Zentek and Manchester Evening News

[Gibbo]

But I am in this forum to raise awareness of e-safety in the UK whether you like it or not.

 

But you're preaching to the converted. We're all pretty much up to speed on Every Child Matters (or Every Child Really Matters according to Zentek ).

 

It would be interesting to know which areas or schools you've visited which don't have the funding to implement it. But from my experience in a number of LEAs across the North West over many years this has not been the case and machines are locked down to within an inch of their life.

 

We know our roles and responsibilities - that's why we're Network Managers after all.

 

It's just some of us have had our fingers burnt by Zentek in the past (I could tell you some great stories!). We keep hearing the rhetoric that they're "changing" but then they go and do a stunt like this which makes me believe that they're still the same.

 

If I were working in your area and read that article, I would be fuming. The head would be swamped by calls and letters from parents reading that story and who would be the next in line to blame - yes us. "220 firewall violations" is a very vague phrase and could relate to anything - even something simple as a games site.

 

If you're happy with Zentek, that's great. I'm not sure how long you've been dealing with them - but make a note of how many different account managers you have over the coming years and see if you can find out why they keep leaving.

 

It seems to me that from that article Zentek is using you and that reflects badly on all IT staff in your area.

Edited November 21, 2008 by Gibbo

[cdmckeown]

Hi DMcCoy,

 

You raise a really important point as it is often the overburdened ICT Manager and their team that get left to sort out e-safety as it's been deemed as an "IT issue".

 

You will be pleased to know that the LSCBs have all now been encouraged to put ICT e-safety on their agenda just as they would normally do when addressing more general child safety issues within their LA. I was invited to one of their conferences on Wednesday and the message that they are being asked to convey to LA Directors and Head Teachers is drop the "e" in e-safety as it is still a child safety issue, rcognising that e-safety technologies simply provide additional and sometimes invaluable intelligence stream.

 

You may have seen the latest Becta survey and e-safety is in the top 5 list of issues needing to be properly addressed according to the senior leaders and ICT co-ordinators who responded. This will mean that it has to be given more air time in your school at some point, lets hope for you its sooner than later.

Colin

Edited November 21, 2008 by cdmckeown
typos

[GrumbleDook]

But you're preaching to the converted. We're all pretty much up to speed on Every Child Matters (or Every Child Really Matters according to Zentek ).

 

I really wish that was the case. ECM is such a massive thing and has fingers into everywhere I would be surprised if *anyone* was up to speed with it all. I am starting to see things from the other side of the fence (actually ... the 3rd side after looking at it both for technical and manglement and now LA) and the inroads it makes into other areas is scary. The day-to-day in-school protection is a minor part. Important, but minor.

 

As pointed out by DMcCoy, not everyone is up to speed about CEOP, about what the role of the Local Safeguarding Children's Board and information within school is not always shared around. Does the child protection officer at the school have input into the IT strategy to ensure the students are in a safe and secure environment? Do all your users sign an AUP? Is it in line with what the LSCB is doing in your area? How many of you have had the Think U Know training? Are any of you are TUK Ambassadors? (might be an interesting list to build for each area actually).

[GPJ_Liverpool]

I really wish that was the case. ECM is such a massive thing and has fingers into everywhere I would be surprised if *anyone* was up to speed with it all. I am starting to see things from the other side of the fence (actually ... the 3rd side after looking at it both for technical and manglement and now LA) and the inroads it makes into other areas is scary. The day-to-day in-school protection is a minor part. Important, but minor.

 

As pointed out by DMcCoy, not everyone is up to speed about CEOP, about what the role of the Local Safeguarding Children's Board and information within school is not always shared around. Does the child protection officer at the school have input into the IT strategy to ensure the students are in a safe and secure environment? Do all your users sign an AUP? Is it in line with what the LSCB is doing in your area? How many of you have had the Think U Know training? Are any of you are TUK Ambassadors? (might be an interesting list to build for each area actually).

 

 

V Good, well done!!!!

 

All our user sign an AUP and have to click “confirm” to a disclaimer message regarding AUP and Data protection. We are a FULL Ceop school, myself and 2 members of my team completed the Ceop ambassadors training (I have now given training to ALL staff and ALL students) – even the kids that missed it, I pulled them out of lessons!

 

Have you all read the Byron review??

 

Some link for you and your staff…

 

1 Thinkuknow - home

2 BBC ChatGuide

3 WISE KIDS: Promoting Innovative, Positive and Safe Internet Use

4 The Quality Information Checklist

5 Department for Children, Schools and Families : Byron Review

 

Let me know if you want anymore…

 

 

Regards

 

Greg

[GPJ_Liverpool]

But you're preaching to the converted. We're all pretty much up to speed on Every Child Matters (or Every Child Really Matters according to Zentek ).

 

NOT AT ALL, I SEE LOTS OF SCHOOL THAT DONT HAVE A CLUE!

[conehead]

.

 

I thought forums where for balanced views, and should be moderated to that effect. God knows the response I will get if I even tried to address my thoughts on BSF and managed services within this forum, as I seem to be getting the same negative responses from this forum as I have been getting with the media.

 

Regards

 

Greg

 

Seeing as you mentioned BSF.

How does it sit with you that your school's investment in software and systems (such as the 20 Grand on security) may be swept away under BSF's managed service. Have you considered opting out of that element, like this school have done.

 

School forces climbdown over money to keep computer system - Yorkshire Post

[Gibbo]

But you're preaching to the converted. We're all pretty much up to speed on Every Child Matters (or Every Child Really Matters according to Zentek ).

 

NOT AT ALL, I SEE LOTS OF SCHOOL THAT DONT HAVE A CLUE!

 

No need to shout!

 

This is all at odds with the experience I've gained under three different LEAs. At the schools I've worked in the LEA have been interested - to the point of being downright nosey - to know what systems we have in place, how regularly they are maintained and serviced, and that we are kept up to date with latest developments in the Every Child Matters strategy, BECTA guidelines, training and so on.

 

When I was interviewed for IT Manager this played a big part of the interview process.