News from Acorn Computers: Release Date March 14th 1994 
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Thomas Nelson & Sons joins Acorn and Tesco in 'Computers for Schools '94' 
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Acorn Computers, the leading provider of computers to UK schools and 
number one supplier of 32 bit RISC based personal computers, is 
joining forces with Tesco for the third year running on the highly 
successful 'Computers for Schools' scheme. This year's initiative, 
which enables schools throughout the UK to claim free Acorn computer 
equipment in exchange for special vouchers collected from Tesco 
stores,  takes on a new dimension by including CD ROMs, educational 
cassettes and other reading materials from Thomas Nelson and Sons, one 
of the country's leading educational publishers.   

Last year's scheme proved a phenomenal success, with over 11,000 
schools receiving a combined total of more than 30,000 pieces of Acorn 
computer equipment. This year, Tesco was keen to extend the promotion 
in such a way that would complement the core focus on computer 
hardware and at the same time introduce a new and topical angle for 
schools. With these criteria in mind, Nelson, noted for its excellence 
in the field of educational publishing and one of the first to combine 
multimedia with literacy materials and books, stood out as the obvious 
third participant for 'Computers for Schools '94'. 

Schools collecting vouchers this year will be able to choose from a 
specially selected range of Acorn computers, CD ROM drives, exciting 
CD ROM titles and newly designed learning materials. The scheme's new 
emphasis on multimedia is expressly designed to help open up this 
developing technology to schools. It follows the Department for 
Education's recent move to acknowledge the growing importance of 
integrated media by providing funding for primary schools to purchase 
CD ROM equipment. 

John Tuttle, Sales and Marketing Director at Thomas Nelson and Sons, 
commented: 

"Computers for Schools '94 is the first community marketing scheme to 
address the multimedia requirements of schools. It will provide a 
welcome boost to government efforts to fund resources in this area. 

"At Nelson, we are delighted to be able to make our CD ROM and related 
book products available to schools through this scheme. It is one part 
of our commitment to assisting teachers in developing children's new 
literacy skills." 

Peter Talbot, Acorn's General Manager, UK Education, expressed his 
support for the scheme's new focus: 

"We are extremely pleased that Tesco has invited Thomas Nelson and 
Sons to participate in  'Computers for Schools '94'. Their expertise 
in educational publishing and, as their acquisition last year of 
Interactive Learning Productions (ILP) illustrates, their firm 
commitment to grasping and using new technologies such as multimedia 
make them the ideal partner for Acorn in this year's scheme. 

"During the past year, projects such as the Hampshire based Horizon 
multimedia authoring project, sponsored by Acorn Computers, have shown 
that the creation and use of applications integrating a variety of 
visual and aural media can help children develop the literacy skills 
they need today. 'Computers for Schools '94', through its  extensive 
range of Acorn and Nelson products, offers schools a practical and 
achievable way of obtaining the very latest computer and multimedia 
equipment." 

Ends 

Notes to Editors: 

Founded in 1978, with 1992 revenues of #48.2m, Acorn Computers is the 
premier supplier of IT solutions to UK education and has been the 
leading provider of 32-bit RISC based personal computers since 1987. 
In 1990, Acorn established am associate company, Advanced RISC 
Machines (ARM), in a joint venture with Apple Computer and VLSI 
Technology Inc to develop and exploit further Acorn's RISC processor 
technology. Acorn works closely with a strong community of other 
industry partners, users and software developers to provide innovative 
technology solutions for the education, consumer, publishing and 
international markets. Acorn Computers Limited is part of the Acorn 
Computer Group plc, which went public on the USM in 1983.   

Thomas Nelson and Sons Limited was originally founded in 1798 with the 
mission of making books affordable to the public. From this tradition, 
Nelson has grown into one of the UK's leading school book publishers. 
Its special interests include the teaching of reading in primary 
schools and of modern languages, science and geography in secondary 
schools. Last year, Thomas Nelson and Sons acquired Interactive 
Learning Productions (ILP), and established Nelson Multimedia to 
exploit emerging technologies such as multimedia in the development 
and delivery of learning materials. Thomas Nelson and Sons is part of 
the Thomson Group plc. 

_______________________________________________________________________________ 

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