After a competitive tendering process, XMA won the contract to provide the ICT support for the NCSL's 'Strategic Leadership in ICT course'. The course is a 'blended learning' programme for headteachers, which involves a number of activities to do with ICT that they undertake over 8 to 10 weeks. It enables Heads to consider the ICT provision in their schools and build a sustainable vision where learning is at the heart of every decision.

The DfES has asked the NCSL to reach 10,000 Heads in the next 4 years to enable the transformation in learning that ICT can facilitate together with good leadership.

The NCSL organises SLICT events across the UK each year at venues such as hotels and conference centres. For each of these events, XMA installs a wireless network from which delegates can access the Internet via their Toshiba Satellite notebooks. In addition, data projectors are set up in every room to enable the tutors to deliver full multi-media presentations.

The NCSL organises SLICT events across the UK each year at venues such as hotels and conference centres. For each of these events, XMA installs a wireless network from which delegates can access the Internet via their Toshiba Satellite notebooks. In addition, data projectors are set up in every room to enable the tutors to deliver full multi-media presentations.

Paul Newton, the Project Manager from the NCSL who is organising the course, explains why XMA was chosen to deliver the contract: "We knew that they had the expertise and the staff available to be able to deliver this contract for us.

Last year over 50 of these events took place and next year it will be around 100, so we needed to be sure that the company that partnered with us would not let us down.

"XMA have been excellent and all of the events have worked extremely well. They have delivered everything we have asked for and more and in some cases they have even become part of the training team, helping to advise head teachers about ICT issues."

Tony Richardson, Director of Online Learning at NCSL added: "The Strategic Leadership of ICT programme gives headteachers practical opportunities to develop their role as strategic leaders of ICT. The programme involves visits to good practice schools, undertaking self-evaluation of their own school's strategies and engaging with ICT. XMA have been selected to support the technology requirements of all the SLICT programmes, which have now involved around 3,500 head teachers over the last two years. XMA have provided a quality service, ensuring that heads on the programme have open access to the latest wireless, networked technology to support their learning and their planning whilst on the residential part of the programme".

There are between 35 to 40 people per course and after each event, the groups come together for a one-day event where they can share ideas and good practice. There are 13 different training teams across the UK delivering the programmes and XMA provides the ICT services for all of them.

Guy Bates, XMA's Head of Sales, believes that the work that the company is doing with NCSL demonstrates just how flexible the latest ICT technology is: "With the NCSL we had to develop a solution that would be reliable and portable and I think we have achieved that.

"With wireless technology, we are able to set up networks quickly and allow delegates to connect to the Internet from a number of rooms within a hotel or conference suite. This is ideal for the kind of training that is being delivered on this course as it allows for complete flexibility, which means that trainers and delegates can interact more effectively."