EdTech Demonstrator Schools and Colleges Programme - Phase 2: Delivery Partner

Tender description

The DfE will appoint a delivery partner, via a contract agreement, to oversee a digital support network, currently the 'EdTech Demonstrator Network'. Fundamentally this will include relationship management of the network, ensuring consistent application of research and evidence through the support and training provided. The successful partner will also be responsible for the grant and financial management of demonstrators. Tender for the evaluating partner will be run separately and can be found here https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/c4e73df7-c0fa-4e42-a131-7e853c5f34ff The network was first launched April 2020 to offer peer support, advice and training in ways technology can be used to strengthen their remote education and catch-up provision. This acted as a key component to the DfE's wider 'Get Help with Technology' programme, specifically how digital platforms and devices can be embedded. Throughout 2021-22, the network will be responsible for bridging current activity from crisis response into long-term sustainability, ensuring use of technology is driven by pedagogy and business need, specifically: 1. Catch-up and recovery including ways technology can bolster pupil/student progress and outcomes, making education boundless anytime, anywhere; for example, through online and in-person teaching and supporting high-quality assessment and feedback. 2. Reducing teacher workload, including ways technology can remove unnecessary workload burdens, support more flexible teaching practices, improve access to excellent curriculum resources and develop professional bonds. 3. Strengthen school and college improvement plans; ensuring that adoption of technology has a clear plan and supports the wider aims of the school/college. 4. Support excellent school/college resource management, including ways technology can get the best value for money from their existing resources and securing informed procurement decisions where necessary 5. Securing an accessible and inclusive curriculum with a focus on improving access for pupils with SEND and exclusions. The delivery partner must: - Have solid pedagogical expertise, ensuring that application of technology is grounded in the research and evidence. - Have operational understanding of the day-to-day running of schools and/or colleges, to ensure adoption of technology meets organisational need. - Understand national school/college policies to ensure technology accelerates broader priorities. The successful partner will collaborate with the evaluating partner and Education Endowment Foundation who will champion use of existing research and evidence across the network. The tender will go live on 5th March 2021. The procurement will be run using the Education and Children's Social Care Dynamic Purchasing System (ECS DPS).