One of the latest things for schools is to have them as specialist collages.  Schools that are specialist in one subject and then get lots of extra funding to help them advance in that area.  I am not sure if they are supposed to be really good at teaching in that subject but I guess it is normally like that because it is a lot of work to get the funding, during my PGCE one of the schools I was at was going for specialist science status and they put in hours and hours of work to get it.

I currently work at a technology specialist collage and for the life of me cannot understand how they got it.  We have an internet connection that is highly unreliable, cupboards of laptops that have bare wires exposed on the power packs, wireless projectors that do not work wirelessly, and data loggers that will not connect to the computers we have.

The Internet connection is strange, it is like they have brought broadband from BT on a normal home package instead of buying from a leased line providers.  I know they will have a proper broadband connection but it is so unreliable I would have thought that they would have switched to a more reliable provider.  There are loads of business SDSL options available to choose from and I am sure there are plenty of broadband companies out there that would offer them a better deal.

I do actually think the laptops are dangerous.  On the low voltage side of the power packs the wires have been pulled out to expose bare wire.  That means if you wiggle the wire it crackles.  I have tried to get them fixed but who ever I ask just come out with the same explanation ‘it’s not our responsibility’ and then tell me to try a different department.  I have now resorted to patching them up with insulation tape.  I am not sure about the legality of it all because if something goes wrong with it the blame would probably be put on me, but I don’t really care I am not just going to pass around the problem like every one else.

With the data loggers its just like every bit of software/hardware.  Microsoft brings out a new operating system and all your favourite programs no longer work.  With a couple of adaptors and a quick phone call to the manufacture they are now working on a couple of computers so hopefully we will soon have a working set.