School ICT News Bulletin No. 169 - 20/10/2010
Published by Children’s Services
ICT Services For Schools Project - Schools Update No.1
1. Introduction
The Fair Funding Consultation mentioned the changes to the management arrangements for ICT services to schools. This MI Sheet explains the project in more detail.
2. Background:
As part of the consultation around the e-learning strategy 2010-14 we agreed with schools to introduce a fully managed service for ICT with the support of an external partner. The BSF project was deemed a possible vehicle for introducing this change but this project has been cancelled earlier this year.
County Council Members have requested that ICT Solutions is integrated with the County Council IT Service to create a single ICT Service by April 2011. The rationale for this was outlined in the Fair Funding Consultation document.
Although ICT Solutions will cease to be a separate entity from the 1st April 2011, we anticipate that it will take a further 12 months to implement the new service design model in full. So in 2011/12 schools will receive the same services to those they received this year i.e. there will be no immediate change to the way that the Services to Schools contracts are offered to schools.
Schools will enjoy continuity of service throughout the period of change.
It remains our ambition to achieve the aims agreed in the e-learning strategy and to continue to work with schools in line with the principles set out in that document. We want to establish world class ICT for Norfolk Learners and we need robust and secure ICT services and support to enable the highest possible learning outcomes.
We are likely to face some major challenges in achieving this given the current financial constraints. Schools will need to budget appropriately to ensure that the significant investment in technology is serviced and maintained to achieve outcomes for teachers and learners.
3. ICT Services for Schools Project
This project provides the mechanism to meet the requirements for creating a single ICT service. It will consult with schools on the best possible ways of providing cost effective ICT services which are fit for purpose in every learning environment.
The project will have three stages:
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Stage 1 will cover consulting with schools and staff on what schools require from a teaching and learning perspective and options on how best to deliver that service from an ICT perspective
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Stage 2 will result in a new service design model and the transition plan
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Stage 3 will focus on the implementation of the new service design model
There will be consultation with schools throughout the project. The project is overseen by a project board consisting of:
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Name
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Title
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Role
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Paul Adams
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Director of Resources, Norfolk County Council
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Project Sponsor
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Karen O’Kane
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Head of ICT, Corporate Resources, Norfolk County Council
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ICT Lead
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Paul Fisher
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Assistant Director, Business and Compliance Children’s Services , Norfolk County Council
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Children’s Services & Finance Lead
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Stephanie Mulcahy
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HR Business Partner, Corporate Resources, Norfolk County Council
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HR Lead
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Al Collier
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Head of Procurement, Corporate Resources, Norfolk County Council
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Procurement Lead
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Seb Gasse
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ICT Adviser, Children’s Services, Norfolk County Council
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Advisory Services Lead
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Stuart Brooks
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Head, Overstand PrimarySchool
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Primary Schools’ Representative
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Neil McShane
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Head, Attleborough High School
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Secondary Schools’ Representative
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Tom Leverage
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Deputy Head , Eaton Hall School
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Special Schools’ Representative
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Martin Dutton
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Norfolk Governor Network
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NorfolkGovernors’ Representative
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John Leigh
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ICT Business Partner, Corporate Resources, Norfolk County Council
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Project Manager
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We will need your help to get this right. Schools are asked to articulate clearly their vision for ICT and what they would like to achieve through technology.
The first round of consultation will involve questionnaires and workshops with school representatives throughout November. This will focus on the needs of teachers, governors, learners, non-teaching staff and parents. Contact Sebastian Gasse to find out more.
The first series of workshops in November are to discuss in more detail the ICT requirements specific to Norfolk’s schools. The workshops are suitable for
a. Head Teachers
b. Deputy Heads
c. Staff involved in leadership and management of ICT
d. Teaching and non-teaching staff
The dates are
· 18th November 2010
· 17th November 2010
· 19th November 2010
Lunch will be provided from 1.00pm and the workshops will start at 2.00pm and finish at 4.00pm.
Further information will be issued via an MI Sheet on Friday 29th October.
There will be further consultation in the Spring on the way the new ICT service will be designed and delivered.
The following existing groups will be engaged to support the consultation exercise :
e-learning Steering Group
14-19 e-Strategy Group
Primary Task and Finish Group for ICT
ICT Inclusion Group
ICT Partnership Group
ICT Network Managers
Author: John Leigh
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