Herts schools get connected

Local communities in Hertfordshire can now enjoy the benefits of a high speed WAN linking schools across the county.

The £31m project was built for Hertfordshire County Council by NTL:Telewest Business.

As part of Hertfordshire's Grid for Learning initiative, the network connects 560 schools and 172,000 people. Users will include children, staff and local communities.

Around 20,000 PCs are connected to the network with many located in children's homes. Pupils will therefore be able to keep up with their classmates and have access to the internet whether at home or school.

The network also gives schoolchildren the ability to learn about other cultures with links to schools in Europe.

Chris Seviour, ICT technical advisor for Hertfordshire County Council, said the deal will improve the quality and delivery of the students' education.

The network also links to a countywide CCTV network that is aimed at improving school security and preventing vandalism.