PRESS RELEASE

Civica appointed preferred supplier to Grace Academy for multi-site managed ICT service

Up to 5000 users will reap the benefits of a customised technology platform

London, UK, July 14, 2011 Civica, a market leader in specialist systems and business process services that help organisations to achieve a more cost-efficient way of working, has been appointed the preferred supplier for the delivery of managed service ICT provision for charitable education trust, Grace Academy. The academy is sponsored by the Grace Foundation, a registered charity established by Lord Edmiston, chairman of the IM Group, to provide education for pupils between the ages of 11-19 with an emphasis on business and enterprise based on Christian values and principles. The agreement, which begins in September, will cover three academies and an administration site across the West Midlands, giving them a top class ICT support platform to underpin best practice teaching and personal development in a modern environment. Under the contract, Civica will provide a service transition to a new 24/7 resilient network and ICT infrastructure and managed helpdesk service supporting up to 5000 users, including: Programme consultancy Transformation and change management activities Managed ICT service support with service level agreements (SLA)

Civica was successful in achieving preferred supplier status because of its track record in flexible education ICT hosting, migrating organisations to new network infrastructures, and financial transparency around its charging model. Civicas status as an approved supplier for the Department for Educations (DfE) ICT service framework was also a defining factor in being procured as a preferred partner. In addition, Civicas customised model enables each academy to retain existing or appoint new ICT support technicians while integrating with the core infrastructure support. Civica and Grace Academy will work together to provide 1st, and in some cases 2nd line support within the managed service and corresponding Service Level Agreement (SLA).

Steve Chase, chief executive officer, Grace Academy, said: We have set up a partnership with Civica that will support our delivery of world class education to children of all abilities and equip them to become the leaders of tomorrow, through our programme of extended school and life-long learning activities for all students and the community and the development of strong and meaningful links with business in line with our academies specialism. Civica is large enough to handle fast growing schools development and cater for our future demand while small enough to understand schools individual needs. Lee Burley, managing director of Civicas education division, said: With schools constantly pressured to raise standards, drive genuine transformation and improve quality of learning while reducing their costs, it is becoming more important for schools to have a trusted and reliable partner that can provide the necessary expert ICT delivery to develop innovative new ways of working and learning. Our partnership with Grace Academy demonstrates our flexible and scalable service provision that delivers education excellence through our leading edge academy e-systems and learning applications.

About Civica The Civica Group (www.civica.co.uk) is an international market leader in specialist IT systems and business process services for the public sector. Through experienced people who understand service delivery, the Group applies software, managed services and outsourcing to help customers streamline their activities. Civica supplies more than 2,000 organisations in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Canada and the USA, including more than 90% of the UKs local authorities. About Grace Academy Grace Academies are exciting independent schools for 11-19 year old students, where enterprise is encouraged with a view to preparing students for life in the business world, be it in trade, profession or commerce. Our aim is to create centres of excellence with a clear focus on raising standards of academic performance. We place great emphasis on the support and development of the whole individual and the moral and spiritual values of all our youngsters. To support these principles, the Academies are founded on an ethos based on Christian values. The values that comprise the Grace Academy ethos are: Grace Excellence Potential Integrity Respect Grace Academy aims to place students at the heart of all we do and develop well-educated, considerate and caring citizens with a strong sense of values that will succeed in, and contribute to society.

Press contacts For further information, please contact: Mark Walker/Paul Crouch/Lucy Houghton, Chameleon PR civica@chameleonpr.com +44 (0) 20 7680 5500