Steve Nelson, operations director at Calibre Secured Networks Ltd, explains more and looks at two schools that have already benefitted from upgrading…
Today, we are seeing more primary and secondary schools requiring what are commonly referred to as enterprise grade networks. These powerful, scalable, high speed wired and wireless networks are required to drive the new applications and technologies being introduced into the classrooms to provide pupils and students with stimulating and engaging multimedia experiences and interactive learning sessions.
These networks – more commonly used by industry and commerce – can be better managed centrally and offer sophisticated features for scaling-up technologies throughout buildings and campuses, delivering a host of cost-effective features to enable network requirements to be raised to unprecedented heights of innovation, effectiveness and user applications.
At the heart of a school, a well designed and high quality enterprise-grade network can improve classroom efficiency by giving teachers the tools and facilities to manage classroom Wi-Fi access while more centralised management can deliver higher levels of control school-wide from a single console or online device.
The use of state-of-the-art robust technologies and control architecture delivers cost saving benefits and higher network performances. It also provides faster, more secure and reliable connectivity beyond the school gates – parents can log on wherever there’s a connection point to the school’s network to monitor and check their child’s performance while pupils can readily access valuable learning resources and curriculum notes from home.
Enterprise grade networks provide the basis for a more streamlined pricing model for these straightened times, helping to reduce, or even eliminate, costly software licenses while softening any financial impact from future upgrades. This offers hard-pressed schools greater transparency and budgetary control, going a long way to eliminating the potential for expensive ‘surprises’ as the network grows to meet changing needs and the requirement for additional features for new QoS and VPN-based applications.
‘At the heart of a school, a well designed and high quality enterprise-grade network can improve classroom efficiency by giving teachers the tools and facilities to manage classroom Wi-Fi access while more centralised management can deliver higher levels of control school-wide from a single console or online device’
One education provider already benefiting from switching to a Calibre-designed enterprise-grade network is Washington School on Wearside, which has moved to meet the future needs of its pupils and teaching staff as it interacts with, and embraces new technologies. Today, the school benefits from unsurpassed levels of enterprise grade network performance to drive the multitude of devices and hardware that help to enrich the overall learning experience for hundreds of pupils.
Newcastle School for Boys, an independent school located in a suburb of the city, is also looking to the future. A new Cisco wireless technology network will provide improved and safer access to smart phone and tablet-based IT services as well as online study aids, enabling the school’s 400 pupils to use their own laptops, mobile phones and tablets in school while teaching staff manage and control access to content to ensure it is appropriate and safe to view.
Christine Dobson, the school’s bursar said Calibre’s new network provides a highly beneficial, cost effective solution that not only feels different but also will be future proof, improving IT access and learning for both pupils and students for years to come.
Calibre’s experience enables it to deliver tailored solutions, including solutions for safe and secure working, with flexible payment options for schools and other education providers operating on limited budgets. Packages include cost effective Enterprise Class IT solutions to meet requirements for scalable, resilient, robust and future proof systems.
Visit www.calibre-secured.net for more about a free audit of your current infrastructure to ensure that you are ready to use mobile devices and to get the most from your investment.
PICTURED L-R: Shaun Phillips – Technical Director, Calibre, Karen Nelson – Managing Director, Calibre, David Tickner – Headmaster, Newcastle School for Boys, Steve Nelson – IT Operations Director, Calibre
