PhoenixJP.info

Looking to upgrade our core switch to something more modern, hopefully without breaking the bank. Currently we have a HP 5406ZL J8697A. We only have 5 VLANs & do our routing through our XGS, so our 5406ZL is just used as a L2 switch. Does anyone use UniFi kit at their core? From a quick browse UniFi's website, I'd seen these I was thinking of using this as the aggregation for the fibre connections Switch Hi-Capacity Aggregation - Ubiquiti Store United Kingdom This for 10Gb backbone for servers Switch Pro XG 24 - Ubiquiti Store United Kingdom This for physical management instead of software controller CloudKey+ SSD - Ubiquiti Store United Kingdom I've seen the enterprise editions, but these seem overkill for our network & what we actually need.

Running multiple instances of SIMS front end on Windows

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 08:57:13 +0000

I have been asked by an administrator about this. Seems like a reasonable thing to do (and verry usefull) but cant work out if it is even possible.

Laptop doesn't power off

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 08:19:17 +0000

I've got a weird issue with a Lenovo laptop thats just out of warranty. It boots and runs Windows absolutely fine, no issues in normal use. The problem is when you power it down the screen goes black, but the power light stays on and the fans keep running. This happens no matter how you shut it down (via the menu, power button etc) - the only way to kill it is to hold the power button down. I thought maybe it was Windows not shutting down cleanly but it also does the same if you power off from the BIOS I've removed the cmos battery overnight which doesn't seem to have made any difference - I'm guessing it may be a motherboard fault but though I'd see if anyone had seen a similar problem? Its also had its BIOS updated but that also had no impact Its annoying as its a fully working laptop in every other sense, but keeps getting returned to us as they say it won't power on - because its stuck in the 'not quite powered off' state!

JAMF Rename Script.

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 07:45:39 +0000

Hiya, I was looking at making a JAMF rename script which would rename our macs on enrollment or on check-in (once per "computer" or Mac rather!). I remember somewhere I used to be at a big complicated script that renamed it based on a spreadsheet and you had to have a file-share to the csv and setup permissions etc which for people less experienced in Macs and JAMF might be a bit of a pain! I made something which and easy in a sense in about 30 mins and I wanted to share as might help you with your mac deployments and renaming process... I've put a basic one for rename one mac, but the idea is you use the script (but just replicate by copying and pasting section "2a" for each mac you have)... How it works is section "2a" creates a MATCHED=Y value and a NEW_NAME variable IF a serial number match is found. The bit in section 3 then runs the rename script if the MATCHED and NEW_NAME variables are created in section 2a. " #!/bin/bash # 1 - Get the Mac's serial number SERIAL=$(system_profiler SPHardwareDataType | awk '/Serial Number/{print $4}') echo $SERIAL # 2 - List TTA Mac Names and there serial numbers in query below. # 2a - Compare Mac Serial and Mac Asset and if match is found then rename the mac using scutil script # Room: T9 if [[ "$SERIAL" == "<** ONE OF YOUR MAC SERIALS **>" ]]; then MATCH="Y" NEW_NAME="<*** NAME OF WHAT YOU WANT THIS MAC TO BE CALLED ***>" echo "This mac matches a mac in the list!" else echo "Not this one!" fi # 3 - Rename Mac using below script if a match is found if [[ "$MATCH" == "Y" ]]; then echo $NEW_NAME scutil --set ComputerName "$NEW_NAME" scutil --set HostName "$NEW_NAME" scutil --set LocalHostName "$NEW_NAME" # Flush DNS cache (optional) dscacheutil -flushcache echo "We are renaming this mac now." else echo "This mac didn't match any assetted serial numbers" fi " Hope this helps people and perhaps just restart the mac as a box ticking task!

Royal Mail The Lord of the Rings Stamps

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 22:23:01 +0000

Link: Royal Mail The Lord of the Rings Stamps | 2026 Special Stamp Issue Eight First Class landscape stamps: 1. The Hobbits and the Black Riders 2. Gandalf and the Balrog 3. Arwen and the Black Riders 4. Gimli, Boromir and the Uruk-hai 5. Saruman, Merry and Pippin 6. Aragorn and Éowyn 7. Legolas 8. Frodo and Gollum Availability: 20th of March. *The One Ring’s inscription, written in Elvish Tengwar script, is imprinted on the stamps in hidden ink and only revealed when exposed to UV light.

Impero to Classroom Cloud - issues

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 19:41:52 +0000

We recently moved from Impero to Classroom Cloud (largely Chromebook-based WiFi student devices with some Ethernet-connected wired desktop PCs in computer rooms) A "whitelist-only" list of websites has been implemented to cut-down on students playing games etc but have now hit some hurdles: - some desktop PCs have the Classroom Cloud software working, others not (some desktops show up on the teacher desktop PC but not others - no idea why!) - majority of Chromebooks no longer have access to the built-in camera (ticket has been raised with Classroom Cloud and is with their dev team but has been that way for weeks) - majority of Chromebooks have the 'Files' drive blocked (again flagged to Classroom Cloud dev team but still waiting...) Any suggestions on a way forward would be greatly appreciated on how to resolve the above. Alternatively - any suggestions on a better solution that works for a largely Chromebook (+ WiFi) based school? Many thanks.

SchoolComms and "Sex" vs "Gender Identity"

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 16:21:00 +0000

We used SchoolComms to send an email out to a load of parents of students who are in a school production. In SIMS .net one of the students involved in the production has their "Sex" recorded as "Female", their "Gender Identity" as "Boy", and their "Pronouns" as "He / Him / His / His / Himself". When the email has gone out, it referred to the student as "she". We queried this with SchoolComms who suggested we simply change the "Sex" field, but that is incorrect as it has to be their currently recognised sex legally doesn't it, and would therefore make the census incorrect. They then said it's because it pulls the data from the "Sex" field and closed the ticket. We re-opened it and said it shouldn't do that in order to remain DfE compliant, and they closed it again saying "Have confirmed which fields data is pulled from". Surely we aren't the first school in the country this has happened to? Are we doing something wrong that we need to change? We are in the process of switching from SIMS .net to Arbor for our MIS. Will SchoolComms still behave like this after the migration? Thank you Stuart

Senior Projects Engineer - £40,000 - £47,000 - Buckinghamshire

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 15:13:43 +0000

Senior Projects Engineer Buckinghamshire £40,000 - £47,000 turn IT on is currently seeking a Senior Projects Engineer who is motivated and enthusiastic about technology. The ideal candidate will have a natural flair for technical problem-solving, experience working within an education environment, and a passion for delivering high-quality service to schools. This is a central role within our Project Team, supporting the design, development and delivery of technical solutions across our school network. While the role is remote-based, regular travel will be required to our Princes Risborough office and to schools across the South East of England. You will report into the Head of Projects. You will work closely with the projects team to deliver technical projects as well as supporting our solutions Architect with pre-sales queries and pre-configuration tasks for infrastructure installs. Key Responsibilities Lead on technical design and documentation for projects and tenders Act as a point of contact for technical queries during project delivery Collaborate with schools and internal teams to ensure smooth communication and progress Create and manage schedules of work and project plans Support presales activity with technical input and timely responses Attend project meetings and contribute to technical discussions Help train and support team members where needed Maintain high standards of documentation and customer service What We’re Looking For We’re seeking someone with strong technical expertise and a background in project management. You’ll be organised, adaptable and confident working independently as well as part of a team. Excellent communication skills and a positive, proactive approach are essential. Essential Skills & Experience Microsoft certification Networking certification Experience managing ICT projects from start to finish Strong knowledge of: Windows Server, Office 365, Google Workspace Microsoft Hyper-V, Networking (VLANs, routing & design) Storage solutions (SAN/NAS), AD, DHCP, DNS, GPO Ability to create detailed technical documentation and project plans Outstanding customer service and communication skills Desirable Project management certification (e.g. Prince2) Experience with Azure and PowerShell scripting Other relevant IT certifications The role is offered on a full-time basis, remote with the expectation of working in our Princes Risborough office as and when needed too. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check. Due to the nature of this role, candidates may be required to travel to schools, and therefore must have a driving licence and their own vehicle. In return, we are offering a salary of between £40,000 - £47, 000, benefits include a pension scheme, electric/hybrid car leasing scheme, cycle scheme, eye care voucher scheme, mental health first aiders, employee assistance programme plus additional benefits. The Transforming Learning Group (TLG) provides a comprehensive range of hands-on ICT and computing support, MIS support, GDPR services and software consultancy and training. We have eigh brands under the TLG umbrella – turn IT on, School ICT Services, SalamanderSoft, SBM, EduFin, Vital York, GDPR Sentry and Locker. Between these brands we provide services to over 5,000 schools across UK and employ over 500 staff members. We put schools and their needs first, taking care of all their technological needs so that they can get on with teaching and learning. turn IT on is a friendly and supportive place to work where people feel trusted and respected, and we are proud of the diversity and flexibility that we have and the breadth of skills and experience of our staff. turn IT on is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees to share this commitment. ‘Happy to talk flexible working’ ‘Your data matters’

PC's Slow down after switch user to log in

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 14:47:06 +0000

Hi guys, Just cursious if anyone else has experienced anything simular. Over last summer's break we upgraded our teaching machines to windows 11. Since the upgrade, when a teacher logs on for a lesson and forgets to sign out, when the next teacher uses the machine the performance is slow even if the current user is just trying to use a browser with nothing else running. The machines this happens most frequently are HP 400 G9's, all have 8GB's of RAM and when checking task manager whilst it's performing slowly it is not even close to maxing out the RAM usage. We have tried updating drivers & BIO's version but to no avail. I was just wondering if anyone else has experienced simular since upgrading to windows 11 and even if there's a solution other than buy more RAM

Apprentice ICT Technician - Leeds, West Yorkshire, Apprenticeship Wage, 37 Hours

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 14:13:58 +0000

We're very pleased to be expanding our team to include a Apprentice ICT Technician. Based at Brigshaw High School in the east of Leeds, however expected to support work across all the schools within the trust. The postholder will be first line support and working with staff and pupils to demonstrate equipment and systems as appropriate. Assisting the smooth running of all software applications and ICT equipment. For more information and to apply, please click here. brigshaw.com - brigshawlearningpartnership.com

Cloud Only Windows Mass Deployment

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 13:11:46 +0000

Afternoon, We're after a quicker way to image 10+ laptops at a time, in the past jobs i've used SCCM etc, but here we have no onsite servers or onsite AD etc so SCCM is out straight away. Currently we are doing USB installs for each. Ideally i just want someone to push the Windows image out via PXE and install blank windows and we can then run the scripts as needed to onboard to Azure, i just tried WDS/MDT but was unaware that Windows 11 is blocked like this... Does anyone know the easiest way to do this?

Free Microsoft 365 & Azure Cost Optimisation Report (Schools/MATs)

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 12:59:54 +0000

We currently have access to the Surveil enterprise platform (Cloud Insights Cost Optimization | Surveil) for analysing Microsoft 365 and Azure usage, and we’re able to run bespoke reports for schools and MATs. There’s no cost, no obligation, and no sales pitch — just an opportunity to make use of the platform while we have access to it. If you’d like to take advantage of this, we can provide 30 days of access to the platform, allowing you to download a full Microsoft 365 licensing and Azure cost optimisation report for your tenancy. This can help identify: • Unused or underutilised licences • Opportunities to optimise licensing costs • Azure spend analysis and recommendations If you’re interested, feel free to drop me an email: edugeek@concero.uk

IT Technician - £25.5k to £26.9k - Bewdley, Worcestershire

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 12:07:22 +0000

Due to a colleague moving onto pastures new, we've got a vacancy for an IT Tech to support our school and 3 small Primary's. If you need any more information, drop me a message! IT Technician Required May 2026 Full Time (Full Year) 37 Hours per Week Salary: £25,583 per annum The Bewdley School is seeking a motivated IT Technician to join our existing team, supporting The Bewdley School and 3 other local schools. This is an exciting opportunity for someone looking to develop their skills in a dynamic and fast paced IT environment. The IT Support Team currently manages nearly 2000 users, over 900 workstations, 25 servers and a wide range of other technologies including, wireless solutions, printers, filtering systems, and other networked devices. No two days are the same, making this an excellent role for someone eager to learn, problem-solve, and grow in the field of IT infrastructure and support. The Bewdley School, serving the Georgian town of Bewdley and on the banks of the River Severn, is a fully inclusive and comprehensive school performing well above national averages at GCSE and A level. Students are hungry to learn, and the IT department has a very well organised and managed department. If you would like to work with skilled colleagues in a supportive environment, where you are free to communicate your passion for your subject, please visit us. We seek a colleague who has: • Enthusiastic about IT and eager to develop professionally • A strong communicator with excellent problem-solving skills • Able to work independently and as part of a team • Customer-focused and proactive in supporting staff and students In Return we offer: •A supportive and experienced IT team •Opportunities for training and skill development •A varied working environment across multiple school sites • The chance to make a meaningful impact within a thriving school community If you would like to work with skilled colleagues in an environment that values teamwork, professional development, and passion for education, we encourage you to apply. Closing date for applications: Tuesday 24th March 2025 at 9.00am Interviews on Thursday 26th March 2026. Vacancies - The Bewdley School

Bromcom Late report

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 11:10:30 +0000

I have been asked by SLT to provide a list of students who are late for Period 2-5 in and 6 period day, so they can be sanctioned at the end of each day. I need to find a way to either make the data easily available or have a daily report emailed to them. Does anyone have any idea what the best way to do this is?

Paxton IN reader removes people from the Roll Call

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 10:29:26 +0000

Morning all, We've got an issue no one seems to know the answer to. Our kitchen staff signs in by the back door by tapping the IN reader on the outside, but in order to enter the kitchen building they have to tap the Kitchen Main Door IN reader afterwards (separate building). Tapping the Back Door IN reader adds them to the Roll Call (Inside School), but the moment they tap the Kitchen Main Door IN reader they disappear from the Roll Call. Adding or removing the Kitchen Back Door IN reader from the list of Muster Point doors makes no difference (I reinstate/download the setting to the door control after each change). Avoiding the Kitchen Door IN reader keeps them on the Roll Call. There is no OUT/Exit reader, just Push To Exit button. Reader 2/OUT is disabled in Net2 and the IN reader is the correct reader (IN/Entry). Thank you in advance.

Senior IT Technician - Leeds - £34,434 - £36,363 per annum FTE

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 10:25:56 +0000

Cockburn Multi Academy Trust, Leeds Starting April 2026 Permanent | Full Time (37 hrs/week) £34,434 – £36,363 (SO1) We’re looking for a skilled, motivated and ambitious Senior IT Technician to join our friendly and forward‑thinking team. If you are: Passionate about supporting young people Creative, resilient and solution‑focused Organised, reliable and ready to make an impact What we offer: Competitive pay Excellent CPD and career development West Yorkshire Pension Scheme Wellbeing support and Employee Assistance Programme Blue Light Card access Free parking, gym access and more All roles require full safeguarding checks and the right to work in the UK. Join us and help shape the future across our growing Trust. Senior IT Technician at Cockburn Multi Academy Trust, Leeds, Yorkshire and the Humber | MyNewTerm

Android Tablet / Sophos Firewall SSO

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 10:06:54 +0000

Hi All We have a number of Android tablets (v15) which we have set up using both Kiosk Mode and a Managed home screen. We seem to be hitting a roadblock that we cannot seem to navigate. Edge Launching Edge attempts to sign in then gives an error code just after 'signing you in and syncing' - Sign in failed (2285) We have set a few policies including what we thinks is the right ones; BrowserSignin = Enabled SyncDisabled = False But it still just point blank refuses to go pass this. I dont want them to be able to sign into Edge, nor sync any settings as they are going to be used for quick devices to login, do some unifrog work and put them back. We have ruled out a firewall issue by temporarily creating an exception for this group of devices. We deployed Chrome, but from looking it up it wont pass the same token to allow SSO. So normally we would expect it to open up the browser (which bounces to our captive portal), they click Single Sign On and because our firewall is entra joined it passes them though with Edge, but not via Chrome. Any tips gratefully welcome!

Cloudflare tunnel/WAF for securely making available internal web apps?

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 09:29:30 +0000

In order to integrate with the admissions platform we're using, we'd like to use a Cloudflare tunnel and web application firewall to make the API endpoint for our MIS system available for their system to connect to over the internet, without needing to expose our MIS system directly to the public internet. However looking at Cloudflare's documentation it seems like you have to switch your whole domain's DNS over to Cloudflare as part of the Cloudflare onboarding process? We don't want to do that as we are an .ac.uk domain holder and as such we use Janet DNS for our public DNS. Is it still possible for us to use Cloudflare's tunnels, or do we need to look for a different solution? Entra Application Proxy was something else we looked at but this appears to require an Entra sign-in, which is no good for an API that is only going to be used by automated systems.

Free Exam Word Processor - ExamPad+

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 08:58:35 +0000

I just saw a post on LinkedIn for some exam word processing software that is Free for Primary and Secondary school.. https://exampadplus.co.uk/ JCQ Compliant and has a classroom mode so it can be used for students to familiarise themselves with the software so it's not a complete surprise on exam days. It says it's created by a UK Network Manager so (unless my search skills need improving) I'm surprised to not have heard anything about it on EduGeek yet!

Data Loggers - Primary School

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 08:21:32 +0000

Does anyone use any modern data loggers in Primary schools—not the old TTS models that relied on Windows XP? I can’t get the old Logbook Graphing software to run on Windows 11, so we’re looking for alternatives. Ideally, I’m trying to find out whether there are current data loggers that still come with Windows‑compatible software, rather than ones that only work through an Apple app. I know TTS has a Bluetooth version at around £120 each, but that one only works with an Apple app, and even those devices are getting quite old now. If anyone knows of good, up‑to‑date options, I’d really appreciate recommendations.

Blocking copilot preview in Clipchamp for students

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 08:00:11 +0000

Obligatory - mods if in wrong place please move Has anyone managed to do this - just came across it with a student that really does not need access to it. have blocked via cloud policies, but the app still shows this and i can't work out why? Setting the age range to minor blocks clipchamp itself (cause graph apparently needs an over 13 account Any help appreciated.

Hosted SIMS&FMS Backup File

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 20:09:42 +0000

We have obtained our SQL backup file from ESS upon our move to another provider. Could someone with SQL knowledge send me a DM?

Graphics Exams

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 17:25:23 +0000

Hi all, we have a couple of IT suites where students take their graphics exams on computers, they use their actual accounts as they need to access some resources from their coursework etc. however they are not allowed internet access, we achieved this buy using a GPO to block all sites in edge apart from the ones used to license the Adobe suite and office. However students have now figured out they can email each other, via the outlook desktop app, I can block that app using app locker. My question is how do you if at all stop them from sharing a PowerPoint between students and passing 'notes' that way using the collaborative nature of 365. They apparently need to use PowerPoint so blocking that won't help me unfortunately. Appreciate your advice!

3rd Line Projects Engineer - £38,000 - £45,000 - Buckinghamshire

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 15:49:36 +0000

3rd Line Projects Engineer Hybrid & Princes Risborough Office - Buckinghamshire £38,000 - £45,000 turn IT on is currently seeking a 3rd Line Projects Engineer who is motivated and enthusiastic about technology. The ideal candidate will have a natural flair for technical problem-solving, experience working within an education environment, and a passion for delivering high-quality service to schools. This is a central role within our Project Team, supporting the design, development and delivery of technical solutions across our school network. While the role is remote-based, regular travel will be required to our Princes Risborough office and to schools across the South East of England. You will report into the Head of Projects. You will work closely with the projects team to deliver technical projects as well as supporting our solutions Architect with pre-sales queries and pre-configuration tasks for infrastructure installs. Key Responsibilities Lead on technical design and documentation for projects and tenders Act as a point of contact for technical queries during project delivery Collaborate with schools and internal teams to ensure smooth communication and progress Create and manage schedules of work and project plans Support presales activity with technical input and timely responses Attend project meetings and contribute to technical discussions Help train and support team members where needed Maintain high standards of documentation and customer service What We’re Looking For We’re seeking someone with strong technical expertise and a background in project management. You’ll be organised, adaptable and confident working independently as well as part of a team. Excellent communication skills and a positive, proactive approach are essential. Essential Skills & Experience Microsoft certification Networking certification Experience managing ICT projects from start to finish Strong knowledge of: Windows Server, Office 365, Google Workspace Microsoft Hyper-V, Networking (VLANs, routing & design) Storage solutions (SAN/NAS), AD, DHCP, DNS, GPO Ability to create detailed technical documentation and project plans Outstanding customer service and communication skills Desirable Project management certification (e.g. Prince2) Experience with Azure and PowerShell scripting Other relevant IT certifications The role is offered on a full-time basis, remote with the expectation of working in our Princes Risborough office as and when needed too. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check. Due to the nature of this role, candidates may be required to travel to schools, and therefore must have a driving licence and their own vehicle. In return, we are offering a salary of between £38,000 - £45,000, benefits include a pension scheme, electric/hybrid car leasing scheme, cycle scheme, eye care voucher scheme, mental health first aiders, employee assistance programme plus additional benefits. The Transforming Learning Group (TLG) provides a comprehensive range of hands-on ICT and computing support, MIS support, GDPR services and software consultancy and training. We have several brands under the TLG umbrella – turn IT on, School ICT Services, SalamanderSoft, SBM, EduFin, Vital York, GDPR Sentry and Locker. Between these brands we provide services to over 5,000 schools across UK and employ over 470 staff members. We put schools and their needs first, taking care of all their technological needs so that they can get on with teaching and learning. turn IT on is a friendly and supportive place to work where people feel trusted and respected, and we are proud of the diversity and flexibility that we have and the breadth of skills and experience of our staff. turn IT on is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees to share this commitment. ‘Happy to talk flexible working’ ‘Your data matters’ **APPROVED**

Mic and Camera access for Staff

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 15:12:15 +0000

Hi all Making this post as we are currently running into issues with staff joining google meet meetings, zoom meetings or even teams meetings and even though we have a GPO that says Yes to everything, google still requires you to go to the sites settings page and click "allow". Its honestly getting annoying, i even have a scribe guide (a step by step guide) on how to do this and they still complain. How do you approach this? is this a fault on my end or a PEBKAC?