PLangdon

Sent you one back Jarrod Paul.

Cheers anyhow Mark. Have a good 2008.

I only do it Mark because I've worked there for so long and consider many of the staff friends now. I've also built up the department from nothing to what it is today. Trust me I could say 'No' any time I liked but it wouldn't rest easy with me. The management team are quite an affable bunch and have never done me any harm. Nobody expects you to do more than your job description but sometimes you just have to muck in. Hopefully it's only short term with them asking around for support anyway. Hence me in here now. 11PM on a Frida night.... what happened to my life? :? Paul

I know what you mean Mark but, trust me, it ain't a bed of flowers on my side either as a HOD. A lot of staff understand he is really busy and very few ever got on his case. The new Principle and SMT understand he needed support and were arranging it anyway. Like I said earlier it really isn't a bad place to work at. There are a lot worse. Paul.

Oh and you're right I'm one of two Heads of ICT teaching so on top of having the network drop off, the Internet dying, students not being able to log on, projectors not set up, bent USB's being asked to be straightened, being asked to get pics off cameras with no SD cards in 'em all on a daily basis I have to worry about that little thing such as everyone from Year 7 studying through to A levels, including compulsory GCSE ICT in Years 10 and 11! I also have to keep stuff like trolley installations (imminenet) and future VLE developments bubling on the back burner... (And then we die hey?) Paul.

No problem about the questions John. Here's the answers that I hope help - 1. There is no Director of ICT. SMT are showing positive signs in terms of investment (there has been a recent appointment of a new Principle and he is a forward thinking bloke - he is also a good listener). The appointment would be made - ultimately- by the Bursar. He's got his work cut out for him in having to step in with my good self restoring machines, fixing low level probs and ever other annoying issue youcan think of while the network manager is away. I imagine he wants this sorted asap so he can get back to the numbers and administrative side of running the school. 2. It is a weekly, bog standard close at 3.45 school. 3. The school is private. 4. I was pretty much guessing at the NT platform bit. If anything better could be used and proved to do so then I imagine there would be no issues as long as it was compatible with existing infrastuff. 5. I know trolleys are problematic - but nowhere near as problematic as not having enough computer classrooms. I am going to insist that a couple of the classrooms to be used are hardwired for them with APs to try and avoid drop off and speed up connection etc. 6. The VLE bit is unavoidable (sadly) it looks like do it or soon look like a 50's school. Any techies reading this will know the movement in this area and why I keep pressing for it despite the extra work it will give me. That's pretty much it really. I worked out in industry for years and really wanted a 'blood and guts' guy who doesn't have problems with running around like a headless chicken fixing stuff from logon issues to replacing failing hard drives. (As opposed to a theorist). The existing manager is great for this sort of stuff but he's off long term and we were talking about getting him an assistant anyway so with him being off this seemed like as good a time as any to get it sorted. If I don't get any joy using Edugeek over a couple of days I think we're going to have to go down the agency / paper advert route. Only seemed fair to offer it to the guys in here who show enough interest by reading these forums. Hope you techies don't mind the enemy gate crashing like this! We're not all evil and some of us appreciate what you do!

Yes I think the framework is NT but XP at w/station level. Guessing a bit here (!) - I am only having to get involved through need rather than choice. I have hundreds of students to worry about without this as well! Paul.

Fraid so. The network is a bit ad - hoc. Has been developed by and built up by one individual over the past seven years. He is off long term sick at the mo and we are looking for someone to help out with the more mundane day to day niggly tasks. It will develop as much as the individual wants it to. I am looking at buying in 3 mobile laptop trolleys and would like someone to help do the maintenace of that as well. Would be a great learning curve for someone who wants to get their head into this sort of stuff and yet who has got a good grounding knowledge to start. I know its a thankless job at times (I haven't always been a teacher!!) but it genuinely is a nice school and there is a very real opportunity for someone to get established here if they play it right. Example - Ive just put in a new projector in one of the rooms and its a royal pain in the butt trying to get it to display on the White Board - I could do it I just don't have the time or inclination wit all my other workload commitments. Paul

Hi all. new to this site and forum so bear with me. I am Head of ICT in a private secondary school in Oldham. Looking for a Junior / Trainee network support technician to start asap. The money reflects the fact that we aren't looking for an all singing all dancing specialist (£14 to £15 grand a year to start) but would like someone who has got their hands a bit dirty in terms of changing hard drives , printer cartridges etc. If they can set up user accounts great. There will be loads of opportunity to develop (and the salary will reflect this) in terms of wi-fi, VLE development in the future etc. If they quite like troubleshooting then even better and would love someone who can find their way around Windows NT. This would be a great 1st stepping stone for someone looking to get into support - the environment is nice and we don't have the sort of kids who give grief. Obviously there would have to be CRB checks (goes without sying really). If you are interested or know someone who might be contact me via this site. Cheers Paul. PS There is also opportunity to get involved in extra curricular 'fun stuff' such as CCF (go on camps, shoot guns etc) if they are that way inclined.