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The London Grid for Learning (LGfL) provides a filtered broadband connection, network services, a common learning platform, online content and support communities for all schools across London. It operates as a consortium of 33 local education authorities (LEAs). It was launched in June 2000, and provides broadband connectivity to most of the 2,600 state schools in London. LGfL's initial purpose was to leverage purchasing power in the provision of broadband and related digital services for all member schools. By aggregating the procurement of infrastructure, e-learning platforms and educational content, London education authorities had by 2010 accrued savings in excess of £390m, compared to the cost of securing those services individually.〔Buss, Chris. ''Report On The Value For Money Of The London Grid For Learning''. Wandsworth Council. 2010. 5.〕 The London Grid for Learning was, along with twelve other regional grid bodies across the country, one of the founder members of the UK government's National Education Network (NEN). The network aimed to provide schools and libraries with high-speed connectivity, online learning platforms and access to a range of online educational content.〔London Grid for Learning Services Guide. 2010. Accessed November 1, 2015. == History == The London Grid for Learning was one of the eight consortia set up by local education authorities in 2000 to develop broadband access for schools, spawned from the government’s National Grid for Learning.〔"Broadband Receives Stamp of Approval." ''The Times Educational Supplement'', June 9, 2000, 5.〕 It was part of the government's Broadband in Schools Programme, a five-year project with the aim of providing every school with broadband by 2006.〔 A ten-year contract to supply broadband connection to all schools worth £40m was awarded to Equinox Converged Solutions. To fund the project, Chief Executive Brian Durrant announced that surplus bandwidth would be sold off to other organisations, including non-educational ones.〔Fielding, Rachel. "London Schools Get Ethernet Access." ''Computing'', July 25, 2002, 17.〕 In April 2001, LGfL created a special purpose entity named the ''London Grid for Learning Trust'' with the purpose of enabling LEAs to act jointly in the procurement of services and letting of contracts.〔"(London Grid for Learning 2014 Financial Statements )" ''Charity Commission''. September 9, 2014. Accessed November 1, 2015.〕 The project was officially unveiled at London’s IMAX cinema in June 2001, and the network went live for the first 350 schools on 1 September 2001. At the time it was the fourth largest metropolitan area network in the world.〔"Schools Get Connected." ''This Is Local London'', July 2, 2001, News sec.〕 Dennis Stevenson, who had outlined a vision the use of IT in schools in his 1997 report 'Connecting the Learning Society', described the launch of the LGfL as a 'defining moment' in realising that dream.〔 The initial strategic goal of LGfL of connecting every member school was achieved in 2005, thus fully meeting Tony Blair’s challenge of ‘every school on broadband’ a year early.〔 In January 2011, following the end of the ten-year broadband deal with Equinox, LGfL signed a contract with Virgin Media. In 2014, LGfL extended its deal with Virgin for £1 billion, with the new contract expected to run until 2028.〔Du Preez, Derek. "(London Schools Extend PSN Deal with Virgin Media Business for £1bn )" ''Computer World UK''. December 19, 2013. Accessed November 1, 2015.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「London Grid for Learning」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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