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If the Bromcom services are down what happens to a school that uses Bromcom for dinner, finance, MIS, communication, safeguarding, exams and payments? For example when SIMS server goes down, school loses MIS/FMS systems, but can still function fine with paper registers and other systems will work without SIMS.

Make sure you are using the latest Windows 11 version including Feature and Quality updates. This was a known issue for early version of Windows 11, but the recent updates solved the problem. We just noticed that pupils can access taskbar icons next to the clock (WiFi, sound) where previously this was blocked on earlier version of Windows 11. Not sure if it's our domain GPO specific or the Group Policy "Remove Notifications and Action Center" is not working anymore. Just investigating this right now and I think that we need to add another GPO - Enable or Disable Quick Settings in Windows 11

Corect, The original thread doesn't say that the student's can't see each other work. "For the GCSE Exams they need to be able to do work, save the work, then no longer be able to access it until the next exam session after which they are no longer able to access it. " Option 3 - if pupils work needs to be isolated: 1. Create 30 x Google Exams accounts 2. Add two step verification to the accounts. Either use USB dongle or Google Authenticator. 3. Create a folder called "Exams [account number]" for each Exam account. 4. Share the 30 x folders with Exams Officer 5. Instruct kids to save exams work in My Drive\Exams [number] 6. Suspend accounts when not needed. 7. Enable the accounts when needed. It's a lot of hassle but once setup it this work fine. Creating and sharing Exams [number] folders will allow Exams officer easily access the files . My suggestion here for Exam officer is to create shortcuts in their drive to each Exams [number] folder for easy access. This will also allow them to browse the Exams drives from their drive via Google Drive Client. Locking Exams with 2step is required so no one else can login to the accounts instead (for example another pupil from another location).

Option 1 1. Create new Shared Drive for Photography Exams 2023. 2. Share the new Drive with pupils. 3. Once the work is done unshare the drive. 4. Share it again if needed. Delegate sharing / unsharing job to Photography teacher or Exams officer by giving him Manager Drive access. Option 2 1. Create new Shared Drive for Photography Exams 2023. 2. Share the new Drive with pupils. 3. Once the work is done move the data to another location as you would previously on a local file server. 4. Move the data back for the exams. I would suggest Option 1 as with Option 2 pupils can still add files to the drive.

My suggestion is to order 98" Interactive TV and height adjustable stand. This will offer you WxH: 1,957 x 1,160 mm. You can get them for around £6k + stand If budget is tight go for 86" which costs £1.7k + stand

If you are after something slimmer and faster check the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3 10.95. It's £291.66 excl VAT on Amazon. Here is a review:

We used Cisco Meraki switches for 9 years and I've upgraded them all with UniFi Switches. There was nothing wrong with Meraki (apart from the switches being very loud), but the license renewal costs were just too expensive. We are using 20 x UniFi Pro PoE switches across the school. Our school is similar size to yours, there are right now 1174 live clients on the network and everything works fine. CCTV, PoE Phones, WiFi (staff and pupils) is heavily used every day. Before anyone else comments, yes you don't get proper support or warranty with UniFi, but because the price is so cheap we just bought spare PoE switches that can be installed if something goes wrong. We also bought the UniFi RPS units to provide backup power supply to the switches.

So here are some questions about your school IT systems: 1. Do you have any data security accreditation in your school ? ISO27001 anyone ? 2. Are you certified with Cyber Essentials and audited annually ? (If you are they would highlight SQL SIMS issues in the report) 3. Does your SIMS connection offers AES-256 bit encryption ? 4. Do you offer two step verification to your SIMS ? 5. Are your servers CCTV monitored regularly ? If your answer to the all above questions is yes, then yes it's better to keep your SIMS internally. Also how many primary schools you know that can offer any of the above or proper IT management ?

I agree, moving to cloud MIS is the way. No need to worry about your SIMS server / clients anymore. Here are some other benefits: 1. Save money on SIMS cloud backup service, if your school is using one. 2. Cheaper servers renewal - SIMS really likes that RAM / CPU. 3. No more SOLUS 3 DNS / updates issues or installing random SIMS patches outside of working hours. 4. No extra costs for Remote Desktop licenses. 5. No need for VPN / RDP. 6. For school using Google, cloud MIS is a perfect getaway to get rid of Windows computers and move fully to Chromebooks. 7. Extra security - 2 step verification to login to Cloud MIS. 8. Easy access to Cloud MIS for staff. There are many more benefits, for IT it's mainly security and less maintenance.

Good advice, I will enable Sign in with Google option for our parents... Just after adding them all to our Google domain first Since this is a migration from SIMS to Arbor, I've assumed that EduLink One would just read the data from Arbor APIs and keep the system as it is. I didn't expect them to offer a new installation, which as mentioned before it's not ideal for parents. I'm not worried about staff, we disable password login and are using Google option only.

That's correct. It's worth noting that the move to Arbor will not be a migration, but a new installation, so no data will be carried across from the old Edulink One SIMS system this includes messages, forms, homework, clubs etc. If using manual accounts for parents these will also be recreated so will have new credentials that will need sending out to parents. There is no cost associated with the new installation for existing customers. I'm positive about the migration, but not happy that parents would need to create new credentials for EduLink One, I don't really understand why since the EduLink App will be the same ?

+1 for Sign In App

We bought out ones from Amazon Business, sometime ago they had very good discount on the U6-PROs.

We ordered some U6-LRs, but returned them when we find out that they only offer WiFi 6 on 5GHz. The U6-LR offer 4 x 4 MIMO on both 2.4 and 5 GHz frequencies, but they only deliver WiFi 4 on 2.4Ghz. This website compares all the details: https://evanmccann.net/blog/2022/5/u6-pro-and-u6-mesh-review

There are 70+ UniFi APs in our school. Half of the school is using Nano HD and we migrated other half to U6-PRO. The long term plan is to go for WiFi 6 models as per DfE recommendations. Here are some things to consider when deciding on APs 1. NanoHD comes in with smaller mount compared to U6-PRO. U6-PRO mount is compatible with previous larger size UniFi APs so replacement is much easier if you are already using large UniFi APs. 2. NanoHD coverage is not great. It's not bad and it works with 1:1 AP per classroom setup, but we ended up installing more NanoHD APs in odd small offices where our old WiFi solution could reach the odd places. This added up to the total cost and more APs. 3. NanoHD is using WiFi 5 standard, so you are stick with older technology. Eventually the school will end up with new laptops that will use WiFi 6, but your APs won't support the new standard. 4. NanoHD is classified as 4th Generation Device, U6-Pro is their 6th Generation Device that also comes with new chipset. In the future you might be limited with some new functionality. Also it's worth noting that U6-LR is classified as 5th Generation Devices which, that's why we ended up with U6-Pro (better chipset). In terms of performance we had exams with 60 x Chromebooks being used in one room on NanoHD and U6-PRO and everything was working fine.