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 […]
Refurbished vs new devices: What schools should consider
When device budgets are being reviewed, refurbished equipment often enters the conversation quite quickly. Sometimes that is driven by budget. Sometimes it is linked to sustainability goals. Often, it is both. The important question is not simply whether refurbished devices are cheaper than new ones. Senior leaders need to know whether they are suitable for […]
Refurbished Devices for Schools
Refurbished devices are not just a lower-cost option. They also help schools make better use of technology that already exists. Many laptops and desktops still have years of useful life left when they are replaced by large organisations. Choosing refurbished helps keep those devices in use for longer, reducing unnecessary electronic waste and making better […]
What to do in the first hour of a school cyber attack
When a school suspects a cyber attack, the first hour can shape everything that follows. The priority is not to understand every technical detail immediately. It is to contain the incident, protect pupils and staff, preserve evidence, and bring the right people together quickly. A calm, structured response can reduce disruption and make recovery easier. […]
What should schools include in an AI policy?
AI is already finding its way into classrooms, staff workflows and student use—often faster than schools can formally respond. From drafting content to supporting lesson planning, tools are being used in different ways across the school, sometimes without clear oversight. That is why more schools are starting to formalise their approach. An AI policy is […]
The school ICT checklist before the summer holidays
By mid-May, the summer break may still feel some way off, but for school ICT teams, this is probably the best time for preparation to begin. The final half-term is always busy, and once end-of-year activity starts to build, ICT projects can quickly be pushed down the list. Starting now gives schools the breathing room […]
The Landline Switch-Off for Schools
The UK’s landline switch-off means more than replacing the main phone system. As analogue PSTN and ISDN services are phased out, schools and trusts need to understand where older copper lines are still in use across the site. In many cases, these lines may support alarms, lift phones, intercoms, gates, door entry systems or other […]
Is your school’s device strategy sustainable?
Most schools did not arrive at their current device estate by sitting down five years ago and designing it from end to end. It has been built over time — through urgent purchases, funding opportunities, replacement cycles and changing expectations about what technology needs to do. That approach has been manageable in the past, but […]
Why ESG is becoming a key factor in school ICT procurement
ICT procurement in schools has traditionally centred on cost, compliance and making sure the technology is fit for purpose. Those factors still matter, but they are no longer the full picture. Schools and trusts are also thinking more carefully about how procurement decisions affect resource use, long-term value and wider organisational priorities. For leadership teams, […]