Lee_K_81

Aren't RM one of the ones bidding / involved in BSF? You have to bear in mind that a lot of the companies WE all use are part of BSF. RM, Ramesys, M$, etc. They all make a profit off us anyway. Yes I agree it's not perfect, and I would MUCH prefer an in-house ICT Team that I manage, rather than my techs "TUPE" over to somebody else, but we have to be realistic. The government isnt going to just throw it's money away without knowing where it's going, hense the research and a managed system with set processes creates accountability. As for worrying about your job, there are a number of options that will open, you will either "tupe" over to managed service providor, be given a new role in school, i.e. database admin / ICT trainer, or your LA will move you to another directorate, or you will decide to move on yourself. There will be some issues for the school though, at the moment we as an ICT dept are responsible for: All ICT facilities and equipment, PA System, Stage Lighting. If / when BSF is implemented only the ICT things will be ours, there will be no more, well you have to do it because of the "other duties" clause in contract, because it will be the managed services employees.

Which queue are they in? Have you set up intelligent message filtering?

Just out of interest: http://www.schoolsnetwork.org.uk/uploads/documents/ICT_Update_A06_124051.pdf specifically page 6. Are they using the laptop for personal use on their personal internet? If you really dont want them changing settings tell them it is not allowed unless they declare that they are using it for personal uses and will pay tax on it. By taking it home and using it on a network (Internet) which we have no responsibility for, can not guarantee security of, it would constitute personal usage. Anybody have thoughts on this matter?

Resetting the OMR attendance associations didnt work for us, Link2ICT have changed their message to say there is still a prob with it and they are trying to find a solution. I just hope serco take not and dont release anything this bad again. @DanH: lol, never defend CMIS, just when you think it's fine, Bam, hits you with the most annoying error! Better just to have low expectations of it. then when it lets you down you dont get depressed (too much)!

@Ric_ completely agree. Is the changing room attached to the main building, what about a wireless solution for changing rooms? I know they're "jocks" but surely they could come to a solution of writing a paper register and then entering it on to system while the kids change back into uniform? Or they could use their fancy PDA's to write who's there and enter it. Do you really want them running round the astroturf with a PDA in their pocket. Our teachers usually join in the games for a while, wouldnt be long til it broke.

@localzuk: It's chalkboard, be carefully otherwise you'll have the politically correct brigade afteryou! I like the idea of the large stick though. Although i think upgrading to "cattle-prod 2.0" would be recommended. The front-end is shocking but manages to produce results. :twisted:

Also like office 2007, at first very disorientating but when you get used to it it's great. I uninstalled the beta for a week before installing the full version. 2003 seemed really ugly and difficult to use. I've not experienced any issues yet with it destroying other apps.

Another problem we've had is that they choose the most easy to guess passwords. If we try and set any complexity settings, or change password after period of time settings we get complaints that they cant remember their password. Normally i would respond with tough, but when it comes from the head, the bursar, etc. it gets very frustrating. Usefully when i need to log on as the user to test something on their laptop though, just a case of what's their son/daughters name? Ah yes..... I'm so tempted to ask a group of students to do a "social studies" questionnaire asking: Name, Place of birth, date of birth, number of children, names of children, names of pets, partner/spouses name, maybe even include mothers maiden name if they said they were going to produce a family tree for them. Then use given passwords to check log-ons, and then name and shame in briefing, highlighting that they'd just given students almost all the details they need to open up bank accounts, commit fraud, etc, let alone just log on as them.

Run.... It's a Serco Spy :-) Sorry DanH, you must be the only person in the country who hasnt had an issue. Our accounts dept cant do anything. Printing orders wont work and neither will authorising payments!

Ha, they've now changed the message. Now says "due to schools census [being shit, thanks a lot serco, you've trebled our daily volume of calls, grrrr], we are experiencing a high volume of calls if you......" blah blah blah..... see website for solutions for common issues. " I read between the lines a bit. I think they need to update the documentation. We've done all the ones in the 6 pages of issues, and now giving them fresh ones! Latest one: "Accounts | Ordering | Orders | Print Order" being blank

Yeah, Spoke to a supplier today who is apparently negotiating with BGFL, and a Birmingham school to implement something at their school. Just quite expensive and wondered if anybody else had done anything similar, most likely in another part of the country. I'm sure some schools in Brum have done the laptop thing though.

Hope this is in the right forum. Has anybody implemented a scheme to supply, or put parents in touch with a company who will supply, all pupils with a laptop on a lease / hire purchase / finance agreement scheme? How did it work? Who was the company who supplied them and at what cost (to school, parents)? Did the company supply technical support? Also has anybody implemented a community wireless, especially if combined with the above laptop situation. Again costs, experiences, recommended (or not) suppliers, etc. greatfully recieved! Many thanks in advance.

Anybody noticed "Accounts-> Creditors -> Print Authorisation Slips" going t1t5 up? Tell your accounts dept to check that all amounts are included on auth slips before clicking ok to say they are OK! @eduabncs: howzabout a hold queue for your hold queue. Had 2 or three mins of engaged tones before i could even get through to the queue! And does the "all our help desk staff are busy at the moment your call is held in a queue and will be answered shortly" have to be so often? It's ruining love shack!

Yah can say that again! As I write this the current number of calls to the Link2ICT service desk is 564. The usual daily amount is around 300 or so calls....!! 8O Would probably explain why I waited for 15 mins to talk to someone earlier. At least the hold music isn't greensleeves or the entertainer. I ended up with the theme from friends, love shack, amongst others. Was almost disappointed when the call finally got answered!

that was my point, they attend an interview bcs they "hopefully" want the job. A technical test, if they're prewarned when invited for interview or even send the JD & JS, will be ok. As for feeling bad about interview the nervous guy, dont! The test will give him the chance to put his knowledge on paper. We've all been given interview questions (or at least i hope we have otherwise it's just me!) where the mind goes blank and you go erm... for a minute before the brain kicks in. A test is far less daunting than an interview.

I had to do one for my job nearly 3 years ago. I did think some of the questions were a bit beneath me and many were open to interpretation. Apparently i didnt get 100% but still got the job. After seeing the list of answers i had to argue the case against some of them. While candidates may see it as below them, you have to remember you are the ones advertising the job. Whatever hoops you make them jump thorough along the way are there to ensure you hire the right person. Do you hesitate to ask them for an interview. They could argue why should they have to justify themselves to you? You have their CV and can see their qualifactions!

Is this part of an EU directive for a better work/life balance. A 3 day weekend would be fantastic!

wtf? Exactly why we don't use much open source. The staff turn their noses up at it let alone the kids. We have a member of staff (office manager) who cant use word. EVERYTHING she does is in publisher. When you are facing that level of IT Compentency it would be almost impossible to try and implement an open-source alternative.

Will only work for Birmingham Schools. You will have to contact your own LEA for your software.

yeah, you got a point. but atleast it's not £60 each. MS Exchange CAL are £1 a piece, i've heard that in industry they go for £30. We do get a (slightly) favorable deal on most things.

I can see where you're coming from but £10 compared to £0? Surely M$ could argue that they are at the disadvantage as they are trying to compete with free software! It'll never happen though. £30 for a license isnt too bad a suppose.....

it was released yesterday, and very BIG creases: http://www.bgfl.org/services/itcmis/latest_software.htm

Interesting point since if we send the kids out happy with using open source, businesses wouldnt need to train them, or they may infact get jobs where they are responsible for deciding what technology to use. To be honest i'd be very happy paying £10 a license. Especially they bulk in which we use it.

We installed yesterday afternoon, had a few calls instantly from people asking how to get in? Answer, click "file --> open --> then select admin1.cdb". Grrrr, do i have to do everybodies thinking..... Another issue we have found instantly is in ePortal. Something in the code causes some builds of IE to crash during log-on. Not good when you have e-registration and assessment.

I'd say you're in the same boat as me.... busy few days! We installed yesterday afternoon, had a few calls instantly from people asking how to get in? Answer, click "file --> open --> then select admin1.cdb". Grrrr, do i have to do everybodies thinking..... Another issue we have found instantly is ePortal. This has had a major face-lift, and not a good one, you may need to log in as an admin user to be able to set while stylesheet it uses. Also something in the code causes some builds of IE to crash during log-on. Not good when you have e-registration and assessment. Not tested the reports yet but if CheeseDog is correct Link2ICT (birmingham LA's IT bods) are going to have a busy few weeks.