IT Strategy for Schools & Digital Roadmap
Creating a future-proofed IT strategy is essential for your school. Digital strategies are something Classroom365 is passionate about, and with our help, we can create an inspiring ICT vision for the future and achieve your technology aims.
We can assist in the following three essential components of a successful school IT strategy:
- IT for Teaching. A standardised teaching platform, with reliable infrastructure, fast wireless and fixed location devices with a standard configuration, is essential.
- IT for Learning. Students need an engaging learning environment where “one size doesn’t fit all”. Safety and security are paramount both online and in school. Remote learning contingency is critical.
- IT for Administration. A stable, fast network infrastructure with access to digital files onsite and remotely with a user-friendly cloud MIS solution.
If you need help or want to learn the benefits of an IT digital strategy for your school or MAT, please complete the contact form below to get in touch.
What is an IT Strategy for Schools?
An IT strategy for schools is a roadmap for how your school will use technology for the next 5 to 10 years. We have broken it down into 3 key categories: teaching, learning and administration. Each is critical to the successful running of your school and equally to the success of your students.
Many schools have embraced the latest technology, and some may feel left behind; this is where Classroom365 can help. To ensure the bridge between ICT and the curriculum is perfectly aligned, we help ensure the emphasis is taken out of just having a computer on the desk or an iPad in the trolley.
Most resources have gone digital or are heading in that direction, so an educational IT strategy is commonly known as a digital strategy for schools. Are you still doing a paper register, for example?
We guarantee all the ICT hardware within the school is utilised to its full potential to complement the learning experience throughout the school community.
As experts in technology for schools, and with 20 years working in education, our ICT project managers will help you with the following to create a customised digital strategy for your school, academy or MAT.
- Complete an ICT audit of your infrastructure, including hardware and ICT services expenditure.
- Draw up a 5-year and 10-year budgeted ICT roadmap to implement your new school IT strategy.
- Advise on an IT procurement strategy.
IT Strategy for Schools - Find Out More
The price of every digital strategy is determined individually. However, as your managed IT services provider, we offer them free of charge with our IT support SLAs for schools.
Digital Strategy for Schools – The 3 Components
IT Strategy for Teaching
Teachers need fast, reliable tools and resources in their classroom, PPA area and away from the school for remote learning and preparing lessons from home.
The following should be considered:
- A fast and reliable network. Curriculum computers across the school have a standard configuration enabling staff to roam and access all their files wherever they are.
- Standardised applications across the site so there are no compatibility issues.
- Interactive displays for each classroom. The same brand and software version should be implemented uniformly. If SMART Boards are the preferred brand, stick with that uniformly.
- Stable wireless across the school with Wi-Fi devices configured for education, for example, permission control and app deployment.
- A computer teaching strategy determined with which hardware and software platform to use: Apple, Google, Microsoft or a cross-platform hybrid.
- Ability to record attendance and incident reporting on a cloud MIS, accessible from fixed and wireless devices.
Having worked in schools for 20 years as ICT consultants, we understand how frustrating it is when ICT is unreliable and overly complicated.
IT Strategy for Learning
Students require a safe digital space to learn. Considerations for an engaging but secure classroom will involve the following:
- Content monitoring and web filtering policies. Those provided by a typical school broadband provider don’t offer these on a granular level for individual reporting on restricted site access.
- Collaboration tools with the teacher and the whole class. These are often included with the interactive whiteboard software, making uniformity critical across the entire campus.
- Remote learning provision. Whether through Office 365, Google Workspace, or another solution, this needs to be maintained, and students need access to devices at home.
- Encouragement for digital creativity and preparation for when they leave secondary school and enter the workforce.
There are many other considerations, and every school is unique in its priorities for the education and well-being of its pupils.
IT Strategy for Administration
Administrative and management staff need a reliable ICT infrastructure that is fast, simple and non-repetitive, with as few separate logins as possible. Admin staff will need the following:
- A modern and easy-to-use school MIS removes the need for a dedicated server on school premises. Many options are available to integrate all the tasks required for admin staff into one straightforward and easy-to-use interface. Support for a cloud-based MIS like Bromcom can be done remotely.
- Parent communication, receiving payments and incident reporting can be done with one login in one web browser window.
- Email and internal communication considerations.
- The PSTN switch-off is happening in 2025 and needs to be prepared for as a new phone system will be required. So many options are available, and it needs to be done correctly from the outset.
Administrative staff keep the school running smoothly, and with a well-implemented digital strategy framework, the whole process can be straightforward.
What Makes a Good IT Strategy and Roadmap?
Every school is different. However, the following will help schools navigate the stages for creating and implementing a good IT strategy and roadmap.
- A school’s digital roadmap starts with its ICT vision. Collaborate, decide and state clearly your vision for technology use for the next 5 to 10 years.
- Schools have options for creating their strategy for IT: external IT consultancies, or they can do it themselves with a toolkit. If you are considering outside help, a company dedicated to IT in education is recommended. We at Classroom365 will be happy to help.
- Planning and implementing your school ICT strategy will involve the following:
- Prioritising individual ICT projects and their management. What is the most critical work that needs completing?
- Network downtime must be considered, so larger projects must be done during the school holidays.
- Lastly, school finance and budgeting for ICT projects. Is leasing an option, or is it more suitable to purchase ICT hardware outright?
- ICT in schools is evolving, and staying ahead of developments is essential. A regular IT strategy review is recommended as changes to priorities and budgets can happen.
For further information and if you would like a price for our strategy consulting services, please get in touch.
Mark Friend, BSc (Hons), is a Company Director at Classroom365 and has worked in technology for nearly 30 years. His IT career started with Rothschild Bank in Sydney, Australia, before working as a Global VPN Project Manager for the British Council. Mark has 20 years of experience in the UK education sector, helping schools integrate the latest tech into their curriculum and ICT vision.