Primary school job

[googlemad]

I've found a vacancy at a local primary school

However even though it is advertised as ICT Technician, it seems they want me to manage the whole school network (Including servers).

Being a primary school I really can't see it being that fancy, so would I get through with a few MCPs under my belt? (I'm planning to take MCSE ASAP but it dosen't happen overnight!)

Also why do they want me to have good First Aid knowledge?!

[_Bat_]

Is there really going to be no-one above you?

I work for two primary schools and work there on my own, but I have a network manager who I only see about once every two weeks. I can call him if anything goes dreadfully wrong and he helps with major work (such as server upgrades), which is why I'm only considered ICT Technician.

I got this job with no experience (having only recently come out of college) and the only computing related qualification I have (aside from ICT GCSE) is an AVCE course (worth two A Levels).

As for the first aid knowledge, thats not something I had to have but I'd guess its because every school has to have some people working there with this knowledege and they might have lost one of their staff who has this knowledge recently so need to knock up their numbers (thats just my guess anyway).

[sqdge]

I got the job as ICT Network Manager based on my ability to play the piano - which is good considering I have no ICT qualifications whatsoever (I am a psychology graduate that originally trained as a printer).

[webman]

Sure that's not the keyboard, sqdge?

[john]

Sure that's not the keyboard, sqdge? )

Back in your cage Craig

[sqdge]

Sure that's not the keyboard, sqdge?

Ha ha (at this point I tried to think of something funny to say that linked Dvorak and Keyboard - but my brain stopped)

[Midget]

I'm named in the jobspec as the ICT Technician, but I am the law [/Sheriff John Brunel] .... uhh.... person who deals with all IT on site inc servers, budget etc etc so it's just a title

[Geoff]

I used to work for a 'cluster' of Primary Schools. Basically the head teachers figured out a timetable and I stuck to it. I'd turn up to each school at the allotted time and do anything the schools ICT co-ordinater asked of me (within reason).

They mostly started off being peer to peer Win9x networks. But I managed to steer most of them in the direction of WinXP + W2K3 server in the long run.

[Gatt]

(I am a psychology graduate that originally trained as a printer).

Didn't know you could get a printer qualification

Is there 3 levels? DotMatrix (Basic) Inkjet (Intermediate) and Laser (Advanced)

:P

[sqdge]

Is there 3 levels? DotMatrix (Basic) Inkjet (Intermediate) and Laser (Advanced)

Yeah, 'cos I've never heard that one before!

[witch]

I am a part-time techie in 2 primary schools and there isn't anyone else, so I could call myself Network Manager, she-who-can-fix-stuff or anything I like.
I was originally trained as an electronics and radio engineer many years ago when dinosaurs walked the earth (and most of you weren't even born!) but I got my first techie job 5 years ago knowing a bit of really basic stuff but not a lot. The thing was, I knew more than they did - or at least I knew a man that did - so I could always stay one step ahead.

As someone once said:
"THERE'S NO JUSTICE- THERE'S JUST ME"

(apologies to Terry Pratchett)

[ITWombat]

Sure that's not the keyboard, sqdge?

Ha ha (at this point I tried to think of something funny to say that linked Dvorak and Keyboard - but my brain stopped)

Do you feel like you have entered a New World?

[elsiegee40]

I am a part-time techie ... and there isn't anyone else, so I could call myself Network Manager ..."

Know the feeling. I was trained as a programmer on punch cards at university - another one from the time the of the dinosaurs!

At primary schools, I think the best job title is probably: 'The one who understands a bit more about computers than anyone else'

Network manager, ICT Technician, Printer-fixer, 'Have you got a minute...?': you choose, you're job is likely to cover all of it and a bit more! First aid may be optional, but I've got my certificate so that I can take my turn if necessary. You're equally likely to get volunteered to do sound for the year 2 play!

The major advantage is that the primary kids are still reasonably tame and won't have learnt all the destructive techniques of their elder siblings yet! There's nothing like the admiration of a gang of 5 year olds!

[_Bat_]

There's nothing like the admiration of a gang of 5 year olds!

There is also nothing quite like the look on the faces of a year 3 class when a teacher comes a-knocking on your office door in a panick saying their whiteboard is broken. Once arrived at their classroom, they explain in front of their class how they have tried everything in the past half an hour and nothing is getting it working, it must be broken.

A quick press of the function key and f5 to switch to external video (taking less then two seconds) and the look on the pupils faces was like "woooooooow..." and some of them started clapping, lol, it was funny.

[chrbb]

I love it at my primary schools, I take my turn on the playground duty and the first aid roster, first aid duty mainly consists of the same kids injured just so they can get the injury letter to take home, in fact the first letter I had to do the injured child instructed me on how to fill it in!
I find teachers can be a bit dramatic so when you do a simple but effective repair or fix they can go totally over the top, except one male teacher who 'knows' quite a bit about computers (his words) so can't quite deal with a female techie.