COMPUTING & IT RESOURCES
Essential IT services for schools G
etting the right IT services in place can be game-changing. Here, managed service provider Wavenet tells Education Today exactly which services can make the biggest difference to MATs and schools. The advice responds to the Department of Education’s (DfE) guidance that all schools and colleges should be working towards meeting six core digital and technology standards by 2030. These standards are: Broadband Internet; Wireless Networks; Network Switching; Digital Leadership and Governance; Filtering and Monitoring; and Cyber Security.
With the learning environment increasingly dependent on cloud platforms, WiFi and safeguarding tools, Wavenet’s technical experts have examined the IT support services most critical for education leaders and network managers – tackling areas such as reducing downtime, protecting data and improving day-to- day teaching and learning.
The first is managed IT support. This means having a dedicated team in place to keep IT running day-to-day: fixing issues through a helpdesk; keeping systems updated; watching for problems before they cause disruption; and making sure data is backed up so learning can continue even if something goes wrong. Edukos Trust (a Yorkshire MAT of five primaries) says the shift from reactive firefighting to proactive support via Wavenet has made a “huge difference” for staff and pupils, with teachers reporting less disruption and less stress because
help is available when needed. Second is student technology support. Pupils and students often need practical help when things don’t work. Whether they’re in the classroom or learning remotely, common requirements include sorting device glitches, resetting passwords, restoring connectivity, and ensuring access to the platforms and resources they need.
Then there are classroom technology solutions. Lessons interrupted by buffering, dropouts or kit not syncing properly disrupt the learning experience. Alongside robust WiFi solutions for schools and connectivity, support should be in place to help keep teaching tech reliable and easy to use – be it interactive screens or sound and video systems. At Cardiff & Vale College, building the right connectivity foundation for a major new campus meant learners could rely on the best possible learning environment – or, in the college’s words, a “first-class venue with a first- rate network to run it.”
Next is support for cloud platforms. Microsoft and Google continue to be the most widely used platforms in education. The full range of their applications and uses is often overlooked. Yet, it is vital to ensure the various Microsoft and Google tools are not only set up correctly at the outset, but also kept running smoothly. This way, staff and students can log in securely, use the collaborative tools of both platforms without issues, and manage school devices and cloud services consistently across their sites. Finally, there’s training and CPD. Teachers and
40
www.education-today.co.uk
support staff should feel confident using the tools they already have, with hands-on guidance and best practice so technology genuinely supports learning, rather than becoming another hurdle to overcome. Returning to Edukos Trust, the MAT reports that practical Microsoft training provided by Wavenet has boosted staff confidence, with teachers describing tools such as Copilot as a major time-saver for lesson planning, “like having a second teacher in the room.”
Nick Shea, Director of Education at Wavenet, comments: “Schools and colleges are navigating a complex digital landscape – from cyber threats and safeguarding, to hybrid learning – often without the in-house capacity to manage it all alone. From our experience of supporting more than 4,000 schools, across hundreds of MATs nationwide, we know that, alongside technology that they can trust, leaders are looking for clarity and confidence. They want reassurance that their systems meet DfE standards and an IT partner who looks beyond the horizon to identify any gaps and ensure plans are in place to get up to speed.
“Our role as a managed service provider is to replace anxiety with reassurance, moving schools from reactive firefighting to proactive, strategic IT that protects and prioritises learning time. When technology simply works as a matter of course, teachers can focus on pupils, leaders gain peace of mind, and MATs and schools can concentrate on delivering the best possible education journey for Britain’s younger generations.”
April 2026
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44
