Tauheedul Education Trust selects Learning Possibilities
Learning Possibilities, the UK’s largest cloud based learning platform provider, will provide its award-winning learning platform to all schools in the Tauheedul Education Trust – one of Britain’s leading academy groups.
Tauheedul Education Trust runs a growing network of primary and secondary schools in the North West, West Midlands and East London. Educational excellence and social mobility are at its heart. The Trust supports both Muslim faith-based and non-denominational schools. Working particularly in areas of deprivation, the Trust has many years of experience of helping children and young people – Muslims and non-Muslims – to raise their aspirations and achieve outstanding results.
Learning Possibilities will be developing and delivering an umbrella site with content and analytics for administration and collaboration purposes across all schools within the Trust, in addition to a bespoke managed learning environment, for the individual schools.
Mufti Hamid Patel, CEO of the Trust, said
“The LP+ learning platform will be an important internal communication vehicle, strengthening ties within and between schools and with the Trust. The bespoke solution will become a dynamic teaching and learning tool for students, staff, parents and governors to aid learning, increasing engagement and celebrating innovation.”
Dr Mehool Sanghrajka, CEO of Learning Possibilities, made this announcement:
“We are delighted to be working with the Tauheedul Education Trust. We look forward to a long partnership and working closely with the Trust to meet their digital learning needs.”
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Why Information Security Standards Make Sense to School Leaders
Having worked with Learning Possibilities as a client, a consultant and as a Project Manager, I still find myself relating almost all my activities to the following phrase, “What Would School Leaders Think?”
For most people in schools, awareness of Information Security standards is limited, and usually only heard about when talking about data protection or when they have been told that they can’t or shouldn’t do something, by their IT Manager, the Local Authority or a Governor.
In fact, most schools should be able to easily understand not just the importance of Information Security but how it is assessed at companies like Learning Possibilities, and that understanding is all down to thinking like OFSTED.
As with OFSTED visits to schools, companies certified to ISO27001 (the principal Information Security standard) will have regular audits and inspections from an external body.
As with OFSTED, Leadership is key. It is not about recording security incidents or how quickly they are dealt with, it is not about recording how well your backups run and it is not about recording the results of penetration testing. It is about looking at how Leadership set objectives, evaluate them and justify subsequent decisions.
Yes, there is record keeping. Yes, there are processes and procedures that have to be followed. Yes, there is regular training on Information Management, Information Security and Data Protection. Yes, there are issues and risks to be dealt with. However, these are there to provide evidence to Leadership and the quality of work is more important than ticking boxes on the 114 controls across 14 groups.
Internal audits are the book scrutiny sessions and staff observations. External audits are the OFSTED visits. The Information Security Management System contains your Statement of Applicability (let’s call it your SEF), your policies and procedures, your record of decisions, your Objectives and Measures (5 year plan?).
It goes on. There are so many similarities and helps show School Leaders that Learning Possibilities understands the impact of OFSTED, not just because of the educational impact, but because we have our own version to go through. We also know all too well about it being about key decisions, not just weighing the pig!
External audits are done each year, and you recertify after 3 years. Out of the 3 possible outcomes only the top outcome, which is effectively a 100% adherence to the standard, gets you the certificate.
What does this mean for our customers? Well, the standard is a way of showing both the importance of Information Security to us as a company across all our work, and also that we put in the time and effort on it, ensuring that it is part of our core ways of working.
So, after a 13 month programme of work we are more than pleased to say that we passed our External Audits for this year and have now been issued with our certificate, after coming through with flying colours, the equivalent of Outstanding.
I say a 13 month programme of work … we have already started on the work for the next 3 years, including the work on the international update of ISO 9001:2008 to ISO 9001:2015, the standard for Quality Management. Another opportunity for us to hold ourselves open to inspection against the highest possible standards.
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Stephen Heppell celebrates World Book Day 2015 at Learning Possibilities
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Learning Possibilities named as supplier on ground-breaking G-Cloud framework
Learning Possibilities, the UK’s leading cloud based learning platform provider, today announces that it has been awarded by the Crown Commercial Service, an executive agency of the Cabinet Office (UK), to deliver key components of the G-Cloud6 programme, the latest iteration of the G-Cloud framework.
This now means that Learning Possibilities has standardised Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS) offerings available on the Digital Marketplace.
The difference between G-Cloud and other frameworks is that organisations pay for services as they use them, rather than being tied to inflexible, long-term contracts. G-Cloud allows the public sector to buy cloud-based digital services off the shelf, avoiding lock-in to expensive contracts with single suppliers, and encouraging cost-effective, innovative solutions.
Mehool Sanghrajka, CEO, Learning Possibilities Ltd commented:
”Being awarded a place on G-Cloud 6 is a reflection of Learning Possibilities’ proven track record and on-going work in supporting Public Sector organisations. As a long standing supplier to Government and a leader in delivering Cloud based services, we understand the need for greater cost efficiencies, as well as transparency and agility in the procurement process.”
Learning Possibilities was assessed on its products, security and support services through an OJEU tendering process. The G-Cloud Framework Agreement will allow Learning Possibilities to supply a wide range of specialist cloud services across the whole of the UK public sector through the G-Cloud programme. This award places Learning Possibilities on the Digital Marketplace as suppliers to the G-Cloud Framework and provides the vehicle through which Learning Possibilities can play a major role in supporting the UK Government’s drive to transform public sector IT and delivery of modern, efficient and effective services to the citizen.
With Learning Possibilities’ experience in delivering some of the public sector’s most successful and innovative projects aswell as bringing our current economies of scale, the company is well positioned to collaborate and provide resilient Cloud services to help shape the future of services together with the Government.
All of Learning Possibilities’ services were made available on the Digital Marketplace on 2 February and are part of the sixth iteration of the G-Cloud framework.
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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!”
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Education Investor 2014 Awards Winner
Learning Possibilities, the UK’s leading learning platform provider, wins the prestigious Education Investor Award for Technical Infrastructure 2014.
The winners were announced at an awards evening held at the Hilton Hotel, Park Lane. A celebration of the innovation and excellence among businesses involved in the education sector.
More than 700 guests attended this year’s ceremony, where awards were presented in 27 categories, with the shortlist judged by a panel of 17 experts drawn from across the education sector.
The LP+ learning platform is built on Microsoft technology and is hosted at a Tier4 data centre in the UK, providing a secure, engaging learning platform to over 1.6 million users globally.
On winning the award, Mehool Sanghrajka said:
“We are absolutely delighted to have won the Education Investor Award for Technical Infrastructure! We have had a brilliant year at Learning Possibilities, and it’s great to be recognised with such a prestigious award. But the work doesn’t stop here. We have so many exciting things coming up, It’s going to be another great year!”
Winning the award comes as another high point for Learning Possibilities, a company that has enjoyed huge success this year, with strong growth. Due to its strong reputation and credibility in the UK, the company recently secured a multi-million pound deal with the Welsh Government to deliver LP+4 to all 1700 state schools.
The LP+4 learning platform was launched in 2012 at Microsoft Head Quarters in Reading. Through the use of innovative interfaces and role based access, schools have access to intranets, email, websites, parent and governor sites, and class and subject sites where collaboration, assessment and project work can take place. In essence a solution for collaboration, communication and curriculum with a designed pathway for forward evolution. This year at BETT, Learning Possibilities will be celebrating ten years of hosting the LP+4 learning platform.
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Finalist Microsoft Global Education Partner of the Year
Learning Possibilities, the UK’s largest cloud-based e-learning platform, today announces that it is a Finalist for the Microsoft Education Partner of the Year Award. The annual awards attracted more than 3,200 entries from around the world.
Phil Sorgen, Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Partner Group, Microsoft said:
“These prestigious award winners and finalists represent the best technology professionals our partner ecosystem has to offer,” said Phil Sorgen, corporate vice president, Worldwide Partner Group, Microsoft. “The 2014 Partner of the Year Award winners and finalists honor our top partners that solve complex business challenges by providing innovative solutions to our mutual customers.”
“I am delighted that our work has been recognised in these awards and I look forward to receiving the award on behalf of everyone here at Learning Possibilities. A global award and recognition amongst our peers is important at a number of levels, and we look forward to developing our business together with Microsoft,”
Said Mehool Sanghrajka, Chief Executive at Learning Possibilities.
Award winners and finalists will be recognized at the 2014 Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference, taking place July 13–17, 2014, in Washington, D.C.
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Enhancing partnership with Wolverhampton City Council
Learning Possibilities, the provider of the leading LP+ learning platform, and Wolverhampton City Council have strengthened their partnership that has been at the forefront of e-learning pedagogy since 2005. This award winning partnership produced LP+ ADOPT, the national framework for e-maturity in learning platforms and is winner of the 2010 BETT Educational Partnership Award.
The partnership has been enriched, by providing additional training and support, equivalent to three days, to all schools in Wolverhampton on the LP+ learning platform. The training will focus on teaching and learning using the LP+ platform and trainers will help with school improvement using the LP+ ADOPT maturity model.
Gavin Hawkins from Wolverhampton City Council said that:
“Through our ongoing partnership, the additional support provided will focus on embedding the LP+ learning platform into teaching and learning as the learning platform has become an essential resource in many schools.”
Learning Possibilities CEO Mehool Sanghrajka commented:
“I am delighted to build on this very successful partnership. This new collaboration will ensure schools get maximum benefit from their investment in the LP+ learning platform.”
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Gold Partnership with Microsoft
Learning Possibilities, the leading learning platform provider on Microsoft technology, are delighted to announce the renewal of our Gold Partnership with Microsoft.
Mehool Sanghrajka, CEO of Learning Possibilities’ said:
“This is a very significant achievement for the company and am immensely proud to renew our Gold Partner status. It empowers our commitment to developing our profile and leading a strong technical team.”
Learning Possibilities provides the LP+4 platform based on the Microsoft Learning Gateway Framework, built on over 16 Microsoft technologies including SharePoint 2010 and Exchange. The company has been recognised for its commitment to helping schools achieve their goals and long term visions through their learning platform.
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Learning Possibilities wins Wales contract
Learning Possibilities, the UK’s leading provider of learning platforms for schools, is delighted to announce that it has been selected by the Welsh Government through a competitive process to support its vision of creating the world’s best online environment for learning.
The platform will support national actions including encouraging, supporting and preparing teachers to operate in a digital environment and to share their digital practice. The platform will eventually support up to one million users and will host a national collection of digital resources to support teaching and learning for learners aged 3 to 19 in Wales which will be known as the National Digital Repository.
With Office365, LP+4 delivers a whole new suite of online tools where students and teachers are able to create, upload, edit and share Office documents and access emails and instant message online from any device with a browser and internet access – even if schools do not have Microsoft Office installed on their computers.
Mehool Sanghrajka, Learning Possibilities’ Chief Executive commented:
“We are thrilled that we have been selected for this important national project. Our experience in building cloud based learning platform and our work on the ADOPT framework and related pedagogy will be critical in driving this project. I look forward to a long partnership with the Department and schools in Wales.”
Learning Possibilities will work closely with users, schools, local authorities and regional educational consortia to deliver secure collaboration between staff and students through a bi-lingual, personalised interface. The platform will also include open public access to resources. The solution will be based on the recently released LP+4 platform integrated with Office 365, which was showcased at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference in July 2012.
Commenting on one of the largest Office 365 education projects, Steve Beswick, Microsoft UK Education Director, added:
“I am delighted that the Microsoft and Learning Possibilities partnership continues to show tremendous results with another national learning platform win. LP+4 was one of the first learning platforms to fully integrate into Office 365, offering great value, tools and resources to any school regardless of size.”
Learning Possibilities launched the LP+4 learning platform in November 2011 and this is the second national project to be announced, following a win in the Middle East earlier this year.
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