tben2505 Posted November 28, 2013 Posted November 28, 2013 Hi guys, I'm curious to know about the progression through the job as Data Manager. I have been doing the job a long time - I think the role was just developed in schools when I took my first job out of university - I've been a data manager in schools since November 2003 - so exactly 10 years. I'm wondering if anyone has got further up the ladder via this job though - whilst still in a school. Has anyone got onto the leadership team? Or managed to get further up somehow? I'm thinking about the future - and I think data managers learn so much about the way a school runs, and have a lot of influence, that being on the senior team is not out of the question. Cheers guys, Tom
tombry Posted November 28, 2013 Posted November 28, 2013 I think if the senior team had a role that didn't involve being an educator, you could go for that, but without having a teaching background I'd think it would be awfully hard to get in there. mind you I've only worked in a school for 2 years now, so what do I know
tben2505 Posted November 28, 2013 Posted November 28, 2013 I think that's becoming less of an issue. In a wider perspective, non-teachers are appointed as heads in some academies etc, and the secretary of state for education has never taught a child in his life! I think the landscape of leadership is definitely shifting and I know if I ran a school I'd want the greatest variety of skills and backgrounds on my team. But then I am biased of course!
gazskeltz Posted November 28, 2013 Posted November 28, 2013 Hi, I know of at least one Data Manager who's on the SLT. Not me though - although they do sometimes invite me in to meetings for my opinion. Only sometimes though...
tben2505 Posted November 28, 2013 Posted November 28, 2013 Could you see yourself on the SLT, Gaz? Where in the UK is the Data Manager on the SLT??
NormalDistribution Posted November 29, 2013 Posted November 29, 2013 Going to make a push for SLT soon I think, why not? they can only say "no thank you". Think the best way to approach it is to say why you think the leadership of the school will be enhanced if you are on the SLT. In my school the finance manager and the HR manager are on SLT so why not the data manager
CAM Posted November 29, 2013 Posted November 29, 2013 Over two schools, I've found that I always end up working under a member of SLT anyway and his desk is where the buck stops. I've made decisions myself on hiring cover staff and I have a ton of freedom on how I work and what decisions I make, but the really senior level stuff he deals with. On the plus side, this also includes school politics which I'd rather steer clear of. I've found data managers have a very open and high level of access to the SLT team anyway, even going so far as the Head in my experience of working for 4 different head-teachers.
mark80 Posted November 29, 2013 Posted November 29, 2013 The last school i worked in introduced a lay of middle management on the non teaching side, so the likes of Caretaker, Data Manager, Network Manager etc.. where meeting regularly as a group to discuss matters effecting our staff and less frequently with the Heads of Department to discuss whole school matters. There was then one nominated staff from teaching & non teaching to feedback to SLT. I know its not a paid SLT role but does give you insight and experience. I think because there is a recognised BM qualification and the importance of finance in a school that BM seem to fit on SLT
jrma91 Posted November 29, 2013 Posted November 29, 2013 One other option to try would be to get on the board of governers! A good board of governers can help the head direct where the school is going! So to have someone on that who know about the best ways to interpret/manipulate data could be a really useful thing! So that the board can make better judgements! I personally am looking to be put on the board of governers so that I can help the school that way! ( The fact that I have 2 children at the school as well makes me want to go for the position!)
CaterinaAnna Posted November 29, 2013 Posted November 29, 2013 Our LA has a data team. Not sure anyone on it gets paid any more than I do though, thanks to single status pay agreements and the small size of the team (to be higher up the scale it's how many people you manage that counts, not how much you need to know).
mark80 Posted November 29, 2013 Posted November 29, 2013 @jrma91 - thats exactly what i have done, i am a LA Governor for a local secondary school too. I am finding it extremely useful as i am now privy to Finance/HR and other school matters that i would not be privy to at the school where i work. @CaterinaAnna - I have been a data bod working for the council, moved to be data manager in a secondary using CMIS, moved back to the council to be a trainer and school support for CMIS & finance, moved to SERCO (now ACS) and was a consultant trainer on Progresso and now i am back working in a secondary using SIMs as a data & exams manager (4 weeks in).
NormalDistribution Posted November 29, 2013 Posted November 29, 2013 This reminds me I wrote a piece on my blog about the role of data managers: Amazing how different we all are. Still can't believe some schools have their DMs doing cover - what a waste of resources. Defining a School Data Manager | dataeducator
mark80 Posted November 29, 2013 Posted November 29, 2013 Thats over a 10 year period, i like working in education and at the moment the only route i see to extra £££ and responsibility is to become a Business Manager. In order to do that you need ideally the CSBM/DSBM, for which you need a school to sponser you, hence why i moved from private sector back into a school. @normaldistribution - and yet they try and pigeon hole us for Single Status
skunk Posted December 2, 2013 Posted December 2, 2013 I am responsible for all things IT (non teaching) in the school, so I manage the Network Manager and his team and also the Data Team (Me and part time assistant). Responsible for recruiting, and ensuring provision for all apprentices within the school. I also double up as part time building architect, systems architect, SIMS manager (I love them updates) and Support sales. I sat on the Extended SLT whilst it existed, but never made the leap up to full SLT. I not sure the SLT requires a full time data representative at present due to its current makeup of data savvy assistant/deputy heads, but that may change. In terms of progression, what would you offer the school by being employed at a higher level with more responsibility? Work that out and sell, sell, sell!
tben2505 Posted December 2, 2013 Posted December 2, 2013 Ha cheers guys. I think it's most interesting to discern just how different our roles can be in different schools. I for one am responsible for lots of things but often feel like I am a consultant, coming into schools and fixing their data systems, procedures and practises, and everything that comes with it. Once it's all set up - it's as if I can sit back and watch it all work - and it's at times like that - when there appears to be no challenges left, that I think about how better I may be deployed. I do like working in schools and the relaxed nature compared to the private sector, so would love to progress. Will keep you posted! Cheers
chrisateen Posted December 2, 2013 Posted December 2, 2013 @NormalDistribution love the article you did. Do you mind coming to my school and explaining to them what a Data Manager is as I do cover, exams, data, updating student details on SIMS, sixth form receptionist all by myself . Just to ask you guys is it a role that you will do forever or would you go into something else in the future?
CAM Posted December 3, 2013 Posted December 3, 2013 I do Cover and it can be a nightmare some days as it eats a lot of time, but it also bumps me up the scale. That's a good blog post, what is SSAT though? I can't see any information beyond the wall they put up on the site.
Ecclesbury Posted December 3, 2013 Posted December 3, 2013 I've thought about this a bit, and I think the key to having a place on SLT is to have an area of responsibility where you are making key strategic decisions. For a "data manager" the most obvious candidates for this would be decisions relating to curriculum/examinations, target setting and timetabling. These are all areas that are pretty fundamental to the school so this could easily sit on SLT if you had that level of responsibility. I'm sure a lot of us here advise SLT already on target setting methodology, but the SLT member takes the credit. I always see the data SLT role as taking over full responsibility for this. Timetabling is an obvious one since is already often deputy heads who have responsibility for this, but more and more I hear of data managers taking over timetabling. Curriculum is the tough one. A non-teacher could probably never really fully take over responsibility for curriculum decisions but there is certainly scope for combining with deputy heads to bring timetablnig/assessment/exams insight into the curriculum debate. As a slightly cynical example, detailed knowledge of performance table structures can have a significant impact on KS4 and KS5 curriculum. The final asset of this job that could push the case for SLT inclusion is as a trainer. That is training heads of department (and other members of SLT!) on effective data analysis. When OfSted come in they never ask the data manager questions, they ask those with the responsibility and will never accept "I just ask the data manager for that" as an answer...so there is often a real need for this type of coaching (again, I'm sure lots of us on here do this kind of thing already.) So in short, the job I really want to invent is something like Curriculum & Achievement Manager which would be a non-teaching SLT role. One can but dream.
CarpeDiem Posted December 8, 2013 Author Posted December 8, 2013 Hi everyone (waves)! It has taken me two years to find this group - but pleased I have found it! This is a really interesting discussion. Current post for two years, prior experience as educational data manager in a different field (private company) but I have just become a School Governor in the school I work at..... you are right, it's incredibly interesting!! Ecclesbury - that's a good idea. I often wonder what I will be doing in x years' time - for now the role suits me but with the retirement age increasing you are looking at about 38 years of work left - and I don't intend being at this desk forever!!
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