As part of the new Schools Internet Services you'll have noticed a few changes to how SWGfL services are invoiced. One of these changes means that SWGfL Optional Services are now invoiced directly to the school, where before they went direct to your Local Authority.
Because not every school wanted every Optional Service that was provided, it was important that schools could choose to pay for only the services they needed. So over the last 6 weeks of the 2011 summer term, we contacted every school who use SWGfL services to explain how they could choose online which Optional Services they wanted for the 2011-2012 academic year.
At the end of the summer term we took these selections, and sent an invoice to every school for the Optional Services they chose to keep. Now that schools are coming back for the Autumn term, some schools are querying the invoice, so we've written this FAQ to help answer your queries.
Q. Why is there no Purchase Order? A. Because this is a continuation of service, and it's managed automatically as part of the agreement with SWGfL, so you don't need a PO.
Q. What are the services on this invoice? A. This invoice covers your South West Grid for Learning Optional Services only. The optional services have been split from the Core, to give schools choice. As a result, this year these optional services are being invoiced directly to the schools. For more information about each line, you can get more information here
Q. What dates am I paying for on this invoice? A. When you pay this invoice, your SWGfL Optional Services will be renewed for the new academic year, from September 1st 2011 until August 31st 2012.
Q. Do I need all these services? A. Yes, we think you do because you've had them for a number of years now. Over the last 2 months of the summer term all schools in the South West were asked to choose the Optional Services they needed for 2011-2012 via the SWGfL Electronic Service Interface (ESI), here.
If you did make your choices in ESI, then the invoice reflects the selections you made. If you didn't make your choices in ESI, then the invoice you have includes all the services you had for the 2010-2011 academic year. SWGfL and RM will not deactivate any services unless you instruct us to do so via ESI, or without due notice, as for things like filtering and email, it could leave the school in a serious position.
Q. I don't want one of these services, what should I do? A. These are services you have today and have received from SWGfL for a number of years, so in the unlikely event that you want to cease a service, please email your request clearly stating your reasons to swgflrenewals@rm.com. These requests will then be managed by the team at RM, the service will be ceased and you will be notified to confirm that this has happened.
The latest date we're able to process cancellation requests is September 30th 2011, 60 days after the invoice was created. (Please note, cancellation requests may be subject to an administration charge of £50).
Q. What should I do now? A. Hopefully this Q&A will have answered most of your questions and queries about the invoice. If it has, then please go ahead and process the payment of the invoice.
