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This is my old workplace - NM off to pastures new and they decided to split his role so 2 vacancies Fernwood school

Here is the ad Highfields School No connection to school I'm afraid.

Hello, quick question: we bought into the EES scheme, and now we are replacing our server. I know the core cals licences are covered by the scheme, but can we drop the server os licence form the quote as well? Ta!

Came across this while browsing. Job advert

On another note, at work we had an inspection, got a very good grade but then we are an academy, the government can't be seen to give anything but good grading to their flagship schools. Of course we were issuing laptops left right and centre for "small group work" = tidying away problem kids. It's all political.

The problem is if you have a small school than 1 or 2 children not achieving really mess up the results. We were inspected by an ex-Ofsted inspector (now LA) on numerous occasions (even Unannounced) who admitted that teaching was good despite coming to prove otherwise. The results are improving but apparently not enough for Ofsted. Both him and Ofsted inspector came to point out the obvious but despite us asking repeatedly didn't offer any advise on how to improve on paper to match what is happening iN the classroom. What annoys me most, that when the inspector was leaving he said -of record- that if we were inspected in December we would have got a good grade. Thanks!

Ofsted in my opinion are just a bunch of people who couldn't make it in teaching. With my governors hat on, we had an inspection, the sole inspector wasn't interested in teaching, just how to make the results fit his preconceived grade. The teachers had independent inspections from LA, our head etc, teaching was deemed all good some with outstanding features but the inspector just looked at the data and said teaching was satisfactory. What a way to demoralise your workforce. I do tend to think inspections should be no notice though. My husband has just had the Ofsted notice, but working in adult edu they get 3 weeks. So I'll have 3 weeks of hell at home as he is panicking, thanks Ofsted! No matter how many people tell him his teaching is good, he will still worry, and I don't think that's fair. In my opinion, when Ofsted come they should inspect the quality of teaching not the paper trail.

Hello, came across this job Jobs: Working for us - Derbyshire County Council 3 year contract, £20k, supporting a cluster of primary schools. I have no connection with the school, however from the website they seem to have a connection with Heritage school (BSF with Dell managed service)

Thanks for that! I don't know how I missed that one. I will bring this up in the next governors' meeting as we have to have someone to cover maternity leave soon. I could have done with the training during the last interview marathon...

Just tried to open it - the link is missing : after http, here is the link again Oakmeeds Community College - Current Vacancies

Hope I'm not treading on anyone's toes (witch) - just wanted to add a few comments about the school. It seems like a nice school now,though historically it hasn't always been. Been there for a uni project, they use learning platform for everything, and senior management is supportive - just my impression! Not affiliated with the school in any way, just local.

IMO new title for NM, pay is good but 5 years + experience is a bit out of my league Vacancies Also advertised on Monster. I have no connection with the school. Edit: only JUST advertised on Monster but the job expires TODAY!! Have a feeling they have someone lined up...

Just to add my twopenneth - did a fair ammount of research on DPA & US Safe Harbor, and I have a BIG issue with Safe Harbor - unlike the DPA, it NOT legally enforcable. So if anyone wanted to be picky, your data stored in a data centre in US is pretty vulnerable. Grumbledook is correct in saying that you do not need to store data in the EU PROVIDED you can insure it will receive the same level of protection. But if Safe Harbor isn't legally enforcable and trigger-happy US government can raid data centres at any time, US for me isn't really an option. The other point which came up during discussions on this issue in my uni course; what happens to the data which crosses country boundaries? That data will have to be encrypted to the level on lowest common denominator between the countries it crosses during the transfer. If I remember correctly, one of our lecturers (from States) was travelling to the States with an encrypted memory stick but the encryption was higher than the US goverment permits and he could have been tried under some obscure weapons law (can't remember which one though) To be honest, it is a maze, I was thinking about all the cloud-centred software schools use (mymaths springs to mind) and we really don't have a clue where these companies really store the data...

I am not surprised that you went to Heritage school - staff and pupils there are very welcoming. Should have gone to Springwell! Having worked in all three schools I could talk for hours but it would not be very profesional so I'll shut up now...

I bought my hubby a car for his birthday - and the kids moaned it was the wrong colour! Well, actually it was only a model from a toy shop... Anyway, I believe there is a culture issue here we might not be aware of. My american friends tell me NOONE in the States drives a red car. If you drive a red car you are a visitor and you stick out. Hence probably the reaction. (My guess is the car was cheaper because of the colour). So if you hire a car in Florida, make sure it's not red!

Hello, interesting post. I've just done a fair amount of research into cloud apps though I am by no means an expert. Cloud seems to divide people into 2 camps like Marmite - you either love it or hate it. I used to be in the former but now I hover around the middle. A few points: security seems to be the biggest issue why people are reluctant to take up cloud based apps. However, I would argue that being ISO27001 certified means your security is probably tighter than your average network. But you are absolutely correct, you are still responsible for the data, and most cloud-provider contracts are VERY vague and non-negotiable for all but the largest organisations. The second issue is money. Cloud providers generally attract clients with low monthly rates. However, it's like the difference between renting and buying your own house. In the long run (and for some apps less than 2 years) it's cheaper to buy and install in-house. I would say at the moment cloud has its uses - but I would stear away from anything cloud-based that is paid for or "business-critical". MIS in the cloud as you said just isn't sustainable with the current infrastructure. However, Google docs etc. could give Microsoft a run for their money. I am actually going to be involved in a school cloud project (moving to Google docs, Gmail etc) so I am not really anti-cloud. As I said, as long as it's free, non business-critical and doesn't involve sensitive data(DPA), why not. Obviously the school network infrastructure and broadband connection has to support it!

Here is the vacancy Job by Reference - The University of Nottingham Shame it doesn't involve training users more or else I would go for it..

Hi, just finished my dissertation and did a bit of research into online reporting in the current climate. There were some suggestions on here previously that Ofsted will now be driving learning platforms and online reporting. However, recent Ofsted inspections in several local schools barely mentioned ICT at all, and online reporting was not mentioned. In fact, one of the schools was similar to yours; previously had outstanding features. Now they are outstanding despite not using online reporting or a learning platform. Don't know how it stacks up nationally but if you look at the Ofsted framework it doesn't mention online reporting. The framework is from 2009 so might be updated by this government?

Hello, a job in Tamworth, no salary details I'm afraid: Vacancies Brand new school (opened last year), part of a trust like Landau Forte College in Derby. Although not stated on the advert web skills might come in handy.

Hi, Pearson has this download policy for their ActiveTeach/ ActiveBook software. I once complained loudly because our bandwidth speed simply couldn't cope with 40-odd downloads, rendering bought-specifically-for-VLE package useless. Guess what? Managed to get a nice support person to send me all of them on a dvd! Didn't work next time though.. Hang on a minute; we buy a VLE-specific product and they send a dvd with instructions on how to download it? IMHO, that's poor. BTW, you also have to check compatibility; some of their so-called "scorm" didn't work on our learning platform. Their answer? "We can't possibly make all of our software compatible, we only have a very small production team" That's ok then..we are only paying you after all! OK, Rant over.

I think I'm going to go for this one here It seems to be a good bundle put together.

Thanks for all the suggestions! I had a rethink about the i3 processor so will now look at Core 2 Quads instead - I do like the look of that Zoomstorm! I have Win 7 from uni and some pc discounts I'll have to dig up so might be looking for a while yet!

I did look around. I was looking at i3 processor as it seems to perform better than amd offerings; however, not too sure if I'll see much difference? The i3 systems are a bit more expensive though.. the only few I found within my budget are here

Hello, things have certainly moved on since last I looked! Our home pc has just about had it, Sempron processor, no dedicated graphics card etc.. Things we use it for: Kids homework General Office Central storage point(photoes) However, we have now splashed out on a new camera which has hd video so might dabble in video editing. NO GAMES! Any thoughts? No more than 400 - 450 (might dig out some student discounts I've never used! Initially I was going to use my laptop but TBH desktops are much less likely to get nicked and I do cart my laptop around!

I'll tell you what, just by judging from the learning platform meetings they have a supportive SMT, and not afraid to let kids run away with things and train teachers! Would apply, but a bit too far for me!