witch

They do indeed assume I have stuff floating around, and the tech knowhow to do it, or indeed a usb CD drive - which I don't.

So - I get back to work and realise that the discs they sent with windows recovery on are useless because....the computer doesn't have a DVD drive. I asked the tech who originally dealt with it and he said that Lenovo told him that he would have to make a bootable USB stick to apply the recovery disc!! WTF? That means a lot more work and it presumes that there is a tech capable of it in the school - many schools have nobody like that on site. I will be having words on Monday......again....

Mine are all in the cloud - log on as admin, go to admin , users, active users and delete as appropriate?

So...an update. EVENTUALLY they sent me a computer and monitor to replace the one they STILL HAVE - and we couldn't image it. The engineer came and swapped out the hard drive but we still couldn't image it. Now they have sent us a disc to see if we can load their version rather than our image. I have been off for a few weeks so the tech we paid to cover wasted hours trying to get the damn thing to image. I complained but I might as well have been shouting into the void. I then got sent three more computers. When I complained again about the failing one I was told that I had three new computers. I pointed out that these were surely to replace the three others that weren't working and eventually I got told that no, those three would be mine to keep whatever happened and the others would be mended when they found the fault. Very nice, but I actually don't need three more computers, I would rather have had some money back. We had added RAM to our Lenovos so they sent it under separate cover for the replacements - and then I got a note telling me to return one stick IMMEDIATELY else we would be charged! There wasn't any extra RAM. I complained - again, and got a message back saying - don't worry about it. Gee - thanks for that. I pointed out that this was another error and got no reply. FINALLY I got a message to tell me that they had identified the issue as a problem with a batch of monitors, and I am to send them the serial numbers of the monitors I have and they will tell me which ones need to be swapped out. I'm not convinced - we were sent a new monitor at least 6 months after we bought the original kit and the same problem occurred again - how likely is it that the monitor was from the same batch? So, when I get back I will send them the list of the monitors I have - and on we go......

I thought that was the point of academies - they would be funded directly by the government and not the LA - around here I know that is why a couple of the single-school academies went that way. Down here we are in the bottom tier of funding per pupil. We also have deprived areas and the residual grammar issue, although we have some cracking comprehensives as well - and the cleverest children don't always go to the grammars. We have been fighting for more money for years - somehow I doubt this is going to help

Lavalantula - Very unintentionally funny. Goodness knows what Steve Guttenberg was thinking...

I really want to go - still a fair way from Dorset - maybe someone is going that I can hitch a lift with (even if i have to drive half way or something)

@speckytecky Be warned - if you reinitialise, files may be lost. Make sure everything is synced first, if necessary by saving the folders onto a shared drive, or even copying them onto a memory stick. I know people have said this but it is REALLY IMPORTANT!!! (not that I have ever lost anything ever ...) Then follow the instructions for sorting it out. I would also delete all the profiles. Don't panic too much , I do this all the time

Looking at the email I was sent - we are looking at Capita hosted SIMS apparently

I've no idea - we still have two networks, admin and curriculum, and I am only curriculum which doesn't have SIMS (thank goodness). I think SIMS is currently hosted on the LA servers and I presume the school pays for that so maybe the figures add up to go hosted

one of my schools is going over to hosted at the moment. Apparently the local infant school has moved over and is very happy.

You don't want to get in a jam

hello everyone

Ring SWGfL They will tell you the situation re your broadband. I have always found them very helpful.

"and when a child leaves they are in just as good a place academically if not better than others in mainstream schools." Whilst I applaud the sentiment to some extent, I just can't believe this statement. The children may know things that others don't, but if they are going into a mainstream school they will be very behind in certain subjects. There are certainly schools that overuse computers but surely there is a middle ground. Also, given the breadth of the normal curriculum, if they are learning farming, building, dyeing etc, what else are they missing?

I think there are pros and cons to both worlds. There might be more requirement for systems to be up and running 24/7 but often you have a specific task or responsibility, beyond which it is someone else's problem, whereas in education everything tends to be your job! Massive generalisation, of course

@rpain I have use SchoolCare since I started in this job and I have always found them to be professional, affordable, helpful and genuine. I know the MD, the salemen and the techies. They are not in the least shady. SchoolsBroadband rebranded AFTER them I can't recommend them highly enough. @Dom_ They do mention Broadband on their website - it is under Products/Education IT solutions

Happy St David's Day!! Plenty of Daffodils to choose from this year

good luck to the kitty

Good Luck in your new position. Don't be a stranger

One of my employers wasn't keen on allowing me much time to go to the other school. Maybe once a half-term, and not for very long each time. It wasn't enough once all the new requirements to understand and look at data etc and how the subject was developing and the children improving etc.

I am a member of BCS as is mrwITch. We did look in to doing the Chartered IT professional thing but decided that it wasn't really worth it. I have not seen any jobs that even mention it. I don't know if it will be more of a "thing" in the future but at the moment I shan't bother. I also felt that my experience wasn't easy to shoehorn into the skills framework.

Sorry to hear that @Trapper. But you are doing the best you can and it does sound as if she might have to leave you

thanks guys - something worked so he is OK now

Thanks - I'll tell him. Anything else?