Business telecommunications and IT systems

du Pré plc, a telephone system and IT networks provider for schools based in Newbury, Berkshire, is responding to OFSTED’s recommendation for the wider use of better wireless networks in schools.

A recent OFSTED report on the Importance of of ICT in Schools found that although there has been a significant investment by schools in ICT there is still room for improvement and better equipment and resources could lead to better attainment levels. The report suggested that only half of the schools inspected were evaluating the impact of ICT resources on pupil learning.

A section from the report comments “Schools have successfully created a demand from teachers to be able to use ICT to improve learning in other subjects but are rarely able to meet it.” It also found that “It is still common to see students taking work from other subjects to the computer room where they are using ICT, in effect, only to present their ideas well. When ICT is unavailable to students in their classrooms when they are studying other subjects, it is unable to contribute to improving learning.”

The easiest way to resolve the issue of ICT availability in class rooms is to implement a wireless network, enabling pupils to use laptops and handheld devices to connect to the school network. This is something OFSTED feels is a sensible solution. “Many secondary schools and some primary schools have attempted to solve this by installing wireless networks, making laptop computers available in other subject areas.”

School wide wireless network

Devonshire House School, an existing du Pré IT network support customer, was advised in a recent OFSTED report to implement a new wireless network throughout the school. This was required to improve ICT learning and access in the school. The school contacted du Pré. After discussing its requirements, du Pré sent an engineer out to carry out a free of charge wireless survey. Once the survey had been completed and a plan of action agreed with the school, du Pré installed the wireless network using robust Cisco routers, switches and access points.

Devonshire House School now has full wireless access throughout all four of its buildings. Diccon du Pré, IT manager at du Pré commented “We are starting to get more requests from schools that require the installation of wireless networks. It is an area our engineers specialise in, so we are more than happy to help any school with their wireless network requirements.”