Does anyone know anything about becoming a Network Manager in a school

[Debbiethemum]

I am facing possible redundancy again (we have been outsourced). I am looking for a career change that will allow me to spend more time with ds & dd. I have been working in IT for 18 years and have a BSc in Computing. I use mainly windows systems and have knowledge & experience in implementing backup systems, Lotus Notes, VMWare & SAN?s plus loads of other stuff so I have no worries about being able to do the job. Though please also tell me about any training courses that would be useful as I might be able to wangle myself on a course before I leave or use some of my redundancy money to fund them.

So my questions are,
What sort of hours are normally required, do you have to work after school everyday or set days?
What is the pay like? I should be able to afford the pay cut as I would save on childcare costs.
What is the best way of finding this job locally?
How much of a demand is there? Will they be fighting over me or will I have to face stiff competition?

I am really hoping this could be the perfect work/life balance for me. I have thought about teaching but reading some of these threads has put me off a bit.

please may I bump for those coming home from work

You may find that you don't save on childcare i'm fairly sure in my last job ( a year ago) the network manager didn't have a term time contract, he was certainly always there if I went in for something in the holidays and took holidays in term time which would suggest hewas employed all year round

Not a network manager Debbie but a teacher so will tell you the little that I know!
Our network manager works a normal working day, not a school day and he works a normal school year not term time only.
He has a team of 3 or 4 others who help him maintain the network.
Not sure about his pay at all!
I would have thought these jobs would be advertised in local paper.
We have just appointed an assistant - there were 12 at the start of the day - a couple left very early because they couldn't find anywhere to park (???), some left as they failed a written test, and of the 3 left who were formally interviewed, the one who got the job was the least experienced (worked in a IT help call centre - no hands on experience) but had most people skills.
You have to be able to do all the techy stuff and communicate with staff abot their IT needs.
I know it doesn't answer all your questins but hope it's a start.
By the way, we have a relatively high turnover of IT techy staff so I would have thought it would be relatively easy to get in somewhere.
Good Luck!

Thanks for this information.
I sort of expected I would have to do some hours after school or in the holidays as otherwise the systems would never get upgraded!!
I was hoping that I could do something like work later Mon-Wed and do school pick-ups Thurs & Fri. I could then use the after school clubs.
A pain if I have to work the holidays though I need to find out just how much
RowlersX - what do you mean about school year / term time only? is the difference inset days?