Acorn Continues Support for IT Centres 

Embargo Release Date 20th January 1993 

At a time of turmoil when IT Advisory Centres are fighting to survive and 
individual advisory teachers face an uncertain future, Acorn Computers is 
maintaining its support for Advisory Centres. 

Acorn in Education Centres, designed to provide schools with comprehensive 
IT support and advice, are emerging as an ever more important and unifying 
force within education. Since its launch in September 1992, nearly 40 IT 
Advisory Centres across the UK have opted to join the Acorn scheme. 

More and more highly qualified IT advisory teachers, steeped in the 
tradition of non-profit making public services, are now being forced into 
the commercial world as LEAs reduce funding for their IT advisory centres. 
Acorn's initiative is helping them to make a smooth transition and so 
maintain the quality of their service and support for schools. 

Acorn has achieved this by offering comprehensive marketing support and 
training to its AECs.  It has also been responsible for arranging AEC 
network meetings, which can provide an important forum at which IT advisors 
can exchange ideas and agree upon a unified nationwide strategy.  By taking 
note of what these educationalists have to say, Acorn in turn is able to 
benefit education by adopting its vision for the future in a forward 
thinking approach to its IT products and services. 

Commenting on the AECs, Doug Masterton, Head of Leeds IT Advisory Service, 
said "In the face of the current turmoil, Acorn's support is enabling us to 
maintain the quality of our service and survive in the commercial world. 
This security leaves us free to concentrate on the teaching of IT to make it 
thrilling and to continue to improve standards for the children."  Leeds IT 
Centre - the largest in the north of England - is partially funded by the 
LEA.   

According to Linda Spear, Director of the Cambridgeshire Centre for IT and 
Education (CITE), Acorn's collaboration with IT Advisory Centres has played 
an important role in shaping the quality of IT education across Britain. 

"Now that schools are responsible for their own purchasing decisions, it is 
important that they adopt a long term IT strategy and buy equipment that 
will still be in use in 10 years' time.  Marketing assistance from Acorn has 
enabled us to maintain a high profile and satisfy the needs of our 
customers."  CITE is one of the UK's first self funding IT Advisory Centres 
serving all the county's 350 schools. 

Each of the UK's AECs house a representative sample of Acorn's latest range 
of computers - including desktop machines, portables, network solutions, 
multimedia equipment and peripherals.  A reference library of core 
curriculum software is also available, enabling teachers to test out 
products and receive advice on how best to implement their use in the 
classroom.  Many of the AECs also offer In Service Education and Training 
courses. 

ENDS 

Further information from Dick Wallin, Acorn Computers, Tel 0223 254254 

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