School IT Getting a Revamp?

17 August, 2010

Formerly known as the British Educational and Communications Technology Association, the quango was established in 1988 to promote better use of IT in education. Becta ran Home Access, the former Labour government's scheme to bridge the "digital divide" by ensuring all children have a computer at home. It also encouraged English secondary schools to integrate online reports into virtual learning environments so parents could see what their children were doing in the classroom, as well as the use of IT to enable people studying for diplomas in vocational subjects to move between schools, colleges and work placements.

But Becta is one of the first quangos earmarked for closure as part of £6bn cuts announced by the coalition government in May. It is due to be axed by November, saving the government £80m from this financial year's budget.