Our Buckinghamshire IT leaders will share their knowledge and openly discuss trending topics affecting Schools and Academies. We will offer guidance and cover items related to data and cyber security. Also, DFE standards, and Buckinghamshire Council operations.

Get any burning questions ready as we’ll be taking questions throughout.

Join us to stay informed!

Richard Smith, IT Cyber Security Manager

With 15 years of experience teaching at the secondary level, I have transitioned to working for the local authority. My main responsibility is to protect systems and data from cyber threats, also, I offer advice to schools to help them manage their cyber security challenges. Additionally, ensuring that the council's broadband service provides adequate filtering from harmful websites and malicious software.

Mark Chilton, Service Improvement Manager

‘I'm part of The Council's ICT team with a general service improvement brief. This means reviewing and challenging how work is fulfilled from a process or technology perspective and finding better ways of working. In a school context, I am looking at how broadband and associated services are delivered. I'm also part of a team administering the ServiceNow ticketing platform which has many use cases throughout the council. Schools can expect to see portal and catalogue improvements, following review.’

Sheryl Everett, ICT Schools Team Manager and MIS Support

'I have been involved with Schools since 2001; working in Schools, I had a break in which I spent time working and living abroad; arriving back in 2011. I have been successful within the team and progressed from SIMS Support Officer to Team Manager responsible for the MIS, Financial Systems & Technical Support Teams for service delivery, operational and personnel management. I am an experienced SIMS user and achieved an Arbor Training and Support accreditation in 2018. I understand the demands of School life – I don’t think you truly can unless you have worked in the environment. We are the first point of contact for many Schools, for a myriad of supported and non-supported issues to support your daily working life; our motto is…. 'If we don’t know, we will know someone who does’. Outside work, I enjoy my two dogs, gardening and cold/open water swimming.'

Clive Swindlehurst, ONE IT Programme Manager

'I project managed the transition from Updata/Capita to the new in-house Buckinghamshire Council One Network Broadband Service. Our built-in modern technology infrastructure replaced all council computer systems that we've shared with Bucks Fire and Rescue and Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust. Now, I am managing the delivery of Smoothwall, the industry-leading School Filtering and Monitoring Software for our supported schools. I'm excited to see this project to its end. Smoothwall will enhance our filtering and monitoring solution and exceed the KCSIE guidelines.' 

Simon Hobdell, Schools Technical Team Leader

'I’m the team leader for the Schools Technical Support Team. I lead a team that provides IT support to schools in Buckinghamshire. I also provide a purchasing service for any school to purchase IT equipment.'