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5 Challenges Independent Schools Have Told us They're Facing

Many Independent schools started the new year with a spirit of optimism. It seems the pandemics' constantly changing economic effects are drawing to an end and some schools have found they are seeing higher demand than ever, with a lot of new interest from affluent “first-time buyers”. With this said, it’s too early to say that independent schools are ‘in the clear'. As one of our primary sectors, we’ve had the chance to partner with multiple independent schools, working with them to, consult, plan, and execute overhauls to their IT infrastructure. Doing so has given us the opportunity to learn first-hand what challenges independent schools are facing.

e-Learning: A Burden or an Opportunity?

This article was originally featured in the Spring 2021 edition of "The Bursar's Review" a magazine published by the Independent Schools' Bursars Association, published in March 2021. To view the original article, please follow this link.

Cloud Computing in Independent Schools

It's true, the network does seem to get the blame for many things!

Embedding technology into prep school life

It never ceases to amaze me how much the use of technology in Independent Schools has changed over just a few years.

When it comes to your network, expect the unexpected!

With Independent Schools becoming increasingly reliant on technology for delivering lessons and running the administrative side of the school, network reliability and resilience is one of the hot topics that I often get asked about by the schools we work with. Interested in finding out about ICT in the education sector? Take a look at our FREE White Paper >> While many Independent Schools enjoy stunning countryside locations, there can be some pitfalls in terms of technology! Over the years, most schools have bitten the bullet with the "excess construction charges" that BT and similar organisations levy to connect these locations to the Internet. But many schools still suffer from Internet reliability issues. I noticed in the press just this week that Myddelton School which has just opened in North Wales enjoyed a challenging first few days when their Internet circuit was severed, and I know many other schools have been in the same boat over the years, when something as simple as a bad storm took down overhead cables, resulting in a lengthy Internet outage. And when it's not the great British weather causing havoc, it can be the local wildlife creating chaos, as one school I spoke to recently had found to their detriment. They first became aware of a problem when one building could no longer connect to the network. After much troubleshooting, it was discovered that a local rodent had nibbled through the fibre-optic cable that ran between two buildings! And of course power problems have been a common cause of downtime for many schools over the years. Coming from a business background, where there has been a reliance on 'always on' ICT for some years now, I am well versed in ways to overcome these challenges, so I thought it would be useful to share a few pointers:-

Web access in Independent Schools – Protect or Educate?

One of the common themes I get asked about when I visit Independent Schools, is that of web access. It's one of those areas where many schools find it difficult to get the fine balance right between safeguarding and usability.