Cockneyrebel

Thanks understand on the old privacy issue.Anything that might intrude would get student and parent approval thks

We have a school of 1850 students and 250 staff.Registrations take place 4 times a day.Recorded electronically by the teachers.We still get a few wanderers during the day.Anyone use say a system where staff and students have chipped landyards access cards maybe through a turnstile or airport entrance :logged as on site:then certain locations say prox readers so its known they are in a certain room or area. All singing and dancing so ,we can print off for fire drills/ alarms list of whos who would include visitors etc.Then other functionality that could produce all types of useful data. thks cocker “If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?” – Albert Einstein

Thanks for this good advice which I shall take. A few comments below I'd be starting from a different angle personally - look at what the school is aiming to achieve through its teaching and learning, and then look at how IT could support that. Say, for example, you want to encourage independent learning. You could look at it in multiple ways - provide out of 'normal hours' IT access in IT suites designed for the purpose (not rows of computers, but more like university layouts in libraries). Or you could go down the route of 1:1 provision. Or maybe you look at BYOD. But these sorts of ideas would then be balances against the other aims of the school. You can then take those ideas, and get them costed up and compare them according to the outcomes you wish to achieve and see which direction would be best value. Thanks very much, I’m hoping the SLT and teaching staff will put forward their views and recommendations on these points It isn't, from my view, a governor's place to be getting involved with recommending suppliers or talking about outsourcing - these are things the people employed by the school should be doing. Agree 100% The Network Manager, Finance Director, and Head Teacher.If they have never been involved in such a process before,[the LEA previously did everything] then the is a danger, would rather know what type of issues the process should involve. Also if you had your time again what you might do differently. Sometimes you can make a strategic decision ,leave the detail to be dealt with, then find your being pushed into making a decision because “time is of the essence”, but not feeling that with hindsight all the right avenues have been explored. Maybe an IT steering group etc... Governors are, in my view, an oversight body - there to question and challenge the decisions made internally. Agree To ensure good decisions are being made, but not to be making those decisions themselves. Spot on That is not to say that governors should not be giving advice based on their own experiences, but from your original post, you're indicating that you don't have relevant experience here and are looking for external input. Yep 30 years of procurement in non-education, private not public sector but never on IT Rather than do this, why not speak to the people I mentioned above and see what they can come up with? Have done and to date not anything coordinated has resulted. Also of course it doesn’t follow that just because a Head is appointed because they are a good teacher, people manager that IT is one of their strengths. Still once again thanks for all the very useful feedback Finally - the entire concept of 'revamping radically' any aspect of a school requires dedication from all involved. Forcing such change on staff can and will cause such projects to backfire spectacularly as they dig their heels in and refuse to adapt. You are so right. It is also a shame that some of the older teachers who are very good at teaching [e.g. get their sets good exam results, students like them etc{{ however you define a good teacher}}]have to spend endless hours out of normal hours cause they have to do vast amounts of paperwork manually cause they have never had the chance to learn more about IT. Having said that I was responsible for a business transition which lent itself to saving shed loads by going paperless. The staff waxed lyrically about the fact that it could not be done the files were the life of the business even though most were print offs of e mails, with all the previous ones printed again for good measure ,and as is usual became defensive and channelled all their energy into coming up with reasons why not to change. As well as one or two “the problem is” who had this as a stock answer to nearly every request. The CEO said well how are we going to proceed, his customers said they would welcome it, his suppliers –do anything to keep the business. So he sealed the letterbox, got the post what little these was re directed to the Head of admins home. On a Monday the staff came in threw a few wobbles, extensive smoking, moaning then by the end of the week, the new Docosoft e filing system was the best thing ever ,why hadn’t someone installed it before and the rest you can guess. Turnover went up 30%, costs dropped by 10%. Such things have been tried before - eg. schools that bought into the PDA for every child fad that existed a few years ago and then found themselves not using them due to teachers being unwilling to adapt their method of teaching, due to technical issues, due to lack of integration into the curriculum etc...Interesting given the learners,pupils,students are the ones who will have to use any hand helds etc I am a great believer in consulting them, not being led by them but certainly listening to them. Buying 800 iPads Cause that’s what “they want”o well,finding them all in a cupboard 3 months later priceless. For everything else there is Masterclass So basically, tread carefully.Egg shells thanks again

thks for this.Any decision to outsource would not be taken lightly ,as we know going out don't always work.[2012, security,games ], The intention being to get a spectrum of advice.One person can only give as good as he knows and sometimes will not have had the chance to experience some varying systems. Public and private sectors have some different ways of working and want to get the best of both worlds thks again

Hi Thanks for this.Our school is an Academy that converted in 2012.We have a "finance director"whos good, but we have not for sometime as a school looked to revamp radically our IT.I suppose its what as a governor should the school have /need strategically on IT............overall.Following on from that assuming we need some partners how best to get them. As always you are only as good as your experience.f you have not had to ,or been part of an IT tender process,whilst you might know how to procure generally ,might help if you don't make any mistakes that can be avoided.Thus the reason for the post thks again

Hi I am on the Holy Grail on our schools IT, new sheet, blue sky. Been doing a lot of background research in my spare time. Being a governor it not my full time job. Anyone know of any sources of free downloadable papers on overall IT strategy scoping and /or ITTs to service providers and suppliers for school software and hardware. Don’t want to reinvent a wheel if i can help it. thks cocker PS happy to donate a small amount to any preferred children’s charities for any particularly relevant individual stuff offered

Hi I am on the Holy Grail on our schools IT, new sheet ,blue sky. Been doing a lot of background research in my spare time. Being a governor it not my full time job. Anyone know of any sources of free downloadable papers on ITTs to service providers and suppliers for school software and hardware. thks cocker

Hi I am on the Holy Grail on our schools IT, new sheet ,blue sky. Been doing a lot of background research in my spare time. Being a governor it not my full time job. Anyone know of any sources of free downloadable papers on overall IT strategy scoping and /or ITTs to service providers and suppliers for school software and hardware. thks cocker

Thanks for the encouragement. Our head is of a similar vein to yours.A CANDO approach.You have offered some really good advice.Where in the UK are you ? Will drop you a PM thanks again cockney

Well old owl One of the best posts I have ever got in a forum.Thank you. Its geting a documented framework to build on.When meeting stakeholders you need to lead as well as listen.So far some have said ,when asked what they might need--- they have responded with "in what context" what about the ....trying to show them the bigger picture.Some dont seem to know what dish to choose without an overall menu. Really good advice thanks again cockney

Broc You've got it in one.Thats why I am posting on the forum so I dont have to re invent the wheel.Armed with some information can ask to go to other schools. Appreciate that the IT staff can get a raw deal.Did a life sentence in the public sector before I was given early parole........ cockney Technology... the knack of so arranging the world that we don't have to experience it. Do you realize if it weren't for Edison we'd be watching TV by candlelight?

Thanks for the helpful advice. Your points on infrastructure are very valid. I am working on the basis that the backbone can be updated to serve the requirements of the systems and hardware needed to improve learning. I agree on "toys for the boys" but I believe that children can learn better with such aids.My children seem far quicker on a keyboard,touch pad and mouse than a pen.Talking of which, is there going to be any need for children to have to write? Yep charging can be an issue, that would need to be addressed.One of the most vunerable parts of any bit of kit is the plug and socket,thats why Apple have got their new magnetic plug for the new generation of i phones and pads. Cannot remember the last time I used a bit of paper(to write on that is)so not sure there will be any need to print stuff off.Will help save a load of money.. So I agree with your 1st point thanks. On the 2nd point its not fixing a problem its looking to improve learning.The new young grad teachers almost look embrassed as they get their quill pen and not a PDA,i pad or smartphone when they start. The learners are more and more savvie at using almost everything apart from the old style tools The quest continues.......................... thanks cockneyrebel

Thanks for this.Yes, they have a few but are always busy dealing with todays fire fighting so no real quality time to look at the longer term issues. And why cannot we do................well the problem is..........dont give me problems give me solutions Thanks for the time replying cockney

Hi I am a Governor of a very large school.Like many other schools we have fallen behind on the IT front.The learners are well ahead of the teachers, they do everything on line,they are the Citizens of a digital Age.I thought I was poor on the IT front but having spent quality time in the school was amazed to see the general level of IT skills that existed or didn't so to speak.God I get frustrated at the speed of Windows 8 but trying to use ,what was it, XP ? .O and if you have a problem just ask Pugsley in year 10 he can sort it!!when hes not on his i phone designing another app,or topping up his cashless catering account having hacked and gained access to the system the day it was installed! So new brooms,open minds and a six figure budget. The remit "To consider the learners and school’s techology requirements over the next few years in order to support teaching, learning, marketing and communications. To compile a strategic plan for implementation over a 1-3 year period. The remit to encompass developments in , staff training and development, hardware and software requirements, technical infra-structure requirements, performance of the network and systems and any other related matters in this area of work". Where I need help is on overall strategic approach documentation and a framework.I have piles of good ideas on i pads, hand helds,voting devices,various possible software packages but getting it to hang together is where I'm losing it.So if anyone can pointme in the right direction would be really really gratful. O and I asked Pugsley in year 10 but he said he was to busy having to hack into the ever changing marking systems brought about as a result of Goves ,u turns, u turns Thanks​ cockneyrebel “You can take the Boy out of London but you cannot take the Londoner out of the Boy”

Hi All I am a school Governor with a passion for IT.Really enjoy it.Between jobs as they say at the moment. Hoping to learn and pick up ideas from the forum. I also have extensive experience of presentation material and the like which i can share with other users as well as Marketing and communications............. Looking forward to it................. Also embarking on a major IT review at the school so watch out for me posts Thanks cockney rebel Also a madness fan don't make you A BAD PERSON