Managed system

[01hanstu]

I have recently discovered our school has decided that when we go to the new build we are having a manage system from Ramesys

 

We want to just find out what kind of input the existing IT teams had for their new infrastructure in the new build.

 

also what kind of jobs do you do for Ramesys, I dont want be the 'paper boy'.

 

Do they pay well?

 

Thanks

[beeswax]

I have recently discovered our school has decided that when we go to the new build we are having a manage system from Ramesys

 

We want to just find out what kind of input the existing IT teams had for their new infrastructure in the new build.

 

also what kind of jobs do you do for Ramesys, I dont want be the 'paper boy'.

 

Do they pay well?

 

Thanks

 

To bring you up to speed, Ramesys were taken over by Capita several weeks ago, so when you're Tuped over you'll be working for them, or rather the partnership they are a part of (probably Carillion/Inspired Spaces). Unless you are an independent school or an academy, your school will have little choice but to go for the managed service offered as part of the new build. You will be Tupe'd over (do a search on Edugeek for that term) to the new company at a specified time in the future as the BSF programme rolls out in your area. Your SLT will have already decided who will be tuped over from your school, but they can't say what position you should be offered, this will be done during one-to-one interviews with the managed service provider. They should also circulate any positions available within their company to all the techs in your LEA before advertising them generally. Be warned that if you apply for one of these posts and get it, you will be taken on under the terms and conditions (T's & C's) of the new company, so things like holiday entitlement, working hours and pensions could all be affected. Neither will you have any of the limited job protection offered by the terms of being Tuped. Under Tupe you will be taken on at the same payscale you're on now, and if you receive annual increments, i.e. you're not at the top of your payscale, these will also transfer across with you. SSSNB (do a search on Edugeek) negotiations for school staff are still ongoing, but the findings will also be implemented for any ex-school staff still working under Tupe conditions.

 

However, having said that, the advent of a new government with possibly different objectives for the future of education in this country, could affect some of what I've said above. If, for example, your LEA has already signed a contract with one of these partnerships, there is a chance that a new build and managed services could come to pass; on the other hand, if nothing has so far been signed you will know as much about the situation as do I.

 

If my experience is anything to go by, you, the technician, will have little face to face input in the technical aspects of the new build, possibly advising your Head as he/she returns from meetings with the service providers. It is also probable that heads from schools in your LEA will have different responsibilities when dealing with these companies. It could be that your head is responsible for Design, and another is in charge of overseeing the IT aspect of negotiations. It's a pretty safe bet that not one of them will be an expert in their field.

 

HTH.

[pavlovs_dog]

I work in a school where Ramesys are the ICT Managed Service Provider, I was fortunate to be a member of SLT so didn't TUPE across. The onsite support is excellent on the whole (our old IT tech), it is the other stuff that is sometimes shocking. A small company that has taken on too much; one school in London was built 15 months ago, it still hasn't opened because Ramesys are unable to install the kit. Hopefully the might of Capita behind it should help!!!

[JPS]

I work in a school where Ramesys are the ICT Managed Service Provider, I was fortunate to be a member of SLT so didn't TUPE across. The onsite support is excellent on the whole (our old IT tech), it is the other stuff that is sometimes shocking. A small company that has taken on too much; one school in London was built 15 months ago, it still hasn't opened because Ramesys are unable to install the kit. Hopefully the might of Capita behind it should help!!!

 

or hinder!!!

[01hanstu]

Hi,

 

Thanks for all the replies so far. So really there is no hope!

We just want to be left alone, but its the way management want it! ...grrr.

 

Cant believe what 'pavlovs_dog' says about not being open yet! really worrying, if they are supposed to be all singing and dancing.

 

Thanks Again

[beeswax]

Hi,

 

Thanks for all the replies so far. So really there is no hope!

We just want to be left alone, but its the way management want it! ...grrr.

 

Cant believe what 'pavlovs_dog' says about not being open yet! really worrying, if they are supposed to be all singing and dancing.

 

Thanks Again

 

I wouldn't say that there's no hope, as these are interesting times (as the Chinese might say). I have heard of some areas where even though contracts have been signed, the money for new builds/refurbishments has been put on hold, whilst the funding for IT remains. As you can imagine, those heads who were promised shiny new schools aren't that happy and have said they won't go into a managed IT service, preferring the devil they know. Whether this is simply talk to stop technicians from moving on, I don't know, but I do know that there is real anger out there at the amount of time which may have been wasted in endless discussions.