[Sylv3r]

Just come across this, released today:

RM chosen as ICT provider for Hull BSF programme - 14th BSF win for RM

[aaronjwilkinson]

There goes me out of a job then

[cookie_monster]

Poor Hull first they get screwed by Kingston (Karoo) now RM. OUCH!!

[bossman]

@aaronjwilkinson:

Why?, from what I have gathered RM are keeping all the school staff and giving them the opportunities to better themselves through continued professional development whereas other LAs have taken it upon themselves to use BSF as a cost cutting exercise.
I would personally be looking at developing myself with RM rather than jumping ship but that is my own opinion.

Good luck with whatever happens.

[aaronjwilkinson]

I was just in a negitive mood when i wrote that. I was sat with an RM rep a few months ago actually...and she said pretty much the same to me as what you've jsut said (that they keep existing staff)

I've known this has been coming for a long time...so i'm doing a degree (into my second year)

We'll see how it goes

[broc]

I am inclined to agree with bossman; for the more able ICT support staff in schools, BSF will present new job opportunities and a career path that goes beyond what you might expect in a school. This will of course depend upon the attitude of the support staff and how well they 'fit in' ...... I am certain there will be casualties along the way.

I still think the biggest losers with BSF managed ICT services will be the schools themselves.

[cookie_monster]

I still think the biggest losers with BSF managed ICT services will be the schools themselves.

Couldn't agree more. I think failing schools (IT wise) should be forced under a managed service but schools that innovate and manage their IT effectively should be left alone. I hate the idea of one mediocre solution for everyone.

[ROBOCOP]

Originally Posted by bossman

@aaronjwilkinson:

Why?, from what I have gathered RM are keeping all the school staff and giving them the opportunities to better themselves through continued professional development whereas other LAs have taken it upon themselves to use BSF as a cost cutting exercise.
I would personally be looking at developing myself with RM rather than jumping ship but that is my own opinion.

Good luck with whatever happens.

So long as you are prepared to work hard (RM don't like clock watchers or shirkers) and do things the 'RM way' then you should be ok - you need to be prepared for big changes though (as do the teachers) as things will be done very differently to how they are now.

First thing you need to do is buy yourself a decent watch and some rollerskates to hit the new response and fix times - something like fixing ALL software faults within 30 minutes of being reported and ALL hardware faults within 1 hour I believe! You will learn to love the helpdesk.............

[russdev]

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

[cookie_monster]

Originally Posted by russdev

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

That just sounds like how working in the private sector is most of the time, someone is paying you and they want results. If they're a good employer then you will get compasionate leave etc.

[ROBOCOP]

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

[jcollings]

Originally Posted by broc

I am inclined to agree with bossman; for the more able ICT support staff in schools, BSF will present new job opportunities and a career path that goes beyond what you might expect in a school. This will of course depend upon the attitude of the support staff and how well they 'fit in' ...... I am certain there will be casualties along the way.

I still think the biggest losers with BSF managed ICT services will be the schools themselves.

The problem I have though (and we are quite a way from BSF yet in this bit of Cumbria) is that RM or whoever may well offer some of the things you describe but they will also take away a large proportion of why I (and I guess many others) work in schools.

Much as I love my IT job what excites and interests me is all the peripheral stuff the Head lets me do e.g. Going on residentials with students, producing a KS3 production, being involved in reading projects, animation projects etc. etc.

I am lucky, I have a very supportive Head who pays me well and sees the value of my working directly with students. Now whatever anyone says I will lose all that - RM aren't going to let me swan off to Wales twice a year are they? Well they will but it will be annual leave!

I love my flexible, fulfilling working life here - it's great to do so much more than IT and that will be a story repeated throughout many other schools I suspect.

Life after BSF may well offer much more to some people but for every winner I think there will be many losers.

[tmcd35]

Originally Posted by ROBOCOP

First thing you need to do is buy yourself a decent watch and some rollerskates to hit the new response and fix times - something like fixing ALL software faults within 30 minutes of being reported and ALL hardware faults within 1 hour I believe! You will learn to love the helpdesk.............

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...

[ROBOCOP]

Originally Posted by jcollings

Much as I love my IT job what excites and interests me is all the peripheral stuff the Head lets me do e.g. Going on residentials with students

I'd be careful admitting that if I were you

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?

I suggest a change in career before BSF hits you.

[jcollings]

Originally Posted by ROBOCOP

I'd be careful admitting that if I were you

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?

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.

Originally Posted by ROBOCOP

I suggest a change in career before BSF hits you.

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!