Over 700 schools around the UK participated in the pilot scheme during January and earned over 450,000 Acorn Advantage points. These schools raised enough points to claim books, projectors, software, palmtop and desktop Acorn computers.
The questionnaires will be offered to schools at no cost, for staff and pupils to distribute amongst family and friends. Each completed questionnaire will earn the school 10 Acorn Advantage points, redeemable against a variety of school equipment in the Acorn Advantage Portfolio. For example, by returning 30 questionnaires, schools will be eligible for 5 Primary level reading books; for just under 500 surveys, a Casio music keyboard; or for 1000 surveys, an Acorn computer. At various stages, schools can gain bonus points and will be able to add any Advantage points acquired to those gained already.
Frank Burdett, Marketing Operations Manager at Acorn Computers, comments:
"Schools often receive the attention of companies trying to market their products, often in a fashion which is of no benefit to the schools. Acorn Advantage's success lies simply in the relevance it has to the needs of British schools and education. Parents and teachers know that, through Acorn Advantage, valuable extra mileage can be squeezed from existing budgets. We are delighted that partners are steadily coming aboard and the involvement of ICD and the Times Educational Supplement is a great endorsement of the scheme. This is the sort of marketing initiative which can help schools in a very real way."Tony Carter, of ICD Marketing Services, said:
"In times of ever increasing pressure on school resources, the school survey scheme is an excellent opportunity for schools to gain free educational equipment at no cost to themselves or parents. Furthermore, the results of the educational questions should provide some stimulating discussion for anyone with an interest in education."The Acorn Advantage promotion was launched in autumn 1994 and already has over 14,000 members. Schools have already collected millions of points through purchasing Acorn computers, using the Acorn VISA card or through other schemes.
Acorn Computer Group plc: Acorn Computer Group plc is the holding company for Acorn Computers Limited, Acorn Australia, Acorn New Zealand, Acorn GmbH and Online Media, and owns a 43% shareholding of Advanced RISC Machines Ltd. Online Media, a division of the Acorn Computer Group, was launched in 1994 with the objective to design interactive multimedia products.
Acorn Computers Limited: Founded in 1978, Acorn Computers Limited designs, develops and markets appropriate technologies to key targeted users and is one of the world?s foremost suppliers of information technology to the education market. The first company in the world to deliver affordable 32-bit RISC-based personal computers in 1987, Acorn remains one of the most cost-effective research and development organisations in the industry with a renowned reputation for technological innovation, and which has led to the formation of Advanced RISC Machines Ltd and Online Media.
Acorn leads a worldwide community of more than 400 specialist hardware and software developers. The Acorn Group operates technological and commercial agreements and partnerships with: AB Dick ITEK, Advanced RISC Machines Ltd, Psion, IBM Blue Micro, IBM Personal Software Division, Colourgen, Kodak, FTDI (Future Technology Devices International), VLSI, GEC-Plessey Semiconductors, Granada Microcare and Tesco.