03 April 2003

VT Education, part of the VT Group plc, has been selected as preferred bidder to partner Surrey County Council for the Council's Surrey School Support Service (Four S). Negotiations will take place in the next few weeks and the final decision to proceed is expected to be made by the County Council in June 2003. If agreed, the contract would become effective from September this year. The base value of the joint venture business is expected to be in the region of £100m., spread over a seven-year period.