Hi,
I am not an ICT geek. Computers weren't really in existence when I was at school.
If you are in Kent are you part of BSF, because if you are, then I wouldn't buy anythng other than the platform you are going to get. If you are part of BSF, a short-term and reliable VLE would be Moodle. It only costs for space and I pay for someone to keep the Moodle installation in a "stable state". I would run a version behind the most up to date.
Moodle is wasy for non ICT specialists to use. It is free apart from the webspace. Intially ours cost £39 per year including installation - I could send you details. It will allow your staff to get a feel for what is possible. I would be happy to help, for a fee!
Part of the problem in using a VLE is getting stuff on there in the first place. This is mainly in the form of resources. Once you get to the stage of adding more interactive things, you need to think more long term for what you want.
In all the time that we have been using Moodle I have looked after it myslef - effectively I am the admin. Our ICT techs do not go anywhere near it - they have too much else to do. If you do need fixes, there are lots of companies who will provide Moodle support for £35 per hour - but I doubt you will need much in the first year.
Alternatively, if you don't want to get involved in the admin at all, then you can pay about £500 per year and have a managed Moodle environment.
Feel free to "email" back if you want futher info.
