Becta reluctant to upgrade school systems

Becta, the educational technology agency, has advised UK schools not to upgrade their computer systems to Microsoft’s new operating system or productivity software, Vista or Office 2007.

The report, which it released at this year’s British Education Training Technology show, advises schools and colleges against rolling out software unless they are sure they have the ability to deal with "potential interoperability and digital divide issues."

It recommended that educational institutions do not upgrade to the software unless they are rolling out new IT equipment across the entire campus. It also strongly advises against rolling out a mixed software solution.