UK schools and colleges that have signed up to Microsoft Corp's academic licensing programs face the 'significant potential' of being locked in to the company's software, according to an interim review by the UK government agency responsible for technology in education.

The British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (Becta) report also states that most establishments surveyed do not believe that Microsoft's licensing agreements provide value for money, while a separate review has recommended against the deployment of Vista and Office 2007.

Last week Becta signed a 12-month extension to its Memorandum of Understanding with Microsoft that enables schools to negotiate cheaper software deals, but many schools will not be taking advantage of it if they follow Becta's advice.

"Institutions that are not currently utilizing a Microsoft subscription licensing agreement... should consider carefully whether, in the absence of the changes Becta is recommending, they should enter into such agreements," the review, entitled Microsoft's Academic Licensing Programmes, stated.

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