Iain.Faulkner

I think @kearton means the second spot prize

We've noticed a similar decline, this current academic year we have 7 dedicated ICT/Computing teachers....next year that is being reduced to 4. I think, but don't know for sure, that the number of different ICT related options being offered at GCSE & A-Level is also being reduced.

Real men wear pink :-)

Hope you found your key in the end! I have one of these for running, surprisingly spacious, plenty of room for a phone, headphones, bit of cash, key and my Park Run barcode and still not too bulky when you're running :-) Wiggle | Nike Expandable Running Lean Waistpack - SU15 | Waist Bags I went out and did 8.2km last night....need to be running more frequently than once a week though, particularly if I'm serious about doing a half marathon next March!!

Apologies, possibly I didn't make myself clear. I'm not intending to ask staff "do you want an iPad or a Windows Tablet" my intention is to put together a questionnaire of 20 functions that different tablets can provide and get people to choose their top 5/10 for example. Based on the responses of what people would use them for, we could then progress to looking at a solution. If we have to offer out an incentive for this in order to get a higher response, then so be it. But I agree completely, this project needs to be driven by what the school is wanting to achieve by giving out a device.

Thanks for that @hallb15 I think we've covered the majority of this already (for example we have already looked into accidental damage, leasing options, accessing files, management of apps and security). The wireless infrastructure we don't have currently, it is a project that is being done over the Summer, partly for BYOD but also to support staff mobile devices. Can I ask what steps you went through in your research? What purpose have you bought the iPads to do....ie what are you expecting teachers to use them for?

I've had this in the past with previous schools. I personally find it much easier to deal with desktop PC's than with people roaming with laptops from classroom to classroom and being completely reliant on them....to the extent that in my previous school we removed the laptops completely and put desktop PC's in instead (thankfully our head seems to agree with this and is happy for people to have 2 devices).

Thanks, it has been like getting blood out of a stone trying to get information on what it is they want to achieve with this. This is why they want to questionnaire the staff, get them involved, find out what they would use them for if they had them. I do think that laptops have already been ruled out though as this project isn't to replace their desktop PC...it is to provide them with an additional device the works alongside it.

Morning all, I'm after some advice. We've been asked to look into providing our teaching staff with a mobile device of some description. Quite refreshingly, we're not having a particular device imposed on us, and it is for us to establish what is the best/correct device. Our Headteacher is in agreement with us that we need the same device for all staff (as it makes life a bit easier in terms of using them in different classrooms). This is not to provide them with a device that will replace their existing classroom PC....this is to go in alongside this to enhance their teaching and learning (I think the word revolutionise has been used). Has anyone been through this process before? How did you go about choosing what was the right device for your staff? We've been asked to put together a questionnaire to get teacher's views, to keep them involved and find out what their priorities would be if they were choosing a mobile device. Again, if anyone has done this, would you be able to tell me about the process you've been through? Thanks in advance Iain

As a result, our little boy got Lego for Christmas and will be getting Lego for his Birthday in August :-)

It was last year, they were running a promotion on lego and the offer was that for every lego set you bought you got a free lego minifig (one of the sealed packets, like the current Simpson's range)....unfortunately on their website they'd made a mistake and had actually reversed the offer. So for every lego minifig you bought, you got a free lego set...of any(!) value....top value items were about £80-£90 and you were allowed up to 10 per order. So we bought 10 lego minifigs for about £20 and ended up with about £400 worth of lego :-) We did actually place 3 orders (for about £1200 worth in total) but they worked out the issue and rang us telling us they were going to cancel all the orders....but whilst they were on the phone, someone started picking one of the three orders, at which point (apparently) the order can no longer be cancelled :-) so we got 1 out of the 3 orders which was still pretty impressive :-)

Looks like my sofa did last year when we found a fault on the Waitrose website :-)

Congratulations!! Your life will never be the same again! (but the are really awesome) Welcome to the world MAJ :-)

Wow! Very impressive

Can't offer more on the MDM solution (we currently use Meraki, but with the incoming charges for over 100 devices I think we're going to have to switch if all goes to plan this summer), however, I can seriously recommend GBM digital based in Manchester. Ant Darlow is our contact and he really can't do enough for you. Truly brilliant no matter how big or small your request.

This should have appeared on the yourcounciljobs website, but apparently hasn't. https://www.hirewire.co.uk/BramhallHighSchool/SK72JT/MS_JobDetails.aspx?JobId=62085 http://Www.bramhallhigh.stockport.sch.uk Although I have no affiliation to the school (other than my wife working in the finance team), I know they have just done a virtualisation project with vanilla windows (Easter project).

I try to be as good as I can with Apples and Bananas what I tend to reach for....there does seem to be a never ending supply of cookies and Donuts at the moment though....I can't always resist :-)

Was just looking at my key rings....think they need replacing!

Brilliant, I knew there'd be an explanation :-)

I watched the third of the Hobbit Films last night (Battle of the 5 Armies), I'm a big fan of the LOTR series and the Hobbit as well, and enjoyed the film (pretty much as I would expect in one of these in all honesty) up until the very end when they seemed desperate to try and tie the end of the Hobbit Films in with the beginning of the LOTR films. Legolas is sent off to meet Stryder in the North (ok fine)....however, my issue is that in the Fellowship of the Ring, Bilbo Baggins is celebrating his 111th birthday. In the Hobbit films Bilbo is clearly a much much younger hobbit so there has to be a significant passage of time between the end of the third hobbit film and the Fellowship of the Rings. This isn't an issue for the Elves who live for many centuries, or the Hobbits who also live a decent amount of time....but for Stryder...he is a man! So for him to be the age he is in the Fellowship of the rings, surely he wouldn't have been born at the end of the Hobbit film? Even if he had, he would have been approaching pensionable age when the fellowship starts? I could be wrong on the timelines, but it all felt a bit unbelievable to me. Rant Over

For me the initial cost of buying the van wasn't overly horrific (certainly not free, but not outrageous). It's the ongoing costs of maintenance that you have to watch out for, mine's in for MOT and service at the moment and I fully expect it to need more welding to pass the MOT (same thing most years). Basically mine is an old car and as a result things are going to go wrong on it (unless I pay for a full restoration which I can't afford).

Think I've found a run to sign up for :-) 10K, 5K at Alton Towers Resort UK » Roller Coaster Race won't be paying the supposed £45 entry fee (which does include a days entry to the park), but if I can have that cost reduced as a Merlin season pass holder then I am very interested. Also looking at the Wigan 10k in September

I'd seen The running bug before but never signed up, just signed up now so hopefully will find something to enter :-)

Great work @jdoyle I desperately need to find my next event to build towards!!

Ours is going toDownload in 2 weeks as well for its first outing of the year :-) Going back to the OP, we have a 1973 VW type 2 campervan and we do the insurance through JustKampers :-)