The schools ICT Support team consists of staff providing services under two service level agreements.

1. Schools Management Information System Support

We provide support for:

  • SIMS
  • SIMS Assessment
  • LGFL billing services (aggregated billing)
  • Practical support for your educational cloud services
  • LGFL/USO/Cloud Account and password administration.
  • Monitoring of USO-Auto updater
  • USO-FX – Secure file transfer system
  • USO-Auto text texting service
  • Administration of Web and email filtering
  • Secure Store the online backup module (Setup and Purchasing only)
  • Secure Remote Access
  • GSuite for education training and support
  • A comprehensive schedule of training courses which can be booked on the CPD website
  • New buildings/School extension works: We will work with you, the Capital Projects Team
    and your ICT Supplier to ensure your ICT needs are met and exceeded.
  • Assistance with new data circuits and broadband
  • OFSTED – preparation for inspection
  • Advice on online-safety, ICT and safeguarding, data protection, cyber security incidents, disaster recovery & business continuity and dealing with complaints
  • Disaster Recovery - Emergency School Provision
  • Organisation of School Business Managers’ Forum
  • Ownership of and support for the Schools Extranet
  • Online safety sessions for staff
  • Online safety sessions for parents
  • Data protection and cybersecurity – help, advice and liaison with your DPO
  • Forensic Analysis and Assistance with Cyber incidents
  • Advice and guidance on administrative procedures in schools
  • Support for the computing curriculum including advice on devices and infrastructure.
  • Liaison with 3rd party ICT support agencies and other LA Departments to ensure an integrated approach to ICT.

Approved Suppliers & Contract Monitoring

We will keep a list of Merton approved ICT suppliers. The list will be updated periodically. All
companies on the list will be vetted by us and attend scheduled meetings. We will also check that these organisations have an understanding of how schools operate and the strategic direction for ICT in schools as defined by DFE and OFSTED.

Dispute Resolution Service

If you have a dispute with your ICT provider or any other technical service provider and would like independent technical advice please let us know and we will be there to help and advise.

2. Schools DPO Service

The Merton DPO helps schools to ensure:

  • they comply with all relevant privacy-related legislation
  • staff are fully informed of their own responsibilities for acting within the law
  • they inform parents, students and employees about the data they hold in line with the expectations of the GDPR
  • they have proper risk-based systems of control over the personal data that they process
  • they deal promptly and professionally with requests for information.

Specifically the DPO will support with policy development; assist with data flow mapping; provide advice about data sharing; provide support in the event of a data breach and with regard to subject access requests; provide advice and support with regard to  data protection impact assessments.  The DPO will also monitor the school's progress towards compliance with GDPR, and provide training for staff and governors. The DPO will also support schools with recording compliance in GDPRis.