How schools can build responsible procurement into their policies
Procurement in schools and trusts is rarely just about buying what is needed at the lowest acceptable price. School and trust teams are already balancing cost, compliance, reliability, support, security and long-term value. Responsible procurement means looking at the full impact of a purchase, not just the initial price. It gives schools a more consistent […]
Sustainable ICT Procurement for Schools
Schools and MATs are under growing pressure to make ICT budgets go further while improving security, reliability and sustainability. This means looking beyond the initial purchase price and considering the full lifecycle of technology, from planning and supplier selection through to support, reuse and secure disposal. A more responsible approach starts with understanding the current […]
The school cybersecurity checklist before the summer holidays
As the end of term approaches, schools and MATs are preparing for a period where systems continue to run while fewer staff may be available to manage issues as they arise. The summer break can reduce the level of day-to-day visibility around technology, even when systems appear stable. Cyber security and resilience depend on the […]
The School ICT Summer Readiness Guide
Every September, schools rely on technology to support teaching, learning, safeguarding and day-to-day operations from the moment staff and pupils return. The summer break provides a valuable opportunity to prepare systems, refresh devices, strengthen cybersecurity and resolve known issues before they become classroom disruptions. With careful planning, schools can use this quieter period to build […]
Migrating from landline to digital phone systems
For many schools, telephony has been one of those systems that only gets attention when something stops working. It sits in the background, supporting reception, safeguarding, emergency contact and day-to-day operations. The UK’s analogue phone network is being retired, with traditional landline services due to be switched off by the end of January 2027. Calls […]
Preparing devices for new students in September
By early July, schools and trusts are already managing the overlap between two academic years. The summer term is still underway, but September is already taking shape, and schools are trying to protect enough summer capacity for what needs to happen before students return. That makes July a useful point to check whether device readiness […]
How ESG requirements are changing school procurement
School procurement has become more visible than it used to be. Not because schools suddenly have more time to think about purchasing, but because the questions around purchasing have changed. A few years ago, the conversation was often about price, specification and whether the solution could be implemented without causing too much disruption. Those things […]
Balancing innovation and risk: Managing AI in schools
Artificial intelligence is already part of school life. Not always through a formal strategy, and not always through systems procured by the school, but through the tools staff, pupils and families are using every day. For senior leaders and governors, the question is no longer whether AI will affect education. It already does. The more […]
Avoiding IT failures in September
September has a habit of exposing every weakness in a school’s ICT setup at exactly the wrong time. A system that seemed manageable at other points in the year can suddenly become a barrier to learning when hundreds or thousands of users return at once, new pupils need accounts, staff need access to systems, devices […]
Planning telephony installations over summer
Telephony is one of those jobs where the installation is only part of the work. The planning, dependencies and testing matter just as much, especially in a school where reception, safeguarding, site access and emergency contact routes all need to keep working. For some schools, this is becoming harder to defer. The UK’s analogue phone […]