The National Grid for Learning (NGfL) was a
UK government-funded gateway to educational resources on the
Internet
The Internet (or internet) is the Global network, global system of interconnected computer networks that uses the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to communicate between networks and devices. It is a internetworking, network of networks ...
. It provided a curated collection of links to resources and materials of high quality. The NGfL was established to support schools in England, while separate grids were created for schools in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
The NGfL portal was launched in November 1998 as part of the
DfES
The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) was a United Kingdom government department between 2001 and 2007, responsible for the education system (including higher education and adult learning) as well as children's services in England.
...
National Grid for Learning strategy. This programme aimed to enhance the use of
information and communications technology
Information and communications technology (ICT) is an extensional term for information technology (IT) that stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of telecommunications (telephone lines and wireless signals) and computer ...
(ICT) by learners and educators in the United Kingdom. It was among several new programmes introduced by the
Labour government, which assumed office in May 1997, and had a dedicated budget allocated for schools' internet connections and ICT. The portal was funded and managed by
Becta
Becta, originally known as the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency, was a non-departmental public body (popularly known as a Quango) funded by the Department for Education and its predecessor departments, in the United King ...
(British Educational Communications and Technology Agency), the government's leading agency for ICT in education.
Regional Broadband Consortia (RBCs) were created in 2000 under the auspices of what was at the time the
Department for Education and Skills, (DfES) to secure lower prices for
broadband
In telecommunications, broadband or high speed is the wide-bandwidth (signal processing), bandwidth data transmission that exploits signals at a wide spread of frequencies or several different simultaneous frequencies, and is used in fast Inter ...
connections and services for schools by aggregating demand across a region and entering into region wide contracts. Since then, these consortia have expanded their remit and have taken over some of the original aims of the NGfL.
On 13 April 2006, Becta closed the National Grid for Learning portal, stating that it was "improving its offer to teachers by rationalising the number of different services it provides for schools and teaching staff". According to the agency, "this is being achieved by integrating valued components of the NGfL into its existing services".
The concept of the NGfL lives on, however. The RBCs have worked collaboratively since 2001, and have since been actively joined in their partnership by equivalent organizations in Northern Ireland (C2kNI), Scotland (Glow) and Wales (NGfL Cymru) to form the
national education network
A national research and education network (NREN) is a specialised internet service provider dedicated to supporting the needs of the research and education communities within a country.
It is usually distinguished by support for a high-speed back ...
(NEN), utilizing the
JANET
Janet may refer to:
Names
* Janet (given name)
Surname
* Charles Janet (1849–1932), French engineer, inventor and biologist, known for the Left Step periodic table
* Jules Janet (1861–1945), French psychologist and psychotherapist
* Maur ...
network to provide a single, secure private network available to provide shared resources amongst all UK schools.
What is the NEN?
/ref>
In 2019, London Grid for Learning bought the "National Grid for Learning" trademark as part of its plan to expand broadband connectivity for schools and public authorities.
See also
* London Grid for Learning
The London Grid for Learning commonly referred to as LGfL is a British not for profit technology company with headquarters in central London. The charity founded in 2001 procures, develops and delivers technology and educational content includi ...
* Regional Broadband Consortium
The 'Regional Broadband Consortia'' was created in the United Kingdom in 2000 to secure lower prices for broadband connection services for schools by aggregating demand across a region and entering into region wide contracts. They were established ...
References
Further reading
The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
A gigantic online swapshop
''describes a North West Learning Grid project called the National Digital Resource Bank.''
External links
National Education Network
NI Grid for Learning
Glow (Scotland)
NGfL Cymru
Education in the United Kingdom
Governmental educational technology organizations
Information technology organisations based in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom educational programs