The existing local authority email system for school staff has been in place for nearly 5 years. Though reliability has improved greatly in the last 12 months there have been a number of serious failures to what is now an essential communication tool. In response to those failures and at the request of Headteacher groups, the local authority commissioned an external review of the staff email system in 2007.
That review suggested a number of possible ways forward, including a move to a Microsoft Exchange-based system. The expectation was that this would improve reliability but also provide additional functionality requested by users and not available through the existing system. It would also provide a more secure email system for the transmission of confidential data between schools, Governors and the Authority. In the longer term it will be a key component, when funding permits, in the development of a wider, integrated communications system incorporating other technologies such as video conferencing and internet telephony (Voice Over IP – VOIP).
This new system has now been installed in Shire Hall and was tested very successfully during the summer with a number of early adopter schools.
The ICT Service is now beginning the process of migrating all school staff, offices and Governors to the new system, with the aim of completing this project by the end of March 2009.
How will this affect Governors? Once an appointment is arranged with the school, the Governor Support Service will receive notification. They will then contact the Clerks informing them of what to expect. At the time of migration the ICT Service will leave, for the attention of the Clerk, documentation regarding usernames and passwords and a how to access your new email account. The Clerks will then be responsible for distributing this information to the Governors and providing assistance as previously done during the Digitalbrain email roll out.
Governors will access their emails via Outlook Web Access found at the following address:
http://mail.cambsed.net . For your convenience we have added a link to the Portal that will take you to this new email system, it looks like this:
There is also an Exchange Project Update Page that contains upto date information about the project, here you will also find the FAQ list to answer any further questions you may have.
Gareth Davies
Gareth Davies
E-Learning Manager