BSF Handbook

[Grommit]

Wouldn't bother, they've probably been made so sign an NDA 8)

 

Bugger!.... next plan...

[peterc]

Don't curl up and die like that. They're probably out there now registering for EduGeek with aliases. As it happens, the info about the status of Bristol network guys is probably public domain as the various unions were/are involved, there wouldn't be any NDAs, and the transfer to Northgate probably hasn't impacted yet. Watch this space. What has Becta got to say on this, after all, they promote FITS with vigor and are always organising training sessions?

[beeswax]

..... and every school should have its own ICT vision document, or at least an educational vision in which ICT is clearly embedded throughout. That must be then compared with the LA vision which should reflect the school's vision.

 

In our LA that doc's called BSF Key Mi;lestones, and there's a section, "School BSF Vision Statements" with 9 bullet points, such as

• Personalised learning

• Curriculum access

• KS3 and 14-19 strategies

• Approaches to learning

• More flexible learning environment

• Improving attendance/behaviour

• How ICT supports vision

The idea is that each head takes on responsibility for one point and develops it as a bedrock for all the schools in the LA. This has got to be done by 6th July 2007.

I see further down that it also mentions TUPE transfer of staff, which has to be agreed by 6th July.

[peterc]

Could be tempted to say that this approach sidesteps the need for each school to develop its own distinctive response to the role of ICT, unless what is described is over and above a school-based response. Additionally, many heads have serious concerns about their capacity to manage the BSF process within their school once the buldozers and builders move in --- whether its a a rebuild or refurb. How much support does each school get, for example, money to second and train a senior manager to act as a Project Manager for the school?

[GrumbleDook]

We have a very good Business Manager at my school, a fellow Asst Head, and she project manages our builds ... of which we have 2 blocks being done as 2 seperate phases ... and when I have described to her some of the BSF proccess she shudders at the idea of someo of it being trusted to fellow Business Managers / Bursars who may be vastly inexperienced to deal with this level of project.

 

She would not touch it with a barge pole herself and I can't blame her.

[peterc]

She could write her own meal ticket!!

[broc]

How much support does each school get, for example, money to second and train a senior manager to act as a Project Manager for the school?

 

None. The project management is handled by consultants, appointed by the LEP (at the schools expense of course, as the fees come out of the schools BSF funding). The consulting architects who do the feasibility study cannot be the design architects so you don't get any continuity & the school SMT spends all of its time briefing new sets of consultants about their 'vision'. Of course all the architects are interested in is how to get their next architectural design award........ They are more worried about how the building looks than if it is useable. Expect an Atrium or two, lots of glass, wide staircases, balconies, natural ventilation........ it will look great but wait until things start flying over balconies!

 

Then, when you start to look at how the building space might shape up:

 

You want public areas in school, so kids can get in out of the rain? Sorry, your 'footprint' is determined by a formula based upon projected number of students and you can only have public space at the expense of classroom size. This is especially bad news if you happen to have falling rolls.

 

You want a staff room? Sorry, you can't have this if you want management offices, department space etc.

 

A server room, with a workshop? Why on earth would you need that? Space for support staff? Why, aren't they all in classrooms?

 

Sorry, you can't have air conditioning except in dedicated ICT suites.... too expensive & not envirnonmentally friendly.

 

Sorry, you can't have student lockers or cloakrooms, not enough space

 

BSF = Good news for builders, architects, consultants, not good news for the people who have to use the end-product.

 

It need not have been this way, if greater autonomy had been granted to the LAs and schools. The pace would have been much slower, more measured, but with longer lasting results and schools would have got what they wanted instead of a one-size-fits-all cloning operation.