Technician / Computer Ratio

[Simcfc73]

Hi guys,

Just wondering what ratio other schools have when it comes to Technicians and computers.

My last place of work had 4 technicians for around 600 computers with myself responsible for the Admin side (laptops for every memeber of staff and the office desktops).

Now I am at a private school on my toddle with approaching 200 nodes. Whats the threshold when I should be requesting a nice young assistant (female) or do you reckon I should just keep having money thrown at me.

[Nij.UK]

Im on my own at the moment, and im running 250 nodes on my tod,

I dont know what the ratio is, but i know some school are a lot better equipped with technicians then we are, its purely down to budgeting i guess...

I would be interested to know what the ratio should be

[lols]

At present I am on my own with 80 machines and laptops!

Not bad going when they all work!

[Simcfc73]

One of our science teachers said it should be 150 per technician but we all know that they live on a different planet.

[webman]

There's a page on the BECTa website (sorry for swearing ) that recommends a number of technicians but depends on the competancy of users.

[Nij.UK]

I agree with Sims

Science staff are from a different planet!

[Dos_Box]

Industry recommendation is 1 per 40 workstations. This has proberbly changed due to more reliable softare and greater remote admin tools.

[mark]

BECTA ::bows down:: have an official figure: 1:80, and I understand that's soon to be revised to 1:40 Bless 'em!

Personally I'm at 1:300 on a good day

[has been discussed before BTW ]

[browolf]

900 computers/laptops and a boss (doesnt count lol) and usually 3 technicians. atm we have 2 plus a temporary one (ex student from last year).
there's more science technicians than computer technicians atm. thats sooo wrong lol

last september we officially had 2 but one was off sick, so it was just me and 900 units omg!

iirc correctly the becta suggested ratio is quite low. 150units per person or something.

[MrDylan]

We have about 600 computers and 70 laptops, two technicians.

There was originally two, then I joined (to change mice and such) = 3.
1 left to have baby = 2
1 came to cover (then stayed on) = 3
original member (Network Admin) got suspended 2 years ago = 2

That's where we are now.

We keep asking for another, but the suspended party is still beign paid so they have no money for it.

We'v ejust resorted to saying we won't support things now, unless we get more help.

What with the 3 different testing systems now, and over 70 programs on the 500 curriculum PCs, we can't do everything!

[Geoff]

Primaries = ~320 PCs + 7 Servers

Me (+ Another Technician at 3 of the 8 Primary Schools). About 1/2 day at each school.

Secondary = ~ 350 PCs + ~ 14 Servers

Me + 3 Technicians + NM. I do 90mins a day there.

BTW, recommendations are 1 Tech per 40 PCs IIRC, not 150!.

If your struggling I seriously recommed thin clients, eg Citrix. It makes things a lot easier to support.

4 Schools

8 Servers

140 Worksations

50 Laptops

Just me.

[pinemarten]

it doesn't matter how many or few techs there are, as long as things are running ok and no-one is kicking up too much of a fuss , things are unlikely to change.
the equipment keeps increasing , of course and the manpower stays the same , but people ' cope' don't they - or so it seems.
I often wonder what would happen if someone decided to build a 'state of the art' facility from scratch in industry and underpopulated the tech support - could be embarrassing, I think.
it's amazing what people can get away with on a 'drip by drip' basis (esp. in education).

[ChrisC]

Nearing 300 stations, about 40 Laptops, 2 techs.
(that's not including admin side).
Chris

[CyberNerd]

1:140 here.
Its not the computers that are the problem (thin clients here) Its the ratio of techs:users that you should be looking at.

The computers don't cause us problems but the users do, esp teachers. Our tech:user ratio is 1:475 and the tech:staff ratio is 1:50