- 22 May 2025
- 30 May 2025
- 3 min read
Knowledge HubTM
Does Your Internet Service Meet Schools’ Evolving Needs?
- Date Posted:
- 2 min read
- Written by: Exa Networks
Technology in schools has evolved rapidly in recent years.
Has your school’s internet connection been assessed recently? Your solution may no longer support how your staff and pupils work today.
If your use of the technologies below has grown, it may be time for a connectivity review.
Increase in cloud-based systems
Services such as Microsoft 365, Google Workspace and cloud-based management information systems are now at the centre of everyday school life.
Teachers are creating and sharing resources online, pupils are collaborating in real time and administrative systems are increasingly hosted in the cloud. These services offer flexibility and efficiency, but they also mean schools rely more heavily on a fast and stable internet connection than ever before.
What was once a minor inconvenience can now affect teaching, learning and essential operations.
AI's influence in Schools
Artificial intelligence has become one of the biggest developments in education.
Many teachers are now using AI to generate lesson ideas, adapt resources for different abilities, draft communications and reduce administrative tasks. At the same time, schools are considering how pupils can safely use AI as part of their learning while ensuring appropriate filtering and monitoring remains in place.
Whether your school actively encourages AI or takes a more cautious approach, it has become another technology that your network needs to support effectively.
Did you know?
- - 82% of primary and 78% of secondary teachers say they have used generative AI in their role.
- This statistic has grown around 30% since late 2024.
- 53% of UK schools have already adopted AI tools.
More devices means more demand
As schools embrace cloud services and AI, the number of devices relying on your internet connection continues to increase.
Many schools implement one-to-one device programmes, are refreshing ageing equipment and utilise more internet-connected technology across the school. Whether it’s pupil laptops, staff devices, tablets or classroom technology, it’s now common for hundreds, or even thousands, of devices to be accessing cloud services, streaming content and working online simultaneously.
Safeguarding and cyber security are forced to evolve
Filtering and monitoring systems have become more sophisticated to keep up with developments in technology and usage in the classroom, helping schools identify potential safeguarding concerns while supporting compliance with statutory guidance. Schools are also strengthening their cyber security through measures such as improved endpoint protection and cloud-based security services.
These technologies all rely on dependable connectivity.
Resilience has become just as important as speed
For many schools, an internet outage no longer means simply losing access to websites.
Connectivity is now fundamental to many of the systems that support teaching, learning, safeguarding and day-to-day operations. Without a reliable connection, staff may be unable to access cloud-based platforms, safeguarding tools, information systems or communication services such as VoIP.
Time to review your internet connectivity
A solution that was well suited to your school three-five years ago may still be performing exactly as it was designed to, but your requirements may have changed. Increased cloud adoption, greater use of AI, more connected devices and higher expectations around safeguarding all place additional demands on your network.
Reviewing your ICT solution provides an opportunity to understand how your school’s technology has evolved, whether your current connectivity is keeping up and what improvements could help support teaching and learning over the coming years.
Our dedicated advisors are here to help you ask the right questions and ensure that your services are meeting your needs, and will grow with your requirements into the future. You can contact us via 0345 145 1234 or sales@exa.net.uk
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