Bromcom

Bromcom Computers plc is a British technology company. It provides schools and colleges with a Management Information System and handheld data capture devices to record and track pupil performance. It is the market leader in electronic registration systems for schools.

History

Bromcom Computers Plc (Bromcom) was formed in 1986 by computer scientist, Ali Guryel, as a private company serving business-to-business alongside a sister company Frontline Technology Ltd. These companies were formed following the establishment of a sole proprietary company selling microcomputers as they were known at the time.

The initial entry of Bromcom into the education market was through the Education Reform Act 1988. Schools had been delegated local management and required their own "administration system".

In the early 1990s, EARS (Electronic Attendance Registration System) was created by Bromcom. This initially was an A4 computer folder for teachers to take pupil attendance electronically, replacing the traditional paper register. It caused sensation amongst the educationalists and was covered in the national TV and radio news and media and appeared in BBC TV's Tomorrow's World in January 1994.

In 1996 Bromcom enhanced wNET/Ears to include a number of new features - primarily Electronic GradeBook and the Two Way Link to SIMS Software. In 1998 Bromcom launched a new range of their computer folders with a larger LCD screen and PC-style QWERTY keyboard. The new range includes the Pro-PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), with the capability of being upgraded to the new Mini-LapTop. In the later models, the size was reduced to A5 size with models m-PDA. Bromcom then adapted Wi-Fi as the wireless standard to its full range of products eg x-PDA and Pro-xPDA including the v-PDA model with high resolution screen and backlight. The latest model is WebPDA which is browser and Wi-Fi based with colour touch-screen.

In June 2000 Bromcom launched a 'Parent Portal’, MyChildAtSchool.com, to enable pupil parents to access valuable information about their child’s academic performance in real-time via the internet. This allows parents to monitor their child’s attendance, lateness, grades, behaviour and can also see what homework their child has set.

In 2000 Bromcom launched the Bromcom e-School adapting e-commerce technology to schools. e-School brings automated online Internet-based data management of pupils across the school, to LEA/EAZs, to parents and to teachers working from home on their PC over the Internet.

By the end of 2000, Bromcom introduced the PC-1340 PC Card to enable Windows-based laptops and handhelds to perform registration via the wNET network. The associated ‘WinFolder’ registration software now joined the well-established java-based jNET/jFolder as part of the company’s multi-network software line. The following year saw the arrival of Bromcom’s next generation registration computer folder, the SmartPDA. With an enlarged screen and a full laptop-style keyboard, the SmartPDA is the same size as the MiniPDA and also includes the ability to read contactless Smart Cards.

Bromcom became the UK's first education company to adapt Microsoft .NET Framework based technology platform in 2001. The Internet technology, Microsoft .NET, enabled easier integration and hence better communication between schools, LEA's and parents.

In 2003, e-Markbook was created, an automatic and electronic tool integrating with the school's existing MIS system. This was closely followed by e-Behaviour, a software module to monitor and track pupil behaviour - both positive and negative via a points system. Once a certain number of points has been achieved, this will initiate a relevant follow-up action such as a certificate, a detention etc.

In 2004, Bromcom MIS (Management Information System) developments started and was completed in 2008, based on proven browser platform developed on Microsoft .NET technology since 2001.

Awards

In January 1994 the wNET/Ears system won the Gold Award for Educational Technology at the BETT (British Educational Technology and Training) Exhibition at Olympia in London, awarded by the Minister of Education the Rt. Hon Eric Forth}}.

In 2001, Bromcom to receive The Queen's Award for Enterprise: Innovation. The announcement was made on the occasion of The Queen's 75th birthday. This award was made in recognition of Bromcom’s innovation and sustained development in the education market.

Bromcom has won other prestigious awards over the years including the following:-

2003 Hot-100 High Growth Business - Dun & Bradstreet (ranking 87) 2002 Entrepreneur of the Year - The Times and Ernest & Young (semi finalist) 2001 The Queen's Award for Enterprise – Innovation 1994 Award for Technological Innovation & design - South Thames Business Award 1994 Gold Award for Education 1993 Invention of the Year (EARS) – finalist presented by Prof Heinz Wolf

A listing in the Sunday Times Tech Track 100 league table (Rank 52)

Notes

http://www.tes.co.uk/searchResults.aspx?area=all&keywords=bromcom http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/803471.stm

External links

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