Also issued in Acorn's BETT press pack - apologies again for the delay. 

News from Acorn Education 

                                                  PR148 
                                                  10.1.96 

BETT 96, Olympia, Jan 10-13 H96 
Stands: 241 and SN19 

Fina and Midland Bank Boost Acorn Advantage Programme for 1996 
 - Expanded portfolio of curriculum resources and new ways to collect 
Advantage points - 

Midland Bank and Fina Plc have expanded their involvement in Acorn 
Education's ground-breaking Advantage loyalty scheme which offers free 
curriculum resources to schools in exchange for Advantage points. Other 
confirmed partners for 1996 include Ladybird Books, Parker and Paper Mate 
pens and Helix.  Since Acorn Advantage was launched in September 1994, over 
13,000 schools have registered for membership and almost 9,000,000 points 
have been awarded. 

Midland Bank will be offering Advantage points as an alternative to the 
annual cash donation made to secondary schools that operate Midbanks - pupil 
banking systems run in conjunction with local branches.  Midland Bank will 
also make a donation of Advantage points for newly installed Midbanks.  In 
the promotion with Fina Plc, 'Fina for You' vouchers, collected when 
purchasing petrol at one of over 500 Fina petrol stations, can be exchanged 
for Advantage points vouchers which can then be donated to schools. 

The ICD Marketing Services Schools Survey programme is to be expanded 
nationwide in 1996.  The scheme enables schools to collect Advantage points 
in return for completed research questionnaires from parents, friends and 
relatives.  In the last year, over 1000 schools have taken part in the 
survey programme, earning more than 750,000 Advantage points and schools of 
all sizes have already joined the scheme for 1996. 

Acorn Advantage points can be redeemed against curriculum resources from the 
extended Advantage Portfolio which includes a wide selection of curriculum 
resources, from violins to microscopes, from computer hardware to video 
cameras.  Advantage points can also be earned by schools purchasing Acorn 
computers, and, when individuals purchase an Acorn computer for the home or 
business, points can be donated to a school of their choice.  Additionally, 
anyone using an Acorn VISA card can generate Advantage points for their 
nominated school. To apply for an Acorn VISA card, call the Freephone number 
0800 776262. 

Schools requiring more information on Acorn Advantage should call 01223 
254527.