Proactive

Totally agree, but nevertheless plenty of schools do have such policies and clearly the strong representations that t20racerman has made over time to get such a policy overturned have been unsuccessful. There comes a time when, if for the sake of your own sanity if nothing else, you should let it lie.

I've obviously expressed myself badly here so I'll try again. By consistency I meant consistency in the way the Network ICT team try to treat all staff and departments across the school. Obviously this does not mean all departments need access to all the software that's deployed across the network, that would be daft. Some department require Photoshop, others cadcam stuff etc etc. But if the policy is no open source software on the network, then consistency would be not allowing one department to have open-source software and not the others if they wanted it. If the policy is no, then no it should be otherwise you'll end up with a multitude of 'could you justs' from all over the place and a deal of resentment and difficulty in justifying it if the answer is no. I understand full well how open office works ta very much. But thanks for the clarification and the suggestion that I read more of this excellent forum. However, I meant saving your OOo documents to be compatible with MSO. Could I just point out that I actually have no problem with you wanting OOo on your machines, I can just see it from the other side as well if a decision has been taken by those in charge of ICT within your school not to deploy open-source software. Still think you're making a mountain out of a molehill though

Doesn't work like that though I'm afraid. You make an exception for one department and all the others want something else then. I'm afraid you've got to have consistancy across the network. And as for MS office not opening OOo format docs, then just save those docs to be word compatible.

Any further suggestions for reputable companies would be most welcome

T'would be a boring world indeed if we all did the same thing...

My understanding of the DFES and Becta guidlines is that being on the NEN is strongly recommended for schools but not compulsory. My reasons for wanting to move are that, for my school, where we currently have a web based VLE, a very large cover room (120 seats) where the work being set is predominantly from web based sources as well as all the other things that involve the net in the day to day activities of most schools, our RBC or to be more specific our LA who currently manage our internet access on behalf of our RBC consistantly fail to provide the very service that the NEN and the RBCs were set up for in the first place: However, I realise that before such a move can take place, there are a number of issues that need to be addressed. Finding an internet provider, that can offer us a faster and much more consistant service than the one we currently have to endure (hence the purpose of this thread) How will we be able to access our LAs Intranet from without, the features and resources on NEN? Ensuring we have a decent firewall Having excellent filtering software in place to name but a few. It's not a decision I'm taking lightly orthat I intend to take without extensive reseach an consultation, but I really see no point in spending what we do on the internet at the moment and getting a service that even Orange domestic broadband customers would find rubbish compared to what they have. Now if that makes me a fully paid up member of the awkward squad then so be it. I'm sure the ladies and gentlemen who work in IT support for our LA probably think I'm the devil incarnate... I prefer to see it as attempting to ensure that our students and staff have access to the best facilities possible and that our school gets value for money from the services that it pays for

I have office 2007 on the network and when they've finalised the latest version of open office I'll put that on as well. For the same reasons that I want IE, Firefox and Opera browsers all on the network soon and why we have Macromedia and Serif etc etc etc. It's about giving people choice and keeping in mind that it's the skills we are here to teach, not the software. However, I run the network and in conjunction with the Headteacher that is the decision that we have taken. I don't suppose I'd take too kindly to a head of department banging away at the same thing again and again, even though he had been given many and varied reasons as to why it wasn't going to happen. The fact is in your school the Network Manager and the ICT Project Board make the decisions as to what is on your network. You've made representations but on this occasion not got what you want. Deal with it. At the end of the day it's not a big deal; nobody's going to die and there isn't going to be a war. And as for resigning over a piece of software on 3 machines... But you're just creating so much fuss in what many people in your school think is probably non of you business. Would you like it if your network manager or the head of Languages, for example, kept going on about better ways of running the Physics department? Not trying to cause an argument, just think you've blown it out of all proportion.

Aha, I contacted them yesterday, still waiting for them to get back to me with a quote. Have you found them to be stable? What's their support like if things go TU?

Couldn't really make my mind up which section to put this in so apologies if it should be somewhere else... Due to persistant rubbish service I've decided thatwe're going to switch our internet provider from the LA to elsewhere. Can anyone recommend any quality companies they have experience of who would be able to offer an internet service to a mid-sized secondary school?

Synchroneyes is the best piece of software I've ever bought for our network I think