ESSEX County Council plans to spend £4million on a new computer system that will allow pupils and staff across the county to communicate online.

If agreed, the new infrastructure would be phased in over the next three years.

Tracey Chapman, cabinet member for schools, children and families, said at the moment there was no centrally provided system for e-mails, collaboration or messaging between the county's schools.

She said the increasing importance of technology meant it was equally important to improve the ability of schools to communicate using the internet.

Through the planned system, pupils would be given the ability to collaborate with each other from anywhere.

It would also bring about a unified system that would provide an extra tool for teachers and administrators to communicate and share information.

Mrs Chapman said the project would be funded by the Department for Education and Skills.