School Profile
Wren Park Primary School in Derby is one of the many schools to which Link ICT delivers IT support on an ongoing weekly basis. This regularity of visits means we develop an in-depth insight into their IT and telecoms needs and requirements.
“Connect the Classroom” is a Government initiative to provide funding from the Department for Education (DfE) to help schools upgrade their IT network and connectivity. Link ICT has successfully advised many of our school customers through the application process to ensure their funding is approved. We therefore recommended that Wren Park take advantage of this initiative to enhance their IT provision.
Services Provided
To begin the process of implementing the benefits ‘Connect the Classroom’ funding delivers, we met with key decision makers from the school to understand their needs. This instigated a continuous conversation and discussion between ourselves and the school to determine what would most benefit the school and how Link ICT could help them make the most of this Government initiative.
Having helped Wren Park Primary School successfully secure funding, we used our IT procurement expertise to buy the equipment and hardware specified during the needs assessment. Our bulk buying power and the strong relationships we have with our supply chain partners enabled us to procure the equipment quickly and fast-track the time required to successfully complete the installation.
We also diligently project-managed the entire installation process to deliver an upgrade of the IT network and ensured the new configuration would meet the standards defined by the Department of Education.
Technology Solutions
The upgrade project included twenty Cambium wireless access points, Cambium switches, (with 5-year management licenses), connected with Cat6A cabling to maximise network performance. These upgrades were done in tandem with a network cabling upgrade which we scheduled to take place at same time as the Connect the Classroom work was being done to maximise labour efficiencies.
Prior to beginning the project, Link ICT Services completed an audit of the existing technical situation at the school. This allowed us to ensure that we were fully aware of how the school’s entire IT system was currently performing in meeting the needs of IT users.
Due to our well-established relationship with the school and the asset registration software we have previously installed, we already had knowledge of how many devices depended on the IT network to perform their daily duties, whether this was for student devices or staff licences. Our objective was to ensure that the upgrade would help to eliminate any existing inefficiencies and user frustrations.
This information was then used to define the network design specifications required to provide a dependable connection that will cope with the number of connections at consistently high speeds such that disruption during lessons is caused. The solution also had to future-proof the school’s infrastructure for the next ten years.
To adhere to the DfE standards for switching, Link ICT supplied, installed and configured Cambium cnMatrix EX2028 switches. These switches are managed by Link ICT Services technicians on a cloud-based interface. This gives IT support staff the ability to easily configure access to school networks for staff, pupils and visitors. The design of the switching also means that there is built-in redundancy should equipment fail and enhances security to prevent unauthorised access to school systems.
The cloud-managed switches serve twenty indoor high-performance Cambium XE3-4 wireless access points. Careful use of heat mapping ensured maximum coverage and efficiency and made interconnectivity at the school all the more powerful. Access points by nature need to allow a larger capacity of connections at one time. We were accurate and methodical in choosing access points that enabled the greatest number of connections and the ability to handle the strain of multiple connections, whilst also not being in danger of failure.
In addition to improving indoor network coverage across the school, two Cambium XV2-2T1 outdoor access points have been installed to extend coverage into the playground and other outdoor areas. This means that technology can be used during outdoor learning too.
Outcomes
This project began in February 2024 and was completed in the summer of 2024. However by the end of March, benefits were already being realised.
This upgrade has improved IT network performance and connectivity which in turn has enhanced the quality and delivery of teaching and learning.
These upgrades have also demonstrated Wren Park’s active commitment towards meeting the DfE Digital and Technology standards.
Headteacher Quote
“Link ICT was always on hand to provide their technical advice throughout the Connect the Classroom project, having the well-established rapport of our site visit each week meant they knew of all the areas in the school that could benefit from the Connect the Classroom initiative and were happy to go the extra mile for us”
Rachel Fox, School Business Manager of Wren Park Primary School
Please get in touch today if you would like to see how Link ICT can support your application for Connect the Classroom funding.
