Purpose: Important service information
Audience: Headteacher and ICT Managers

Dell recently announced it was recalling certain Dell-branded batteries from its range of laptops. A detailed document with instructions on how to determine if your battery is effected, the necessary details and information of what steps are to be taken for an automatic replacement can be found by visiting www.ict.ccceducation.net and clicking on the NEWS link tab.

Guidance on Dell Laptop Battery Recall (PDF)

End of support for Windows 98 and Windows Me

Purpose: Important service information
Audience: Headteacher and ICT Managers

Microsoft have retired Extended Support for Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, and Windows Me, including security updates, from 11 July 2006. The Education ICT Service therefore strongly advises all Windows 98 machines be upgraded or replaced by the end of the Autumn term 2006 or be removed from the network as stand alone machines.

More details can be found in the letter sent to schools by visiting www.ict.ccceducation.net and clicking on the NEWS link tab.

End of support for Windows XP Service Pack 1

Purpose: Important service information
Audience: Headteacher and ICT Managers

On October 10, 2006, Microsoft will end all public assisted support for Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1). After this date, Microsoft will no longer provide any incident support options or security updates for this retired service pack under the policies defined by the Microsoft Support Lifecycle policy.

To enhance the security of your computer and to continue to receive updates for Windows XP, Cambridgeshire Education ICT Service strongly advises you upgrade your computer, for free, to Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2). Your ICT manager or Patch Technician will be able to tell you:

a. What PCs you have running Windows XP Service Pack 1

b. How to upgrade your PCs in a controlled manner

Schools must ensure they have either upgraded all their Windows XP devices to SP2, or show there is a plan in place to upgrade PCs, by end October 2006 to ensure continued security of Cambridgeshire Community Network (CCN).

Strategic Leadership of ICT (SLICT)

Purpose: SLICT courses - further information and local support

Audience: Primary Headteachers

SLICT brings together up to 40 headteachers in regional groups to share, challenge and support each other's learning.

It is not an ICT skills course. Key elements are:

self-assessment
strategic planning
examination of key issues and their leadership or management implications
group discussion of different approaches to leading ICT for learning
critical reflection and action planning for the future.

The programme is heavily subsidised and schools are charged £350 to participate. For schools with fewer than 100 pupils there is no charge. More information and online application are provided on the SLICT website at http://www.ncsl.org.uk/slict. 41 Cambridgeshire headteachers have previously participated.

SLICT courses for primary headteachers will be running this year at various locations across the eastern region including:

Peterborough, 11-12th October
Cambridge, 21-22nd November

These rely heavily on host schools from Cambridgeshire so it is not appropriate for a large number of our heads to attend. There will also be a course based at Leicester on 27-28 March 2007. We have reserved 10 places on this for our schools and some of the content will be tailored to provide a Cambridgeshire focus.

For the Leicester event, heads enrol on the course by going to

http://www.ncsl.org.uk/programmes/primaryslict/primaryslict-howtoapply.cfm

and completing the application form. You will need your personal DFES number e.g. 99/12345 and your school establishment number e.g. 3456 as well as other information.

At the end of the registration process select the following course: CambLA

Using this course name/code ensures our headteachers a place on the programme and enables NCSL to update us on how many heads have taken up their places.

All registrations for this course allocation should be completed by Monday 2nd October.

We will be supporting Heads who take part in the autumn or spring term by offering two one-hour follow-up visits (approx one month and six months after the course) to discuss the impact of the programme and the implications for your school. If you have already signed up, or are planning to, please contact the ICT Service to be considered for this local support.