning for Life:
New vocational pathways
skills/work-based learning focus
Specialist networks (via VLE)
KS3 (11-14) strategy
leadership development
E-learning
e-learning buildings - BSF

15. Gathering Evidence
The four local authorities (LEAs) have validated and refined this view of e-learning & ICT skills
Qualitative evaluation & action research based on the e-sy.info pilot (2001-2)
Quantitative feedback on ICT performance from formal inspections (2002)
Summer 2005 will see the first chance to validate the approach in terms of large regional cohorts

16. A Critical Success Factor for Growth: Creating the digital labour pool
The e-sy.info programme is focused on:
‘Creating a world class learning region’
Ensuring the workforce is digitally literate
Key transitions in lifelong learning, especially 10 though 19
Embedding ICT in KS3/4 (11-16) and vocational curriculum
Employability in the knowledge economy
Creating the learning habit in SMEs
Widening participation through e-learning

17. Scalability & Sustainability
Cascade training – building local capacity and sustainability
Skills Academy structure; E-tutor & E-mentor skills
Building a ‘brand’ that is widely known and valued for combining:
‘must-belong’ learning communities
unparalleled learning resources and connectivity
a wide range of public information and useful services
Engaging long term support mechanisms through the e-sy.info Portal & the VLE
Parents
Libraries & Community Centres
Employers

19. The Big Challenges
Mitigating the risks
Capitalising on opportunity

20. Transformation - The Risk & The Reward
High Impact
Transformation
e-sy.info
Narrow Reach
Wide
Reach
Mainstream policy
Isolated initiatives
Control
Low Impact
Survival

21. The big challenges Entering new territory
Scalability of both technical and organisational solutions
Sustainability of the human effort and the investment
Breaking the e-learning mould in terms of location, audience and mode
Operating a contractual vehicle that combines value, performance and innovation

22. Public Private Partnership
Validating strategy
Assuring dynamism

23. Public Private Partnership: The Contracted Consortium
The consortium includes
RM - UK’s largest educational ICT supplier
Tribal Technology Services - VLE specialists
BTL / Virtual College – leaders in vocational on-line learning and e-assessment
Sheffield Hallam University - Renowned ICT training provider and School of Education
Sheffield College – National award winner in e-learning design and delivery

24. Engaging enterprise in the widest sense
Cluster leaders
Advanced Manufacturing – the Engineering Employers Federation
Creative & Digital - Digital South Yorkshire
National & international forces
Boeing, Corus, Microsoft
Community enterprises through the Objective 1 community action plans

25. Public Stakeholders
The extent of the partnership and the delivery approach widens the circle of influence yet focuses the mission. It involves:
The four Local Authorities
Head teachers & principals
The Learning & Skills Council (LSC)
Objective 1 Directorate

26. Partnership Benefits Validating strategy and assuring dynamism through
Breadth of experience
Variety of perspectives
Cultural challenges to the status quo
Mutual contractual obligations
Transparent benchmarking

27. The End
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