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Brian Cunningham

Thursday 07 September 2006

In my last post I said I would try and explain how some local authorities have adapted and modernised their technical support services to meet the demand of today’s curriculum. So here goes.

When the McCrone report which modernised the terms, conditions and pay of teachers was published in 2000 it contained no reference to technical support staff. Many technicians and support staff felt aggrieved by this as the last major review of technicians pay and conditions was carried out in 1987 so approached their local authorities and asked them to implement a re grading exercise which would take into account the changes in their duties, responsibilities and working practices since the last review.

Many councils embraced the opportunity to update job descriptions and build in flexibility needed to cope with the changes in the years to come, others did not and that is why some councils are so far ahead of others when it comes to coping with needs of the modern curriculum.

Technical support staff with modern contracts now play a wider role in the support of education. As I said yesterday many are trained in basic IT skills which means that IT officers now find themselves utilised more effectively whilst the support staff in the schools look after the daily routines that can so often eat up an IT officers time. Support staff often now take care of the portable appliance testing (PAT) within schools. The money saved by having testing done “in school” can be quite considerable running into tens of thousands of pounds.

Technical support in primary schools is now quite common. As science and ICT play an ever-increasing role in primary education, technical support is becoming a necessity.

Councils that have increased levels of technical support in secondary schools have been able to offer a service to the feeder primaries. Services range from giving technical support via email, teleconferencing, phone or personal visits to running in service courses showing and explaining the use of scientific equipment to non science specialists. Not only does this save teaching staff time and therefore money, it has the added effect of fostering closer links between the institutions.

It was even reported by one delegate at last years technicians conference that nurseries were now requesting assistance from technical support staff in response to the Curriculum for Excellence.

It wouldnt take that much to set up in East Lothian and its not that expensive either.In fact having a properly organised Technical Support Service results in savings from increased efficiency through teachers and management being relieved of the many small tasks which are uneconomical for them to spend their time doing.

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