About E2BN

This section provides information about our organisation, our membership and the services we provide.

Our Organisation:
The East of England Broadband Network (E2BN) is one of 11 Regional Broadband Consortia (RBCs) set up by the Government to help raise standards in teaching and learning by the use of broadband technology.

Each RBC is formed from a group of Local Authorities (LAs) who work together with the aim of achieving better provision, value for money and performance for schools than could be achieved individually. Our Local Authorities are Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Luton, Milton Keynes, Norfolk, Peterborough, Southend On Sea, Suffolk, and Thurrock.

Our Vision:
E2BN seeks to raise educational standards across the whole community by providing effective broadband services throughout the East of England. Harnessing the full potential of ICT and broadband connectivity, and drawing on good practice and collective expertise, we will continue to develop, share and deliver high quality educational opportunities and contribute to community and economic development in our region.

Our Structure:
E2BN has a strong organisational base with a wide range of skills and expertise.

• Director's Group:
  This group has representation from each LA in the region and directs E2BN strategy for achieving its aims and objectives.
• Broadband Learning and Teaching Group:
  This group consists of teachers and LA advisors and advises E2BN on a range of issues relating to the development and use of ICT in the classroom and the impact of our services.
• Technical Group:
  This group advises E2BN on any technical requirements or developments.

E2BN is also supported by 4.5fte staff

Scope & Services:
E2BN s services aim to support teaching and learning either directly or through their Local Authority. The focus is the individual learner. E2BN works closely with the LAs, DfES, Becta and other RBC s to ensure our services support regional and national teaching and learning agendas.

Our services include:

• Delivery, along with UKERNA and the other RBC s of the National Education Network (NEN)
  Filtering and caching service to ensure a safe and secure online environment for learners.
• Developing, promoting and supporting the use of Learning Platforms and systems that allow anytime, anywhere access and the personalisation of learning to suit individual needs.
• Raising awareness of the potential use of ICT in the classroom and advising on good practice.
• Developing, promoting and supporting the use of network resources such as Video Conferencing, Streaming, and Web based tools, commercial content and non-commercial developed resources.

Our Region:
The region has 2822 schools. It is one of the most rural in the country. With the highest concentration of market towns below 10,000 and very poor conventional communications the delivery of Broadband is of paramount importance both to education and the improvement of the local economy. Ensuring that schools and libraries have the opportunity to fully exploit this is a key role for E2BN.