It’s that time of year again. Parents are silently dreading the mania that will take over their households. They are already rationing the treats and considering going to the office to work for the first time since Easter. The teachers are looking forward to a well-earned pause in day-to-day teaching, the term-time pressures are lifted. However, the IT systems don’t get the same time off. In fact, the summer is probably an important window for maintenance and upgrades.
It’s not like it used to be back in the chalk and slate days. Schools now rely heavily on their IT infrastructure. Classroom devices, interactive whiteboards, and safeguarding systems all need to be reliable and secure for when students slouch back in through the doors. So, summer provides a rare opportunity for essential work or a complete tech overhaul. There are no classes to disrupt after all.
Why Summer Matters for School IT
During term time, minor IT changes would cause all sorts of niggly little disruptions. A slow network here, an ill-timed update there, and teaching and learning is impacted. Over the summer, these risks are mitigated by the complete absence of everyone. This is a great time for systems to be taken offline and upgraded without the pressure of the English class not being able to access their copy of An Inspector Calls.
It’s also a great time to review the overall health of a school’s IT infrastructure. Ageing hardware can be put to pasture in place of new technology. Software can be updated. Any underlying issues can be addressed before they irritate Mr Brown from the Science department. The summer holidays also provide a chance to step back and assess whether the current setup still supports the school.
Key Areas to Focus On
One of the most important areas to assess whilst the kids are having water fights in their back garden is network performance. As schools continue to adopt cloud-based solutions and digital learning platforms, the demand on networks increases. Improving Wi-Fi coverage and ensuring significant bandwidth might make a noticeable difference.
Device management is another priority. Desktop computers and tablets often require updates or reimaging. An eerily abandoned school is the perfect setting for IT teams to prepare devices in bulk, especially if schools are set to roll out new devices when September comes.
As with any organisation, security should be firmly at the forefront of the school’s mind. Cyber threats targeting schools have increased. Attackers have learned that education organisations are vulnerable. Summer is the right time to review antivirus protection as well as removing unused accounts.
Finally, backups shouldn’t be overlooked either. Schools could use the rare peace and quiet to properly test their backup systems. It is not enough to just assume the backups are doing their job. They need to be verified to ensure data can be restored quickly.
Preparing for the New Academic Year
Beyond maintenance, summer is about preparation. Changes to curriculum delivery or updated software platforms have IT implications. Planning and implementing these changes during the break ensure a smoother start to the academic year.
Documentation is worth reviewing. Network diagrams and user policies need updating. And, of course, clear documentation makes ongoing support more efficient.
The Role of an IT Support Partner
For many schools, internal resources are limited. An external IT support provider might be pivotal in delivering summer projects efficiently. They bring the right expertise. They identify issues before they arise and recommend improvements.
A proactive IT partner won’t just be concerned with fixing problems as the arise. They’ll help schools plan and build a resilient IT eco-system. Even with tight budgets, decisions need to deliver value over a long period of time.
A Smarter Use of Downtime
The summer break, to most of us, is a time when all our crisps disappear and the streets are filled with screaming. But for schools they shouldn’t be expecting six-week of inactivity. This is the time they set up their school for a year of improved delivery.
When pupils return in September, the expectation is simple. Everything should work. Behind that simplicity is a significant amount of planning and preparation, much of which takes place during the quietest months of the year.
If you want to learn more about how we can help your school, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 01327 300 311, or email [email protected] with your enquiry.
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