Formal IT Strategic Plan

[FN-GM]

Hello,

 

Bit of a cheeky request here. I was wondering if anyone has an IT strategic plan I can look at please? It's not really the strategy itself, more how it's been put together.

 

Thanks

Edited June 7, 2021 by FN-GM

[TechMonkey]

Mine is probably overkill and probably not the best example but happy to share.

[FN-GM]

Thanks for your PM. Much appreciated.

[Bionic]

Mine is probably overkill and probably not the best example but happy to share.

 

I am currently going through this with our SLT. Could I be cheeky and ask if I could see how you have put your plan together? I won't be offended if you say no

[TechMonkey]

PM me an email and I'll send it across.

[FN-GM]

Is anyone else able to throw their hat in the ring please?

[allers61]

Could I add to the cheeky requests and ask for a copy as well?

[StephenPink]

Likewise, I would also be curious to see some examples if others are willing to share

[TechMonkey]

As above, PM and I can send a copy.

[Dave_O]

In the spirit of transparency. Below is an abridged version of a plan for primaries in our MAT. Use it, ignore it however you want.

 

XXX MAT IT strategic guidance for primary schools

 

1. Schools should move away from locally installed and stored IT resources and use cloud based solutions. Where possible any new software acquisitions should be cloud/web based allowing students & staff to access the software from the largest number of devices.

 

2. Sufficient curriculum time should be set aside to ensure all students are able to use Office 365 and Google applications effectively. Knowing how to leverage cloud resources effectively will be of great value to them both now and in later life.

 

3. All XXX MAT primary schools are part of the XXX MAT Microsoft 365 and Google tenancies. These should be used for the creation, management and storage of all teaching and learning and administrative resources. No other fie storage solutions (eg Dropbox) or communications solutions such as Zoom should be used to hold XXX MAT resources.

 

4. The use of vendor specific software to create T&L resources such as IWB software (Promethian, Smartboard etc) that require files to be saved in proprietary formats should be depreciated in favour of saving in generic Office productivity format (Word, Excel, PowerPoint or equivalent). This way the resources will be available to the widest number of students on the largest number of devices.

 

5. To help schools move away from storing files and resources locally on the server, it is recommended that the file storage area on the server be made read only on an agreed date so that any file editing that needs to be done will require the files to be moved to OneDrive or Teams first.

 

6. Schools investment in IT hardware should primarily be focused on:-

 

a. Maintaining an effective wired and wireless infrastructure (cabling, wireless APs and switches).

 

b. Procuring relevant staff and student devices. Devices such as iPads are best used with younger students (KS1). Whilst these devices offer a simplified experience, they are, however, limited in that they can only work with one user identity. Care needs to be taken therefore when saving and creating student work on such devices. They also tend to be expensive when new, so we advise sourcing pre-owned units. The market for pre-owned devices has grown over the past 5 years to the point where most suppliers offer warranties of varying length. Consideration (and money) should also be given to the management of these devices if numbers exceed 20. Please discuss with the MAT IT Director before purchasing. It is recommended that students capable of using their own username and password (KS2+), use devices such as Chromebooks as these are cheap, last a long time on battery and require very little maintenance. Staff devices should remain Windows based to allow for connectivity to IWBs and other peripherals.

 

c. On-site server(s) should be down-sized – they should be used only for local identity, print management and temporary file storage. (MIS is cloud based - ScholarPack) It is unlikely that local identity and printing will move to the cloud in the next 3 years so a server of some description is still needed. As a consequence of these reduced requirements, the technical specifications of the server have, therefore, diminished greatly and investment in replacement equipment should reflect this. It is suggested that pre-owned servers are considered. Please discuss replacements with the IT Director prior to purchase.

 

7. Schools should avoid the extensive use of a single VLE and/or subscription-based solutions that require work to be created and stored on these platforms. Experience has shown that these solutions last at most 3 years after which they are of limited value. Given the size of Microsoft and Google their solutions will continue to develop and have the advantage of costing nothing.

 

8. Schools should continue to use the centrally procured photocopying, internet, anti-virus, Microsoft licensing and web-filtering solutions as these represent best value are cloud based (excluding photocopying) and have been checked to ensure their alignment with XXX MAT policies and direction.

[Dave_O]

The important things to bear in mind are:-

 

1. A good strategic plan is not the responsibility of IT alone.

2. Everyone has ownership of the plan once agreed.

3. The plan needs to be simple enough for non-technical people to understand

4. If the plan has been created by ITS alone it is doomed to failure. Most ITS staff know FA about education and teaching. Then the blame game ensues

 

The most productive discussions are when SLT say "we want to be able to do A, B and C" and ITS say yes to A and C but to do B as well you will need to change .... Make sure there is a clear understanding of expectation and what can be delivered. And the most important part of this is...MAKE SURE YOU DOCUMENT THE DELIVERABLES

 

I have had the advantage of 21 years teaching experience and 17 in IT (in schools, LAs and MATs). I can't tell you how many times some new bod comes along says "X technology is what we need, I know it's expensive but it will give us A and B" no discussion, no testing, no feedback from users etc and I'm the bad guy when I say, no it's shit for reasons X, Y and Z (most of which they don't understand because it's technical). I get them to document the rationale and my objections (tried to get them to outline what the success criteria would be but sadly... no) and in 18 months I show them figures of user adoption usually less than 5%. The new bod has moved on and there's still a year and a half to go on the contract (unless it's 5 years in which case they're screwed). I've even has heads ask me why I had suggested we do this in the first place! Hence the need for minutes and documents.

 

Final piece of advice ... make sure it's not your name on the bottom of the "strategic plan".

[FN-GM]

1. A good strategic plan is not the responsibility of IT alone.

4. If the plan has been created by ITS alone it is doomed to failure. Most ITS staff know FA about education and teaching. Then the blame game ensues

 

The IT Strategic plan should be underpinned by the schools strategic plan. This will address both these points.

[Dave_O]

The IT Strategic plan should be underpinned by the schools strategic plan. This will address both these points.

 

Indeed it should. Although I'm not sure it will fully address each of those points..

 

1. No, but it certainly feels like it's the job of IT to implement it. Once the plan is in place, how often do you get staff blaming IT with things like "who's idea was this anyway" and SLT saying "IT said it had to be this way, don't blame us" hence the reason for 2.

 

4. Possibly... Who writes the strategy? One of the governors, a member of SLT, a member of the IT development group? The reality is that at some stage, hopefully, IT will be asked for their input. IT then draft out their thoughts and bingo, a distorted version of this is used as the basis for the IT strategic plan.

 

To try and avert this disaster you get the IT development group (made up of teaching departments, admin staff, SLT, students and governors) to try and agree a direction. Bit like herding cats. You feel obliged to try and distil the machinations of all the disparate groups of people into some coherent direction breaking point 4. I think what I am trying to say is that it doesn't matter who writes the bloody thing, underpinned by the SDP or not, everyone has to take ownership and just linking it to the SDP on it's own is not a silver bullet.

 

Only recently I had a head and chair of governors question why we had spent £24K on a new wireless system. I showed them the IT development plan (which they had ratified and endorsed 6 months earlier) and in the first paragraph it said "..to develop and enhance mobile working..." I wouldn't mind, only both of them were in the finance meeting that agreed the purchase where I referenced the strategy. I did ask where this had come from and the head had the grace to say it was a concern of 2 members of staff (out of 200 I might add) who had her ear. The parting shot was "can we have another look at the IT strategy...". "Of course!" I replied, knowing I would be retiring a week later. Why the hell can't they agree a strategy and stick to it at least for a year! Schools have no idea what a long term IT strategy is!!

 

Don't get me wrong all is not doom and gloom. I have worked in schools where the head has a clear vision for the school and IT. I didn't always agree with it, but it does makes life so much easier.

 

It reminds me of when I first started teaching (here we go). An older (late 50s) teacher was in a meeting about training. He piped up "Huh! Did this 5 years ago, didn't work then, won't work now" 37 years later I am that man. But remember the line between cynicism and experience is a fine one. And yes, I am a cynical old b**tard.

[LH_1]

If this offer still stands, would be incredibly insightful and appreciated if I could take a look at this. Thanks.

[TechMonkey]

If this offer still stands, would be incredibly insightful and appreciated if I could take a look at this. Thanks.

 

PM'd you. Not an issue at all.

[donkeymusic]

sorry to jump on this but would I be able to take a look as well?

 

 

thank you

[Brimstone]

In the spirit of transparency. Below is an abridged version of a plan for primaries in our MAT. Use it, ignore it however you want.

 

XXX MAT IT strategic guidance for primary schools

 

 

2. Sufficient curriculum time should be set aside to ensure all students are able to use Office 365 and Google applications effectively. Knowing how to leverage cloud resources effectively will be of great value to them both now and in later life.

Whilst I agree with most of what you have said what about Teacher CPD, it's nowhere here?

Edited November 15, 2022 by Brimstone

[TechMonkey]

sorry to jump on this but would I be able to take a look as well?

thank you

 

PM me an email to send it to and I'll get it over.

[LH_1]

Thanks again for this. Appreciated.

[Caskerten]

Are you able to send me a copy of your IT strategy as well?

[TechMonkey]

Are you able to send me a copy of your IT strategy as well?

 

Of course, PM me an email and I can get it over to you.

[psydii]

Here's my strategy: write it up - make sure it fits on one page (well two, one for people who like words and one for people who like spreadsheets).

Watch it get dismissed/ignored.

Gradually eliminate every Head Teacher, member of the governing body, and finance and business team who stood in its way. **cough** Wait.

Repeat each year

After several cycles yours is the only consistent strategy document left, and there is a long evidence trail for how deviation from the strategy has poorly served the school.

You will now be on your third Finance Manager, you'll probably also have a new governing body and IT will be the Head's priority.

The strategy you wrote four years ago will now be adopted by the Head and the Finance manager as theirs.

IT will now be well funded for 18 months. Make the most of them.

Edited January 20, 2023 by psydii

[MK-Tech]

Of course, PM me an email and I can get it over to you.

 

Sorry TechMonkey, if the offer still stands could I also get it please?

[TechMonkey]

Sorry TechMonkey, if the offer still stands could I also get it please?

Yep, ping me a DM with email and I'll bounce it over to you.

[armadillo]

Yep, ping me a DM with email and I'll bounce it over to you.

 

Hi TechMonkey can you also let me have a copy please.

Thanks in advance