School-based ICT Support Technicians

[sat_s]

Hi all,

 

Is there still a demand for School-Based ICT Support Technicians, mainly for primary schools?

 

I remember when I was a technician based in primary schools about 15 years ago, there was a demand because there was no dedicated staff member and all IT issues went to the ICT Co-ordinator who was normally a teaching staff member, who did not have the time as they were teaching all day. How is it nowadays? Are companies still promoting school-based technicians and are they still popular? What do these companies charge schools now (without naming the companies or schools)? I have seen contracts out there for £8,000+ for 1 days support per week for 38 weeks (term time only)

[Syman_a]

I am the onsite technician (alongside my other non-teaching role as site manager) for the day to day issues, for our 2 form primary.

 

We also buy in to network and logistical support from a third party for the big jobs, and anything i am unable to resolve locally. They attend site for a morning every two weeks during term time.

 

Not sure of the cost, will check it out.

[elsiegee40]

Moved out of technical into General Chat

 

Welcome to EduGeek @sat_s

[mikeprice]

Until Christmas I was a school based tech

 

I (and the old Head) felt that I was contributing a lot to the school. All IT problems were fixed quickly - so class based staff could reply on things like IWBs working and so could plan to use them - sound system all worked etc etc

 

also I was available for other things. 2 examples come to mind

a) we had a interactive immersive room - basically 4 projectors and 4 sensors making a whole room operate like a massive tablet - touch sensitive etc etc - excellent for engaging kids

b) projects such as printer/photocopier replacement could be tackled properly without having to take up hours and hours of a senior teacher's time

 

many more example happened during the 3 years I was there

 

so basically I was fully employed (well for the 5 1/2 days a week that I was an IT tech - I was a teacher for 2-3 1/2 days)

 

then the Head left and a new Head took over who couldn't see the point in me being there - she wanted everything to be done by teachers - and wanted me to become a full time teacher

so I left - been there done that - not going back to full time teachering

 

so I would be willing to bet that the Interactive room is now being used as a cinema only - and maybe not even that - as the teachers will never have time or inclination to set stuff up for it

I also bet that they forget the terms of printer contract and stop monitoring the printing volumes - hence ina few years they will probably suddenly get a huge bill (I did tell them this in detail before I left but senior staff will be too busy to keep an eye on it) -

The office staff were frequently asking for help with IT stuff - how to set up stuff in Excel to save them time - checking dodgy emails etc etc - now they will have more work and less support

 

anyway - my solution would be to have a single IT tech working full time for 2 or 3 primary schools - possibly 4 - based on pupils and staff numbers - that would allow for frequent visits to fix small problems quickly but also allow flexibility to spend several days at one school when a serious problem happens

[Ditto]

@mikeprice has it 100% right - no make that 200%! Any head that come in and makes a knee-jerk decision without seeing the value support staff bring to assist teachers do what we want them to do, give the kids the best education, it shows they are not ready for a leadership role. I'm seeing some variation across schools. Some schools have significant sized internal support teams, some have a part timer. In primary it tends to be the latter. As more schools move to a MAT structure, I'm seeing full timers covering all the schools across the MAT and less local based part-timers. Edited August 22, 2018 by Ditto

[mavhc]

New person on the job: I know nothing!

After a while: I know everything!

Once they have experience: I know nothing!

 

But once you've explained that you can fix things faster than a teacher, and at half the price per minute, and then create systems that will save months of work, and that the person who's the DPO can't remember their own password, and they've ignored you, might as well quit

[kidpressingbuttons]

I am the IT Manager at a large primary and also have an apprentice onsite. We are both full time and work all year round.

Being primary we do alot more than just IT, but still plenty to keep us busy!

[mikeprice]

I am the IT Manager at a large primary and also have an apprentice onsite. We are both full time and work all year round.

Being primary we do alot more than just IT, but still plenty to keep us busy!

 

Just out of interest - what size of school are you?

[kidpressingbuttons]

Nearly 800 children. All year round daycare. Fully apple school which is also a regional training centre.

We are looking at supporting more schools but nothing set in stone yet.