Purpose: IMPORTANT SERVICE INFORMATION

Audience: Heads and ICT Staff in all Cambridgeshire Schools

We have had three connectivity issues this week which have affected Schools' connectivity in various ways:

1. CCN Core Router Failure
A Core router between Huntingdon and Papworth failed on Wednesday 3^rd October at 09:09 hours. The issue was immediately escalated to NTL. This was diagnosed as a faulty router which was shipped to site at 23:00 hours. Connectivity was eventually restored at 04:50 hours on 4^th October 2007.

Education ICT Service are seeking information on how this issue occurred, why it took such a long time to resolve, and what is being done to ensure this does not recur.

2. E2BN Core DNS Failure
E2BN also experienced a core DNS failure on 3^rd October 2007. No notifications were received by Education ICT Service, until calls were raised by schools at 11:30 hours. Investigations initially suggested Protex problems. At 13:00 hours a call was made to E2BN to investigate further. E2BN then informed us that they were experiencing DNS issues affecting the whole Region.

Education ICT Service are again seeking information on how this occurred, why no notification was given, and what is being done to prevent this recurring.

3. EasyNet Firewall Congestion
On Thursday 4^th October at 12:20 hours we received an email notification from E2BN stating that EasyNet were experiencing congestion problems on one of the core Firewalls. The firewall was reloaded at 12:30 hours which appeared to resolve the issue.

Education ICT Service are again asking for information on how this occurred, and what is being done to prevent recurrence of this issue.

SIMS August Upgrade

Purpose: SIMS upgrade information - required for SIMS

Audience: Headteacher and Administrators

The SIMS August upgrade is waiting to be released by the ICT Helpline, for all schools who email ict.helpline@cambridgeshire.gov.uk to confirm that the SIMS Infrastructure disk has been run on all machines running SIMS.net - including the school server. All non Secondary schools were sent the Infrastructure disk in the courier bag, in September.

Schools who have run the August upgrade on all SIMS .net machines should then email the ICT Helpline to request the SQL Installation and Migration Tool. Fifteen schools so far have completed the SQL Migration.

eProfiles - Getting Started - Infant & Primary Schools

Purpose: Training Opportunity on Tuesday 9th October

Audience: Headteacher, Reception Class Teachers, Administrative Staff

If you need any help with setting up and using eProfile, we do still have a few places on eProfiles - Getting Started course on Tuesday, 9 October at ICT Service, Godmanchester at 15.00-16.30. Please ring ICT Service on 01480 376670 to book.

If this time does not suit you and you would like support, please contact ICT Service on 01480 376670 and arrange for Helen Lygo to come out on a consultancy visit or INSET training session.

Peter Hemingway Memorial Prize - £5000

Purpose: Reminder of deadline - 19th October 2007

Audience: Headteacher and teachers using ICT

The Peter Hemingway Memorial Prize is awarded for the achievement of positive educational outcomes within the classroom, derived in whole or part through the use of broadband. The £5000 prize is awarded to celebrate work that has already been undertaken , so time-consuming bids and project plans are not required. This award is open to all schools in the East of England using E2BN broadband. Applications are now being accepted for the 2007 Prize. Closing date is 19th October 2007. The award ceremony will be on 26th November 2007. For more details visit the E2BN website.

Managed Service / Central Hosting Project - more volunteers

Purpose: Volunteers required

Audience: Headteacher

Following the successful migration of nearly 30 schools to the Managed Service, the ICT Service is now looking for a further 20-25 schools to participate. In particular we are looking for schools who see a need to make their management and administration systems more readily available. The process involves centrally hosting most of the school's MIS and documents, with the option of email as well and remote access from home. For more information about the project and the process visit http://chpilot.cambsed.net.

Please contact the Helpline in the first instance if you are interested. And finally, for a number of reasons the project has to change its name and will now be known as the Central Hosting Project.

ICT Service Helpline Blog

Purpose: Up to date information alerts

Audience: All Cambridgeshire School staff

For up to the minute Helpline information, please log onto the new ICT Service Helplines Blog, which can be accessed by searching for Resource id: 3750 from the Education Portal at http://www.ccceducation.net or by using the link below.

ICT Service Helplines Blog

ICT Service Training Programme - New brochure 2007-08

All Schools will have received a copy of the Cambridgeshire Education ICT Service Training Course Programme 07/08, which will give you full details of courses available at Godmanchester and other venues.

It also has a useful pull out calendar, which indicates a quick guide to all courses scheduled with dates available. Please contact Course Admin either by telephone on 01480 376670 or email: ict.courses@cambridgeshire.gov.uk should you require any further copies of the programme.

Cambridgeshire Online Training Search

Cambridgeshire Online Training Search (COTS) is a database of training opportunities provided by the Local Authority. It can be accessed from any computer connected to the Internet without the need for a password: go to: COTS to access this service. Its powerful search engine will help you to find suitable courses. Eventually, all providers will be using this database, please check the Providers list for the services currently represented. You will already find the complete listing of courses offered by CAS, CREDS, SLS, Education ICT Service, ISSIS, Cambridgeshire Youth Work and Connexions.