National Pupil Database to be developed using Beyond 20/20

OTTAWA – Jan. 21, 2004 - Beyond 20/20, the world leading developer of software for data analysis and dissemination, and Forvus, Beyond 20/20’s partner in the U.K., have won a contract with the Local Government Data Unit Wales (LGDU) to establish the online National Pupil Database for Wales, U.K.

The LGDU (www.lgdu-wales.gov.uk) develops and manages a range of statistical services to meet the information needs of Welsh local government and the National Assembly. Their mission is to improve the quality and availability of data in relation to local authorities and their communities.

The Data Unit’s vision for this project is to provide a bilingual (Welsh/English) online service wherein end users - Local Education Authorities, schools and other stakeholders - can easily access a central repository of pupil level data. "The National Pupil Database (Wales) is an exciting development that plays a part in raising educational standards,” said Brian Pickett, assistant director at LGDU. “We are looking forward to working with Beyond 20/20 in its successful development."

The repository will hold data made available from Wales’ Pupil Level Annual Census (PLASC), National Curriculum Assessment and from external examination data by external partners. Beyond 20/20’s Web software will be combined with Macromedia Cold Fusion MX to provide stakeholders with data reporting and analysis functions. As a service to these stakeholders, the online database will serve as the primary source of pupil data for research and will support many Welsh Assembly Government initiatives.

“We have now begun to make rapid inroads into the education statistics market,” said Howard Nadler, president of Beyond 20/20 Inc. “Our Web software really is ideal for reporting student data and other data related to education because it is so easy to use. With our software, decision-makers, researchers, parents, teachers, and the media can access statistics without technical training.” Beyond 20/20’s software will provide LGDU’s stakeholders with easy-to-use functions for data visualization, data export, on-the-fly calculations and conversion to charts and graphs via a Web-browser.

The technology is expected to remain in place at LGDU for five years. Forvus, Beyond 20/20’s long-time service and reseller partner in London, U.K., will be developing the system and performing any required installation and service work for the project. Forvus is an IT consultancy and services company specializing in data management solutions and web-based information systems. Visit www.forvus.co.uk to learn more.

About Beyond 20/20 Inc.

Beyond 20/20 Inc. is an Ottawa-based software company that develops solutions for data analysis, visualization and dissemination. It has been headquartered in Ottawa for 16 years and has an additional office in Washington, D.C.