Welsh Government signs 3 year extension with Learning Possibilities
Learning Possibilities, the provider of Hwb+, the all-Wales Learning Platform, and UK’s leading cloud-based learning platform provider to schools, today announced that its contract to provide Hwb+ to Welsh schools has been extended to August 2018.
Learning Possibilities continues its commitment to deliver ‘a world-class’ bilingual platform playing its part in the ‘Learning in Digital Wales’ programme. With all schools in Wales having seamless access to Office 365 and single sign-on to 3rd party content through Hwb+, the transformation of teaching and learning practices in Wales is well underway. The adoption of the platform is confirmed with a number of Hwb+ accredited trainers, 18 Hwb+ centres of excellence and several seconded teachers as digital leaders, across Wales.
On the extension Minister for Education and Skills, Huw Lewis said:
“I have made a clear statement about the importance of digital skills for Welsh learners by announcing that digital competence will become the third cross-cutting responsibility for all teachers in our new Curriculum for Wales. This places digital competence on an equal footing with literacy and numeracy and underlines the importance of our ongoing investment in digital learning tools such as the Hwb+ platform, to give all teachers and learners the same opportunities to build their digital skills.”
Stephen Heppell, Learning Possibilities’ Chairman also commented:
“We are excited to continue being a major part of this important national project and look forward to supporting the transformation of education in Wales and the implementation of the Donaldson report. I am proud to see schools in Wales using the Hwb+ technology to drive the adoption of digital skills.”
The extension of the Hwb+ contract continues to be an integral part of the strategy to transform Wales into a truly digital nation.
- Published in Articles, HWB+, Uncategorized
The Renewal of Hwb+: The all Wales Learning Platform
It’s recently been confirmed, that the Welsh Government have extended the contract for Hwb+, for another three years. Hwb+ is the all Wales Learning Platform, powered by Learning Possibilities, which has been rolled out to all state schools in Wales by the Welsh Government.
As part of a Digital Wales campaign being carried out by the government in Wales, Hwb+, already embedded into the daily routine at a number of schools is proving to be an effective piece of software that can support and transform teaching and learning, benefitting schools in more ways than you would perhaps expect.
I personally have been lucky enough to see first-hand some of the positive ways in which Hwb+ has been embedded into schools across the nation, and it’s fantastic to see the way in which embedding the learning platform can motivate, encourage and enable learners like never before.
Commenting on the positive impact that Hwb+ has in classrooms nationwide, Julie James, Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology at the Welsh Government said:
“Digital Technology is a really important enabler. We understand that our Welsh school children need to understand Digital Technology, and they need to be what we call digitally literate.”
With the growing success of the Hwb+ project, I for one am very excited to see what progress is made on Hwb+ as we continue to see collaborative projects, growth of digital competency in schools and an encouraged interest in learning take place over the course of the next academic year.
Take a look at the short video by Microsoft on Digital Wales.
- Published in Articles, HWB+, Uncategorized
Learning Possibilities Awarded ISO27001:2013 Certificate
Learning Possibilities™, the provider of Hwb+, the all Wales National Learning platform, and UK’s leading cloud-based learning platform provider to schools, today announced that it has been awarded the ISO 27001:2013 certificate for Information Security Management Systems. The award is the only internationally recognized and most prestigious certification for Information Security Management, a company can have.
The certification was awarded after 18 months of rigorous work updating processes and systems to meet the requirements of this internationally recognized best practice framework. The ISO 27001:2013 is a management system that helps Learning Possibilities identify the risks to any important information and put in place the appropriate controls to help reduce the risk. It is a key component for data security and management, and covers the company’s management system, premises and data centre.
Tony Sheppard, Project Manager & Information Security Manager for Learning Possibilities said:
“Learning Possibilities has proved it has the requisite information security controls in place to protect sensitive client data. This achievement combined with our LP+4 SharePoint learning platform, has made us a leading education provider. Our platform was selected by the Welsh Government to run the bilingual national learning platform for Wales – Hwb+, and in 2015 were selected to be on the G-Cloud Framework, a true testament of the confidence our customers have in our security controls and our ability to follow internationally-recognized security standards.”
The ISO 27001:2013 adds to the quality management certification that the company has held since its incorporation in 2005, including the ISO 9001:2008 certification; and is testament to the company’s commitment to quality, data security and efficiency in Information Security Management.
/ENDS
About Learning Possibilities
Learning Possibilities are the suppliers of LP+4, a learning platform used worldwide. The company has a long history of building and implementing e-learning solutions across a range of countries and cultures, and have developed a wealth of experience and expertise in cloud computing for education and government customers. The Learning Possibilities platform built on Microsoft technologies is currently used by over 1 million users across the UK.
In 2014 Learning Possibilities won the Education Investor Award for Technological Infrastructure. In 2012, Learning Possibilities won the national contract to provide the LP+4 learning platform to all schools in Wales.
In 2010 the LP+ platform won the prestigious BETT ICT Education Partnership Award. Learning Possibilities is also the publisher of the LP+ Adopt e-maturity framework for schools, selected by Becta (UK Department of Education) as the National Learning Platform Adoption Model for England.
For more information contact Bansri Mehta | +44 (0) 20 8236 1018 | bansri.mehta@lpplus.com
- Published in Articles, HWB+, Uncategorized
Always Amazing When It Comes Together
I was delighted to read that Estyn, the Welsh school inspection service, has applauded Barry Island Primary School (BIPS) on offering excellent learning experiences to their pupils, in particular for using highly innovative and effective practices in developing Hwb+ learning.
Hwb+ is our LP+ platform in Wales and this is, to the best of my knowledge, the first time Estyn has mentioned a private company.
What are Barry Island doing that is different? They are following a simple formula that delivers; firstly engage the SLT in aligning Hwb+ to their school improvement plan. This gives the platform a purpose. Next, have a plan to roll out the platform across the school; in this case the school trained one class, and then added a new class every half term. Finally, ensure that there is adequate CPD. In BIPS case, this was through previous class staff becoming mentors for the new classes.
Becky Cadman, Acting Head Teacher at BIPS commented, “The key in including all stakeholders is not only the ‘what’ but also the ‘why’. Sharing the concept behind the facilities and ensuring everyone has an eye on the desired final outcomes as a collective!”
- Published in Articles, HWB+, Uncategorized