Sky TV in staff room

[m0nty]

Morning everyone,

 

Our new headmaster has totally rebuilt our cozy old staff-room into something more like a hotel lobby. Gone are the comfy chairs and work-table, now it's all sofas and flowers. (And nobody uses it anymore ...)

 

He also had us install a 42" TV screen, and would like Sky Sports (we're currently doing Freeview only). Problem is, Sky want £450 per month because it's a semi-public space rather than someone's home. BT Vision initially said they could do it for less but then changed their minds and won't install. The HM seemed to be suggesting a "covert installation" to a classroom, and then we link it to the staff-room TV and nobody is any the wiser. I pointed out that we could end up with a £6,000 fine each, plus a criminal record, and he back-peddled on that one. But he still wants Sky.

 

So, has anyone else solved this one, preferably in a legal, honest and decent fashion? I'm not convinced anyone but the HM wants Sky, since they have other things like, you know, teaching to get on with. But if you have any experience, please let me know.

 

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Simon

[andyrite]

I think we pay about £120 a month for the HD package. The should have a schools/education pricing.

[m0nty]

I think we pay about £120 a month for the HD package. The should have a schools/education pricing.

 

Thanks Is that direct from Sky, or another supplier?

 

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Simon

[andyrite]

From sky.

[3s-gtech]

We went for Freeview HD+, with a Humax box. Total cost to install, including aerial fitment on a high wall, was less than the monthly subscription for Sky.

 

Edit: this is in the school hall

Edited September 20, 2010 by 3s-gtech

[laserblazer]

I put a TV, donated by a parent, into the staffroom and the HT had it removed!

[tech_guy]

And the educational benefits of this are?

 

I'm pretty angry at such a waste of money. When times are hard and we're having to all suffer cuts and cutbacks, and teachers never get pictured in a positive light ("too many holidays and training days" blah blah) this is a real kick in the teeth for some of us.

 

I agree.

[jamesfed]

And the educational benefits of this are?

 

I'm pretty angry at such a waste of money. When times are hard and we're having to all suffer cuts and cutbacks, and teachers never get pictured in a positive light ("too many holidays and training days" blah blah) this is a real kick in the teeth for some of us.

 

Same here - even £120 a month to me = a new server every 2 or 3 years or a IWB each year.

[m0nty]

And the educational benefits of this are?

 

I'm pretty angry at such a waste of money. When times are hard and we're having to all suffer cuts and cutbacks, and teachers never get pictured in a positive light ("too many holidays and training days" blah blah) this is a real kick in the teeth for some of us.

 

I completely agree, although we are an independent school so any implied linkage to "waste of tax-payers' money" should be avoided. It seems he just wants this because he wants the cricket, the actual benefits are marginal at best. The staff-room refit cost many thousands and here I am trying to argue that (since we now have about 400 PCs to maintain) maybe we could have more than just the two staff. But don't get me started ...

 

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Simon

[Edu-IT]

If nobody is using the staff room either, it'll just be collecting dust.

[glennda]

TBH i think its a total waste of money - we had it here so that recordings could be taken for lessons - i cancelled the subscription and now just use the box in the corner plus the tele to play the radio!

[m0nty]

Indeed, I agree it will be (and is) a waste of time and money, but I'm just a foot-soldier here. I will eventually re-purpose the whole thing to show the school calendar (which is what we had before before the screen was removed) with maybe a panel in the web-page with live video showing, probably the BBC news and weather. This is all just PR to impress visitors at the end of the day, and we're all missing the coffee-and-gossip atmosphere of the old staff-room.

 

With thanks to all who have taken the trouble to reply.

 

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Simon

[steve]

If the head has sky at home, get sky player working on their PC. That way they can watch the cricket when they want