Business issue

[Pothole]

wjwren said:

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As Headteacher acting for the Governors for XXX School, I am contacting you regarding the camera system installed August 2015.

Due to the inadequacies in installing it, it allowed potential intruders to rip out wires and defy what it is meant to do - catch them on camera.

We have had to contact insurers and arrange quotes for repairs. It is apparent from the reports back from all of them that the installation was not correct, and the following has been identified

A report has been made from a local CCTV firm. It is as follows:

I found that the plastic weatherproof electrical box had been vandalized. This would have contained a low voltage power supply is now missing.
Camera inside the entrance – cable has is loose and not properly cable clipped to ceiling.
Wires at the back of the DVR are loose and heavy these should be clipped to wall

I noticed the video cables were fed on the outside of the column to the cameras and not ran internally which could compromise the system and does not meet British Standards.



As a Headteacher it is my responsibility for safety at the school and its pupils and accountable to my Governers for what I spend. I have paid a considerable sum of money from a reduced budget for a system which was not installed to a correct level.
I will be awaiting your response back to what compensation you will be offering in view of the above failings.

I think your actions in lots of areas need accessing.

If that's verbatim, I'd be inclined to ask the governors to look at this woman's suitability for the post. A head teacher who struggles to write a comprehensible letter riddled with poor English must surely be lacking on other areas (perhaps they need accessing). The last paragraph and final "sentence" are really very poor.

[SantaBarbara]

Tell the teachers trade unions about the hidden surveillance camera in the staff room.

[anonymous-user]

I have emailed you a slightly revised letter, OP. The Headmaster's second letter is semi-literate!

[wjwren]

Thank you BV, your help is very much appreciated.

I dont know if this is a separate legal matter, but the letter was written in Comic Sans! Surely an illegal matter in itself.

Edited by wjwren on Tuesday 7th November 12:41

[Vaud]

wjwren said:

Thank you BV, your help is very much appreciated.

I dont know if this is a separate legal matter, but the letter was written in Comic Sans! Surely an illegal matter in itself.

Edited by wjwren on Tuesday 7th November 12:41

Schools often use it.

There is a good reason - it is a good font for children - the characters are well formed, rounded and easier for them to read.

No reason why they should use it in business comms, but it is the reason it is in such widespread school use (especially primary)

[anonymous-user]

Using comic sans in a business letter is punishable by death in most jurisdictions, but we are softies in the UK so you just get hard jail time with bonus Bubba.

[Red Devil]

I wonder what a judge would make of it if the HT used that font in a county court claim form.

[Vaud]

Red Devil said:

I wonder what a judge would make of it if the HT used that font in a county court claim form.

Hopefully they would focus on the content.

[wjwren]

Just doing some digging and according to Ofsted they joined the trust in 2012 - so they were in a trust when the system was installed. Does this change anything?
thanks

[anonymous-user]

No, just delete that sentence about the trust.

[ruminator]

I rarely post, but I have to say that Breaders is a thoroughly decent chap. Welcome back Sir. There, said it. I shall crawl of into the undergrowth for another couple of years.

[wjwren]

ruminator said:

I rarely post, but I have to say that Breaders is a thoroughly decent chap. Welcome back Sir. There, said it. I shall crawl of into the undergrowth for another couple of years.

Agreed! BV is a top chap!


Regarding the hidden CCTV, I found this on the BBC as it seemed a slightly grey area (well to me anyway) whether it was actually il/legal to place a camera in a staff room, which to most would be deemed a private area.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/3343641.stm

"Staff placed the spy camera inside an office clock in an attempt to stop a series of weekend thefts.

Under local authority guidelines, schools are not allowed covert filming without permission."

[majordad]

It's Pistonheads, our names have a hidden meaning, and I for one can attest to Breadvan 72 helping countless people here over the years, all for free.

[gshughes]

wjwren said:

They have repaired the cctv and want me to pay £1400 as well as previous compensation for the faults before.

I think they may have weakened their position by doing this without giving you an opportunity to repair or inspect it first? This is certainly the advice on here given to purchasers of used cars, which subsequently have problems - always give the garage an opportunity to repair it first.