benIT

We are looking for a committed IT Technician (Data & Systems) to play a vital part in our journey in an ever evolving, data connected school. As part of a team, they will also provide efficient and effective technical IT support for our various systems. The IT Technician (Data & Systems) is a new and exciting role within our established IT Team. We fully embrace the blend between our data and digital systems. Our modern IT provision is less about physical hardware and more about getting the best out of data and essential services provided to The Grange community. Job Pack and apply here: https://www.grange.org.uk/about-us/jobs-at-the-grange

Initially email your CV to: [email protected] The Grange School https://www.grange.org.uk/ Independent School We are looking for a committed Data Manager to continue our journey in an ever evolving, data connected school. They will manage and develop the Schools Management Information System and accompanying data solutions. The Data Manager is responsible for the overall consistency, accuracy, integrity and security of data within the Grange Data Solutions. This includes the development and maintenance of the database, school report facilities, integration with third party systems, staff training and end user support. The successful candidate will manage all aspects with great skill and attention to detail, whilst treating confidentiality and security as of paramount importance. Training and support from key stakeholders are available as required, but a proactive approach with excellent ability to manage multiple priorities is essential. Job description to follow. Full application form will need completing but hot off the press early CV's accepted initially. Looking to recruit ASAP.

Network Engineer - Cheshire North West - £26-£28K The Grange School (Hartford, Cheshire) CW8 1LU The Grange School has been one of the great success stories of independent education over the past forty years. The school was founded in 1933 as a Kindergarten and Preparatory School. In 1977, the Governors took the major step of developing secondary education and since 1978 the school has grown steadily and developed an outstanding academic reputation. Today, The Grange has a total enrolment of 1195 students with 454 in the Junior School (4-11 years) and 741 in the Senior School including 155 in a thriving Sixth Form. It is consistently the best performing school in Cheshire and undoubtedly among the very best independent co-educational day schools in the country Job Pack & Application form: https://www.grange.org.uk/about-us/jobs-at-the-grange Closing date for applications is 12 noon on Friday 25th June 2021. Interviews will be held the week commencing 28th June 2021. Many thanks

Teams Live event works for us but the 3rd party encoder element doesn’t (that’s greyed out). I spoke to Microsoft today and they said the option could drop off at any point. We also got A3 for £13 per year.

The post offered is that of IT Technician within the IT Support Department to commence as soon as possible. Job Pack & Apply here: https://www.grange.org.uk/about-us/jobs-at-the-grange

MS Teams and within that MS planner and MS To Do. They all link in together and have mobile apps so work great and importantly track who has done what but with open collaboration. We push this tech to our staff and students so use this and practice ourselves.

I highly recommend Clarioncall. That allows custom group emailing and sms on bulk, along with normal groups found in wcbs. We use it for detention sms alerts home - for little money they also do custom script work linked to sms. I also like the sms to sms reply which sports staff can use in areas that don’t have 3G or WiFi. Basic they sms with what they want to send to parents. We are about to move to iSams now but clarioncall was best at my last 3 schools I worked at.

3CX - I have used many other systems almost quadruple the cost and they don’t even come near. Nobody has ever given a decent answer to why not 3CX Also yealink hardware [emoji3]

Great post. Thanks Are you an independent school, if so did you move fees billing from WCBS? Have you still got access to PASS in a frozen state just in case need anything not exported? Thanks Ben

+1 for salamander. We have lots of groups with decent naming conventions so staff can find them with ease. Lots of groups makes no difference and helps with staff time. 30 seconds saving may not sound much but for each teacher over the year for every email is a lot, plus the wasted time otherwise for teachers reading emails not relevant to them. Do a quick bit of maths it will amaze you. Easily pay for salamander!

We are reviewing: https://www.capita-sims.co.uk/products-and-services/sims-finance Are any schools deploying / using this now? Very grateful of you could let me know! Ben

My previous experience of SIMS was a non efficient creation of end of year school reports that took hours or even days to compile. I visited a school recently that said they don’t dare run all years reports at the same time, with fear it runs into days. Your feedback welcomed as to how fair this assumption is in today’s SIMS - not the new one in 2 years [emoji1]

Did you learn anything Richard? Have you made a choice?

Partially related. iSams (unlike some other MIS systems) doesn’t allow comments or notes entered under security groups to be added. It’s all staff or nothing. I know you can upload documents with security groups (e.g safeguard group only) but does this present a GDPR issue, having the original documents lying around on network shares?

Check smart website they have a plugin to support it.

Same for me today. Spoke to their Helpdesk who said they don’t recommend encryption as it “slows their Team down” , the chap I spoke to wasn’t aware of DPA or GDPR in any detail ! #joke

The advice questions above about changing password on regular basis is old hat, it should be when you suspect or know it’s been compromised. It also says never write passwords down but them if you do... seems a bit mixed message to me.

How did you get the data for the map? Can you put any site into that to see who impacted? Thanks ben

An exciting opportunity to join IT Services Department at The Grange School, Cheshire. https://www.grange.org.uk/vacancy/it-systems-engineer/ Want interaction with a wide range of cutting edge systems with the added benefit of working for a School that invest in their staff? A quick flavour of some of our systems: Windows workstations & Servers, iPads, HP Storage, 3CX phone System, Office 365, Firefly, Papercut, eStream & eSign, ParentPay, Cashless Catering, MLS Library System, Alumni Database.

ICT Apprenticeship An excellent opportunity has arisen for a full time Apprentice to assist in the support of the School's ICT infrastructure. The successful person will have experience of Microsoft technologies and a determination to learn and progress. Full training will be given with day release, leading to an IT qualification at NVQ level 3 after 2 years. Salary £8,000 plus lunch and other benefits. For further details and an application form please contact The Personnel Dept. on 01823 703123 [email protected] Taunton School follows safer recruitment guidelines.

Closing date Monday 12th August

ICT Helpdesk Support Coordinator Required at Taunton School. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who is interested in getting more experience and career development in an IT environment. The successful person will have experience of Microsoft technologies and is able to demonstrate excellent organisational and interpersonal skills. Competitive salary plus lunch and other benefits. For further details and an application form please contact The Personnel Dept. on 01823 703123 Job Description & Application form available on school website: Taunton School is an independent boarding school and day school, for boys and girls aged 2 to 18 years. We are an International Baccalaureate World School. We are a Boarding School and Day School Located in Taunton Somerset England UK

ICT Technician Required at Taunton School. An excellent opportunity has arisen for a full time ICT Technician to assist in the support of the School's ICT infrastructure. The successful person will have experience of Microsoft technologies and a determination to learn and progress. Please contact the Personnel Department for further details and an application form 01823 703123. Email: [email protected] Taunton School follows Safer Recruitment Guidelines

Hello All, Please can anyone recommended a network cabling contractors (cat5/fiber and maybe AV) in the South West (Somerset)? Many thanks in advance Ben

We are considering various unified storage solutions – below are two main options... Option1: Main-Sun Oracle Clustered 7320 Storage and DR: Single 7120 Storage server Option 2: Main/DR: EMC VNX5300 Storage array in each I would welcome contact from any schools in Somerset or surrounding areas that have implemented an EMC or SUN solution that perhaps we could visit. Alternatively your comments on utilisation of EMC or Sun solution would be welcomed – Are you running VDI? How do you get on with the management Software? What Are the real world Advantages/Disadvantages? EMC's Storage Tiring looks impressive - Anyone using it? Appreciate your time!