Corvidae

We've also used the A8 estimates for setting targets. With the odd P8 values for legacy subjects, and the variance in estimates, it's not an exact science but what else is there to use as a benchmark? The biggest challenge has been shifting staff away from their 'get them over the C line' habit and helping them to realize that progress matters even for those who are already over the C line but below their P8 estimate and those who will never reach the C line but could get a positive P8 despite that.

Every time they offer something like this I have to wonder if they have considered that the volume of work it creates is all too often far more time consuming than it would be to do it the old way. It might be easier, for someone with less experience, but a real waste of skill for someone who knows better methods.

As far as I am aware, no. It seems that Data Manager is, and I fear always will be, a role where responsibility far exceeds authority.

Welcome Arthur... I was beginning to think I was the only one here who was old enough to have had intimate knowledge of a mainframe.

Knowing vlookup and how to use pivot tables tends to be useful too. Remember that with Excel that there are several ways to do things and none of them are wrong. With the data task they will likely be looking for headline data so don't get caught up in fine details unless that is what they have specifically asked for. Relax, you'll be fine.

Go into the interview with curiosity and an open mind, it's likely to look like a very complicated and busy role but there's a routine to it and nothing in the role that cannot be learned. I got my first role as a data manager without any schools experience at all so I know it can be done, and that they will give an inexperienced person a chance if they are willing to get stuck in and learn as they go. Not sure without the context but I think CYA is 'children and young adults'. Best of luck with your interview.

It can be a job with many concurrent responsibilities and others are not always aware of that or respectful of it. I keep a black list of problem colleagues. No one wants to get on my list, some have even offered tribute to get off of it, all gratefully accepted of course... I am a forgiving soul... most of the time. It's not real, I don't actually have a list tacked to my wall, but it does tend to help add a little humor and perspective when someone makes your job more difficult than it needs to be, especially when you find it necessary to impress upon them that it's not a good thing to do that. It certainly helps to keep me sane... at least I think it does.

I started as an electronics technician, many, many moons ago and have had just about every role in IT there is to have including network manager, right now I'm a data manager. I find that the ICT Technicians I work with don't always like having someone who asks for exactly what is needed, but other than that I enjoy being a data manger. You need to like Excel and SIMS or whatever other MIS your school uses -- they will be your new best friends -- and you'll need to be good with numbers and have some common sense, but other than that it's fairly easy. If you also get to do timetabling that's a bonus, it's like a big logic puzzle. If you're looking for something that will challenge you in new ways then go for it.

I also found a difference in the FFT KS2 data and have now switched over to using the KS2 data from KtS exclusively and calculating it to the DfE guidance. So far I'm finding the offerings from the various data analysis systems to be inadequate in how they display the P8 data so I've also set up a Progress 8 worksheet to check that their headlines are accurate and to make the subjects included in the P8 calculation for each student visible by year/band/class so staff can better target their interventions.

I've had confirmation back from the DfE that the students only need sit both exams to qualify for double weighting, even if they get a U in one of them. Needless to say, most schools in my area are entering all students for both even if they were not taught English Lit. I expect that little loop hole won't be present next year.

Hello All -- I'm currently data manager at a large secondary school -- for my sins -- having done some time in IT support, networks, and systems dev along the way. I look for schools that present a challenge, go in and help them sort things out, and then move on to a new challenge once they're back on the right track. As I'm a frequent visitor I thought perhaps it's time I joined.