With regard to the database, its also worth looking at the proposals for the dba development of OpenOffice.org 2.0 due out towards the end of next term. You can download a very early build of OO.o 2.0 from
Thanks Ian, I am aware of the roadmap but even if they start grafting in code directly from TotalRekall (not a simple process given the way its been written) they are probably going to sail past they release date and it'll probably be a year after that before it'll be really usable for students, especially the lower years. Flexidata is something that can be used today, and it can burn up the e-learning credits and will do the job until theres a GPL alternative, plus the open attitude of the developers towards Linux suggests any migration would be far less painful than a move from access and mdb's.
If any schools were interested in making a donation to this project contact me. Maybe we could start a petition to tap into the DfES innovation fund.
You did talk to Mike Chapman at the conference didnt you, he has a 'small' budget towards such a project as well as the attention of the people at the DfES for what were doing at Trinity. Regards, Ben