A Meeting

[russdev]

We are currently arranging a meeting with RM that we will invite small group of members to which we can discuss how people view RM and BSF and to get some dialogue between people.

 

Yes it will be open to pro and anti rm members and anything in between.

 

We are currently looking at how many members we can invite and if we get peoples travel expenses paid.

 

Is this something people would be interested in.

 

Russ

[Domino]

Definately

[budgester]

I'm possibly up for it, we are an RM school here.

[russdev]

You don't have to an RM school as want to look at peoples views of company and BSF.

 

Russell

[Geoff]

Yes

[GrumbleDook]

It may help if there are some members who used to be RM schools who have moved away so that they can openly talk about the benefits of being independant whilst RM schools can do there bit.

[paul]

yes

[BKGarry]

I would be interested, but depends on the distance, for a person that doesn't drive in kent, it may be a little bit costly.

 

I would personally like to see what RM are offering as i work on a vanilla network here.

 

Gaz

[Grommit]

Isn't this like going to the enemy and telling them what faults they have thus making them stronger ?

 

What I would like..... is to have each County/ Borough have an ICT Education Guru (or a few) to look after and advise the Network Managers of the Schools and to develop a strong but Independant IT Network Structure..

 

So each School will have its IT manager Controlling the Technicians.. but have discussions with the Gurus on Education IT Developments and Best Practice

 

RM or any Managed Service Providor doesn't fit into this picture...

[petectid]

What I would like..... is to have each County/ Borough have an ICT Education Guru (or a few) to look after and advise the Network Managers of the Schools and to develop a strong but Independant IT Network Structure..

 

So each School will have its IT manager Controlling the Technicians.. but have discussions with the Gurus on Education IT Developments and Best Practice

 

RM or any Managed Service Providor doesn't fit into this picture...

 

Well said that man

[CyberNerd]

@Grommit

The problem with this strategy is that nothing is enforced, currently Becta advise LA's and LA's advise schools (sometimes). The problem is that if a rougue or under pressured NM is forced to bodge things then none of the standards are enforced. With BSF standards produced by Becta are enforced by contracts and if the contractor doesn't deliver eg cabling up to TIA/EIA etc standards then they get fined. I do think it can be done the way you sugest but only if it is enforced (eg by ofsted?)

[Guest richard]

I would be interested, but depends on the distance, for a person that doesn't drive in kent, it may be a little bit costly.

 

I would personally like to see what RM are offering as i work on a vanilla network here.

 

Gaz

 

That makes 2 of us here in kent who don't drive

[BKGarry]

Lol not NW Kent aswell lol

[Guest richard]

Sorry Thanet

[russdev]

Isn't this like going to the enemy and telling them what faults they have thus making them stronger ?

 

 

So are you up for coming then Grommit being that you want BSF tender companies to listen to you...

 

As for being too far once I have found out details and how many can get down we will go from there. As said looking to get rm to pay for travel expeneses etc so come on train from kent.

 

Russell

[Face-Man]

I'd be up for it... Though RM have a policy of only bidding for LA in which they have a solid presence as even they realise that they would struggle to do every school in the countries ICT services

[russdev]

I'd be up for it... Though RM have a policy of only bidding for LA in which they have a solid presence as even they realise that they would struggle to do every school in the countries ICT services

 

That's good.

 

A good point but RM also talk to other bsf tenders so maybe that info feed back to them.

 

Russ

[Grommit]

Isn't this like going to the enemy and telling them what faults they have thus making them stronger ?

 

 

So are you up for coming then Grommit being that you want BSF tender companies to listen to you...

 

Russell

 

I don't want the BSF Tender Companies to listen to me.. I want them to disappear..

 

I want the BSF to realise that they are killing the Community of ICT Management in the Education Sector...

 

Will Edugeek exist in 5 years time .. ?!?!? I doubt it..... as most of the members will either be doing a job in the private sector or be a Education Managed Service Company Drone that wont need the Edugeek Community to bounce ideas or questions off of..

 

Basically there is no future Career in IT in the Education Sector.. The only jobs will be Technican Drones, Helpdesk Support Drone, 2nd Line Helpdesk Support Drones or maybe if you are very lucky a supervisors job at one of the Big Managed Services Companies....

 

Gone are the 10's of Thousands Network Mangers Jobs in Schools.....

[GrumbleDook]

@Grommit

 

Would you prefer to have a company that employs the staff, pays the staff, trains the staff but gives the staff the freedom to provide facilities that the school needs, has the power to decide what is required based on consultation and willing to collaborate with people in similar positions in other schools?

 

If so then go and tell them.

 

As for EduGeek existing in 5 years time ... I would not want to predict the future for anything in IT but even if EduGeek isn't here there will be something else and a good number of members are likely to be around at similar sites.

 

Don't forget that people in 'industry' use such sites as Experts Exchange, Windows IT Pro, Technet, various mailing lists, Usenet ... sites like this will always be around.

[tosca925]

I'd be interested from a different aspect. I have never worked in a RM based school, only ever heard people slag them off whether rightly or wrongly. I must admit the things i have heard i tend not to like the sound of but it would be nice to have some first hand knowledge/advice to make my own mind up.

 

I like to see boths signs of the coin before making judgment but i do know a lot of staff who work in RM run LEA's and they are not happy but then again i know some staff who will never be happy.

 

 

Keep me informed, i can't garentee 100% i can attend but i will give it soem thought when you get a location.

[psydii]

has this meeting happened yet?

[russdev]

No just sorting dates out but got ofsted in tomorrow and thursday but will be sometime in aug will post dates and how to apply to attend etc next week.

[psydii]

'k

[daveyboy]

@Russ..

I'm in, not RM - not even Microsoft.

 

But a chance to talk cannot be missed.

[russdev]

Meeting open to anyone..

 

Russ