ROGER STEPHEN BLAMIRE MA
34 Linthurst Newtown, Blackwell, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, UK-B60 1BP
Tel. +44 121 445 1184; e-mail: roger.blamire@eun.org; Web site http://website.lineone.net/~roger.blamire
CURRENT ACTIVITY
Innovation Manager, European SchoolNet, Brussels, February 2000-. Involved in all aspects of the EUN,
notably:

Strengthening the European Network of Innovative Schools

Developing the EUN Editorial Board

Manager and rapporteur for key events including March 2000 EUN Millennium conference

Developing project proposals for Commission funding, e.g. ValNet and DOT.SAFE

Shaping new work for the EUN, e.g. INSIGHT observatory

Senior management tasks for the EUN, e.g. designing the 2000-2001 work plan

Representing the EUN at events, e.g. Israel, Dublin, Norway.
I also undertake commissioned work in the UK. Recent contracts:

Becta / Guardian web site awards

Modern languages ICT teacher training and resource development

Ukonline centre bid evaluator

West Midlands Broadband Consortium directorate (with J@M Associates).
PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE
Dates
Employer
Job title
Description of work
April 1998 –
January
2000
British
Educational
Communications
and Technology
Agency
Head of
International
Developments
1.
2.
International and lifelong learning projects, reporting to
Director for Lifelong Learning:

Europe and International co-ordinator, e.g. UK coordinator for European SchoolNet Editorial and
Technical Boards, European Network of Innovative
Schools and Netdays Europe

Research into what works in ICT internationally; liaison
with decision-makers abroad and international bodies,
e.g. OECD

UK Liaison across the four UK countries

Community access to lifelong learning technical
advice to New Opportunities Fund, Libraries and
Information Commission and the Department for
Education and Employment
Managing special projects, reporting to Director for
National Grid for Learning:

Development and publication of Connecting Schools,
Networking People 2000, advice to UK schools and
agencies on ICT planning, procuring, resourcing and
good practice on-line

October
1997 March 1998
July 1994 September
1997
National Council
for Educational
Technology
NCET
Manager
Manager,
Communicati
ons
Technology
and Europe
Portables for Teachers, a £23m scheme to equip over
9,000 heads and teachers with laptops and Internet
access
October 1997 - March 1998, reporting to NGfL Director,
managing high-profile and sensitive work related to the National
Grid for Learning and large-scale European educational
projects:

Designed the overall architecture of the National Grid for
Learning and the vision, shape and functionality of the
Virtual Teacher Centre

Produced guidelines for UK schools and LEAs on
development planning, ICT purchasing and good practice
for the National Grid for Learning, dealing with senior civil
servants at all stages, recovering a failing project

Represented the UK in the European SchoolNet project,
providing technical advice and co-ordinating interfaces
between the National Grid for Learning and the European
SchoolNet, dealing with senior European figures, playing a
leading role at key meetings of the Steering Group,
Technical and Editorial Groups

Nominated by DfEE to be the UK co-ordinator for EU
Netd@ys 98, liaising with other UK countries, key industry
groups (eg NetYear) and bidding consortia

Contributed to steering groups and boards of major
initiatives, eg Internet Watch Foundation Board, BBC
Computers Don’t Bite: Teachers, Schools On Line and
Anglo-Irish talks in Dublin between senior civil servants
July 1994-October 1997, reporting to Director, managing a
team responsible for communications technology and Europe:

Created and developed the NCET Web site, 1995, which
became one of the largest and most respected in UK
education with 5,000 visitors per week

Provided advice on all aspects of communications
technology, based on monitoring work in the UK and
abroad, eg ISDN, satellite networking

Built up NCET’s work and profile in Europe, including a
major role in the G7 Theme 3 project Tel*Lingua and acting
as UK co-ordinator for Netd@ys 97

Managed up to eight staff and budgets of over £200k ;
Often represented director at SMT and externally

Managed national projects, eg
1.
Education Departments’ Superhighways Initiative,
setting up projects and appointing eight evaluation
teams
2.
Lingu@NET Virtual Language Centre project, the
precursor of the Virtual Teacher Centre and a major
influence on the G7 Tel*Lingua global languages and
culture network
3.
Schools On Line Primary Bridges, developing school
links and primary resources
1992-4
NCET
Head of
events,
Marketing
Team
4.
Virtual Classroom Project, advice and evaluation for a
group of Technology Colleges
5.
Teletext for Learning project, to identify and promote
good practice in the use of Teletext
6.
Evaluation of Northamptonshire Distance Inset
Project, a precursor of EDSI
Organised quality planning and delivery of events (some 200
annually, eg BETT and Progress ‘94); managed the design,
production and dissemination of promotional and informative
materials
Set up, obtained commercial sponsorship and administrated
the first National Educational Multimedia Awards
Started LINKS, the internal newsletter; Developed and assured
norms and standards in planning and practices through the
Quality Group
1989-2
NCET
Senior
Programme
Officer
Managed modern languages projects including ELAN, created
a UK modern languages and IT network, trained trainers,
provided expert inputs to conferences and consultancy to
publishers, helped shape the national curriculum for modern
foreign languages
Invited to be Member of Editorial Board of Language Learning
Journal
1988-89:
Microelectronics
Education
Support Unit
National Coordinator for
Modern
Languages
and IT
Established a UK network of advisory teachers, designed and
delivered training courses
1979-88
Bridley Moor
High School,
Redditch
Head of
modern
languages
Improved examination grades, increased 6 th form uptake,
introduced IT in lessons in 1984, led a team of six, introduced
short courses in other languages
Elected staff representative on governing body
Produced commercial IT materials for language learning, wrote
articles for TES and subject association journals, provided
training at regional level, contributed to LEA graded objectives
working party
Elected to subject association (ALL) national committee,
organised Festival of Languages
1976-78
1973-5
Abbey High
School,
Redditch, Worcs.
Teacher of
modern
languages
Taught French and German to A level
University of
Montpellier
France
Lecteur
Taught English to French students, followed a Maitrîse degree
course, took part in debates on structural linguistics
Chaired local branch committee of Association for Language
Learning, organised regional events for pupils and
teachers1979-89
INPUT TO CONFERENCES AND COURSES (NB a selection)
Event
Year
Bertelsmann Foundation, Gutersloh
1999
Council of Europe, Latvia
1999
Education Show, keynote presentations 'The Internet for primary and secondary schools'
1998
OFSTED national conference, Internet workshop
1998
Demos seminar 'The Citizen and Government: democracy in the digital age'
1997
Cliquez pour le savoir, Cité des Sciences, Paris, 'L'enseignement et l'informatique au RoyaumeUni', presentation (in French) alongside French Ministry officials
1996
Athens, national conference on education and ICT
1997
G7 conference, Turin, planning and keynote input
1996
Schools On Line national conferences, planning and delivering
1995-7
Project Director, Progress 93 and 94, showcasing the year's work of NCET
1993-4
Project Director, BETT, Education Show, Resource, stands, seminars and publicity
1993-5
Co-ordinator of approx. 200 events per year as Head of Events
1993-5
Director of GEST/ESG courses training LEA and ITT trainers, up to five days residential
1990-2
PUBLICATIONS (NB a selection)
Strategic:

Connecting Schools, Networking People 2000, 1999 (print and Web)

Connecting Schools, Networking People, 1998, BECTa's first publication (print and Web)

Portables for Teachers article, Guardian, October 1998

contributor to OECD report Knowledge Societies: IT for sustainable Development, eds. Mansell and Wehn,
OUP 1998

G7 Tel*Lingua conference paper, Turin, 1996

‘Promoting what works in IT’, in Information Service and Use, 1994

Children on the Internet, NCH Action for Children, 1998

Northamptonshire Distance INSET Project evaluation report
Practical:

Highways for Learning

Teletext for Learning

articles in Envision magazine

Finding the Words - Dictionaries on CD-ROM
Promotional:

Progress 93 and 94 (editor),

NCET TES page 1992-3, editor
Modern languages:

'Lingu@NET, un centre de languages virtuel' in le français dans le monde, 7/97

Learning Languages with Technology

IT in Action,

Modern Languages Information Files (30 titles),

articles in TES, Francophonie, and Language Learning Journal,

Hands off - it’s my go: IT in the modern languages classroom
FORMAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Dates
Institution
Qualification
1973-76 (part time)
Manchester University
MA, thesis on the notion of project in 18th
century French literature
1975-76
Birmingham University
PGCE in modern languages
1968-73
Manchester University
BA hons. (French), class II(i), German and
Latin subsidiary
1961-68
King Edward VI Grammar School (Aston),
Birmingham
10 O level, 4 A level passes (two at
Special level)
CONFERENCES AND SHORT COURSES
Date
Organiser
Event
1999
Industrial Society
Leadership training, 2 day course
1998
DTI
'Project Management in Europe'
1993
Institute of Public Relations
'Writing for the Press'
1992
Civil Service
'Project management'
1980
Open University
Course Credit, Methods of Educational Enquiry E341
Continuous
Self
Self-directed learning in order to perform changing duties to high
standards
Various
NCET
Team building, presentation skills, appraisal and assertiveness
courses
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Understanding of the work of the education sector, government bodies and the private sector

Knowledge of ICT and its application to teaching and learning

Member of the Association for Language Learning, member of National Association of Language
Advisers

Web authoring and site administration, competent with Windows 95, Apple Macintosh operating
systems, familiar with Office 97 applications, Internet Explorer, Netscape and many educational
packages, technical aspects of the Internet

Fluent in French and competent in German

Able to manage projects, budgets and resources, lead and develop teams, communicate effectively,
analyse and identify areas for action
PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS AND ATTRIBUTES
A manager with significant experience in implementing change in ICT in education at national and
European level and with an enthusiasm for the benefits of ICT for raising standards and improving
learning opportunities for all in the Information Age.
Fluent in French and competent in German, a strong track record of initiating, promoting and
implementing new ideas and projects. A strategic and analytical thinker with a national profile for his
expertise in languages and ICT, the National Grid for Learning and Europe, negotiating regularly with
senior policy makers in the public and private sector, both in the UK and elsewhere in Europe.
Calm under pressure, able to work unsupervised, sure-footed and reliable in project planning and
implementing, resource and people management, well regarded by co-workers, a good communicator and
leader, brings out the best in others and has a keen sense of corporate values.

Born: 11th November 1949, Wolverhampton, UK. Nationality: British

Interests: reading, travel, music, cinema, education and ICT

Outstanding health and attendance record