Introduction
MSC IT Solutions, a company based in Hartlepool, was tasked with revamping the IT system at The Douay Martyrs Catholic Secondary School. The system, over a decade old, was so outdated that it no longer met the Department of Education's minimum standards. Additionally, staff reported that its unreliability was negatively affecting teaching, learning, and overall productivity. However, MSC IT Solutions managed the project, not only modernizing the system but also transforming classroom experiences, leaving the school's 1,600 students and staff satisfied with the improvements.
Education is a sector we are often called in to help with IT solutions. We are now established as one of the go-to companies in the UK. And this was one of our biggest challenges to date...
The Douay Martyrs Catholic Secondary School’s IT systems were well out-of-date and there were significant issues across the whole campus. Following investment from the DfE for one campus via the Priority Build School Programme, the aging infrastructure on the second campus was highlighted drastically, and these issues were starting to affect the teaching and learning of the school’s 1,600 students. The network was unreliable, and it was hugely impacting the staff’s ability to deliver productive lessons.
Our first step was a detailed audit of the campus to give a high-level view of all issues and create a detailed plan for a high-quality, future fit IT network for all stakeholders to agree on. Once agreed, our next step was to remove the schools ageing and failing network cabling, which ran around the school in unsightly, and in places unsafe plastic trunking. In its place was a new safe and secure containment in the form of cable basket and tray, meeting all of the latest building and fire regulations. (Whilst adjusting to the aesthetics of the school). We replaced the containment across the campus, which allowed teachers to do their jobs without the lingering daily stress that the network would fail – leading to downtime which was badly impacting lessons.
Once agreed, our next step was to remove the schools ageing and failing network cabling, which ran around the school in unsightly, and in places unsafe plastic trunking. In its place was a new safe and secure containment in the form of cable basket and tray, meeting all of the latest building and fire regulations. (Whilst adjusting to the aesthetics of the school). We replaced the containment across the campus, which allowed teachers to do their jobs without the lingering daily stress that the network would fail – leading to downtime which was badly impacting lessons. Not only that but by removing the trunking from the school’s corridors, the older school building suddenly looked the part. No more protruding wiring causing an eyesore; Instead, the wiring was streamlined and slicker.
Feedback from the staff was great, but it also came from the students. Their working environment matters, and they were over-the-moon that they finally had a space that looked great – and was safer. They could now work with the peace-of-mind a modern IT network can provide – along with a level of service many IT providers just don’t give their clients. Staff were relieved that the IT system was finally efficient, and this allowed for further development of safeguarding aspects, processes and teaching along with learning protocols and delivery.
A Decade is a long time in IT
When you have a network that’s more than ten-years-old, you are going to run into problems ...
That’s exactly what was happening at this London school, where the solution was so out-of-date, it didn’t even come close to meeting the latest Department for Education’s specifications. Students deserve better. Staff only get one chance to get it right in order for them to achieve the best possible outcomes. Thankfully, the new Headteacher, Trust and Local Governing Board realised how a decade of under- investment due to budgetary constraints was hurting their school. The core business of a school is keeping children safe whilst delivering an outstanding educational experience. This IT upgrade allowed the school to create the ideal classroom setup to let teachers
‘It was a ‘win-win’ for all involved’
‘They deserve systems that allow them to learn, and teachers to teach without the damaging risk of downtime.'
The core business of a school is keeping children safe whilst delivering an outstanding educational experience. This IT upgrade allowed the school to create the ideal classroom setup to let teachers do what they do best. But it also helped to develop further solid systems to monitor and review the impact on student outcomes and the robustness of students safety. This was all done with minimal uss and very little impact on the day-to-day running of the school. This wasn’t our first rodeo at a school; Over the years, we’ve established a strong reputation for consistently delivering superb results for schools across the country.
As always, we adhered to schools safeguarding policies and protocols. We know how important this is in the modern school setting so this was respected throughout the time we worked on this project – from where we worked to ensuring there was little crossover when students were moving around the site. And we completed it with minimal disruption to lesson plans. We planned everything around the school timetable to reduce the impact on students, even when that meant working double shifts. For us the priority was to make this as smooth as possible for the students, and we worked closely with the school to plan which area would be closed off at which time, in order to deliver just that. And deliver it we did – in under half the time that was on the initial plan.
The key, as always, was constant communication with school leaders. We organised keeping in touch meetings throughout the projects so stakeholders remained informed about any key updates – while we could work on solutions for any issues that arose.
The first task was to bring it into the modern world – whilst minimising disruption and cost.
We installed a new Aruba enterprise solution and removed the aging network switches, while the projectors – a relic from when we were at school – were gone. In their place came slick 75” interactive screens which allowed the staff to inject more vibrancy into their lesson plans. Not only this, but a standardised teaching wall setup across the campus, incorporating connectivity from teaching spaces to screens hidden cable looms in fresh dado and new power and data in the correct locations.
There's no point in building a great race car if you don't have a great driver
While we were all thrilled with the work updating the school’s IT infrastructure, a system needed to be in place to manage the IT so that it continued to run smoothly. After securing the tender to replace the existing Managed Service Provider, we brought the support on-site.
That meant adding two more experienced staff members to our team, tasked with the day-to-day management of the school’s IT system.
Systems were in place for any issues to be escalated quickly to our experts at our Hartlepool head office. The servers, themselves over a decade old and prone to failing at the worst possible time, were also replaced. Staff were blown-away by the improvements, but also the quality support provided by our team. They loved the fact that we managed to remove barriers that had hindered their ability to learn and teach, as well as carry out essential admin work. The school’s teaching staff enthusiastically highlighted how professional our team have been, as well as the efficiency they consistently display. And that support continues now. We regularly still hold meetings with senior school leaders, with that constant communication keeping our staff on their toes – and keeping leaders informed. fuss and very little impact on the day-to-day running of the school. This wasn’t our first rodeo at a school; Over the years, we’ve established a strong reputation for consistently delivering superb results for schools across the country. There’s no blame placed on the school for the previous IT system growing outdated. Budgets are forever being squeezed while Government investment is drying up by the day.
Sadly, technology can become a victim – but we passionately believe IT should be at the forefront of teaching and learning. It can inject colour into any lesson, brightening young minds, whilst enabling the needs of all students – including those with specialist needs. Students become more engaged, and teachers find it easier to do what they love to do - teach. That’s why having a modern, fast and reliable IT network at your school should be a priority for every headteacher in the land.
A testimonial from Fiona McCloskey, Headteacher of The Douay Martyrs Catholic Secondary School.
“The overall improvement of the schools IT system has significantly magnified. This much-needed project was long overdue, but due to budget constraints, that wasn’t immediately possible.
With support of the DOWAT Trust and Local Governing Body, we have been able to make improvements across the network and the results are fantastic.
It has eliminated barriers to teaching and the results are being felt across the entire school.
MSC IT Solutions worked with leaders and stakeholders at every stage of the journey, and they are still supporting us now – I’m thrilled with the results, and I know it is making a big difference and having a real positive impact on both staff and students.
The school has been able to run and facilitate workshops for both staff and students including hosting Jack Petchy Awards, professional-led CPD sessions and workshops and assemblies to delivery key notes and information to a high quality due to the nature of the network, help and advice around new solutions and the managed services team.”
