Hull BSF goes to RM (Research Machines)

[Andycat]

No - I'm an IT Manager who happens to work in a school where there is value seen in allowing staff a bit of freedom by letting them play broader role in school life. This doesn't just apply to me - many of the support staff are involved in things outside their employed role.

My IT work is outstanding (the Head's words, not mine) and doesn't suffer a bit as a result, additionally the school gets a great deal of extra time out of me because I often work late on IT projects so I can be free during the day etc.

The additional roles I play go quite a way beyond "unpaid teaching assistant"

Now to me, my colleagues in the school and our SLT that seems like a great thing.

I doubt it will to RM & other companies and perhaps it doesn't to you but I believe that there is a great deal of value being thrown away there.

As I said earlier, to some staff & schools managed services will be a good thing. Others may lose a great deal beyond ICT.



Having worked in educational establishment for 23 years (most of my working life) I love it. I enjoy work and really don't want to be in any other sector - if I did I could have taken many opportunities offered to me over the years.

Happily BSF is quite a way off for us and hopefully by then someone may have seen sense and realised managed services are, perhaps, throwing the baby out with the bath water!

We're just about at BSF, everyone TUPE's on 1st Feb 2010 to Northgate.

At my School I'm Strategic ICT Manager, I manage the Network Manager, do the buying, control the Whole School ICT budget etc, as well as everything from hands on repairs, toners, passwords through to strategic planning and implementation etc.

BUT I also sing in the choir, play in the Big Band, Brass Group and Orchestra, am the Musical Director for the shows, look after Theatre lights and sound and many other bits and bats.

So the school decided NOT to TUPE me, I'll stay in their employment. It's YOUR OWN School in the majority of cases that decides who gets TUPE'd, and whilst they know I'll no longer have admin rights I'll still be a useful part of the IT team in negotiation with Northgate.

It's not as bad as people think if you talk to your Head well in advance.

[CyberNerd]

I will agree with statement above. RM culture is this while there you work very hard and I mean very hard. But in return if got a problem you get a lot of support. So if got family ill and need to take off that will be ok as long as you work hard when you are there.

Russ

Compassionate leave is a legal entitlement.
Time off for dependants (compassionate leave) : Directgov - Parents

[cookie_monster]

So the school decided NOT to TUPE me, I'll stay in their employment. It's YOUR OWN School in the majority of cases that decides who gets TUPE'd, and whilst they know I'll no longer have admin rights I'll still be a useful part of the IT team in negotiation with Northgate.

I was going to say the same thing. I think the only problem with this is that depending on your managed service provider you might be limited on what tasks you can perform on the new network.

[Andycat]

I was going to say the same thing. I think the only problem with this is that depending on your managed service provider you might be limited on what tasks you can perform on the new network.

Yes, I expect to lose most rights, but Northgate are very keen (currently anyway) to work WITH the schools, not dictate. That may change, obviously, but for now everything's fine.

[dalsoth]

Great if your school is willing to keep someone on the payroll who does not actually do anything technical on the system. Mine would not. It will be TUPE and bye bye or more likely i say bye first. Little while yet here though i expect before i really worry.

[mcloum]

Any news on how it's going in Hull yet? Has RM started staff/union meetings?

Nope they haven't even told us RM have been awarded it yet. Typical Hull council. Unions haven't been in touch nor nothing!

[torledo]

We've some time yet before BSF hits here but I would say this - I got into education IT to avoid such target based nonsense. I spent 7 years in sales living to various targets, it's not fun. I think I'll be moving on before BSF hits...

absolutely.

i tend to think we more 'thatcherised' now than we ever have been with targets and efficiencies,
10 years after the supposed end of the great experiment in flogging everything off to the private sector, and making what was left in the public sector more 'efficient'. Increases in productivity over the years should not only have allowed wages to increase in line, but also what happened to all this free time that was promised ?

Neither has materialized, and now many of those who in spite of the pay dampening have taken comfort in having enjoyable, diverse and rewarding jobs start to feel the biting winds of change.
progress, eh ?

[torledo]

So let me get this right - you're an IT Tech and you're concerned that the ICT contractor will want you to spend your time doing ICT related work rather than being an unpaid Teaching Support Assistant? How dare they - whatever next?

eh, run that one past me again. I thought the promised increases in productivity via automation, technology enhancements and the mgmt of a professional org and the processes they bring to the table to make more efficient.....should infact leave plenty of time to be involved with other aspects of the school experience rather than more time spent on ICT related work.

[broc]

I thought the promised increases in productivity via automation, technology enhancements and the mgmt of a professional org and the processes they bring to the table to make more efficient.....

That sounds like consultant-speak for 'we can employ fewer people & make them work harder maximising profit.....'

[torledo]

That sounds like consultant-speak for 'we can employ fewer people & make them work harder maximising profit.....'

that's exactly what it is. But the speak is supposed to be sold as increased productivity is good for the workers, when it is as you say about doing more with fewer bods. I'd say that increased productivity should provide the increased pay, time off and opportunities that it's supposed to bring. but doesn't.

[GrumbleDook]

Ask them to do a time and motion study of you and make recommendations how you can work more efficiently without increasing costs, reducing the flexibility of the services and facilities you deliver and still maintain motivation for you to work.

A good bet is that they will decline or they will
a) say that by changing the system things will work more efficiently (but it will raise cost due to purchases and reduce flexibility as you have to deliver only what they say, not what is requested)
b) you have to sacrifice flexibility to keep costs down but still maintain efficiency (but surely it is about reducing costs and increasing efficiency without any sacrifice?)
c) State that your motivation is the issue as you are not working with the team and only interested in protectionism.

3 standard responses in people trying to get you to outsource. As mentioned previously, it is political ... and the best thing you can do is to make sure the school keeps flexibility ... even if it drives costs up. That gives you the best hope of it being a pleasant place to work.

[nicholab]

You forgetting that a network has common components like dns, dhcp, AD and backup. These mean the the service provider can provide these at a lower cost and then bolt on extras and could still make a profit.

[GrumbleDook]

A fair chunk of this would have to be delivered locally (or have stuff on site to deliver it) to ensure performance is ok. Doing it off-site is not a sure fire way of making it cheaper. It also is part of the process of homogenisation which reduces flexibility unless thought out properly. It can work, but you need to insist on the flexibility (or the SLT do as they are the folk that carry the weight atm)

[broc]

You forgetting that a network has common components like dns, dhcp, AD and backup. These mean the the service provider can provide these at a lower cost and then bolt on extras and could still make a profit.

These are 'low cost' items to deliver anyway, compared to the rest of the school ICT infrastructure & support.

There are only two places that real savings can be made; provide less equipment & lower support costs by downgrading and reducing the number of staff onsite.

To pay for the managed service infrastructure & overheads, I believe my school will find costs go up, the amount of equipment will fall, and the level of onsite support will reduce.

[ROBOCOP]

eh, run that one past me again. I thought the promised increases in productivity via automation, technology enhancements and the mgmt of a professional org and the processes they bring to the table to make more efficient.....should infact leave plenty of time to be involved with other aspects of the school experience rather than more time spent on ICT related work.

This is the problem - people like you not in the 'real world'.

Do you think they want to bring in private sector to invest in more kit and efficient working practices to free up time for IT guys to do other stuff? No - they want to free up time so they can get rid of IT staff and reduce their costs. Doh!

And the Strategic IT Manager on here who said he was kept because the stuff he did for the school was too important to let him TUPE - get real. All the stuff you listed in your job description won't be needed when RM get the managed service and have centralised everything you do. They will have said they don't want you - if they accepted you for TUPE and then made you redundant they would pick up your redundancy costs but since they obviously have told the council to keep you they either have to keep paying you to twiddle your thumbs or give you your P45 once RM are nicely settled in. Open your eyes guys!