Delivering a Modern, High-Performance WiFi 6 Network for Future-Ready Learning 

The Challenge 

Hawkswood Primary & Secondary School was operating on a legacy wireless network that had reached the end of its operational life. Coverage was inconsistent, device performance was unreliable, and the network was no longer capable of supporting the school’s growing digital requirements. 

With increasing use of cloud-based learning tools, safeguarding systems and 1:1 devices, the school needed a modern, secure and high-capacity wireless solution. The aim was clear: 

• Robust, seamless WiFi coverage across the entire site 

• Capacity for around 1000 simultaneous devices 

• Strong performance in all teaching areas 

• A future-proof platform aligned with modern educational standards 

In partnership with School Business Services, Hawkswood School sought a trusted connectivity partner to design, upgrade and deliver a next-generation wireless network. 

The Solution: Ruckus WiFi 6 Network Upgrade 

Simpli-Fi designed a tailored solution centred on WiFi 6 (802.11ax) technology to ensure long-term performance, resilience and efficiency across the school. 

1. Ruckus WiFi 6 R350 Access Points

The recommended Commscope Ruckus R350 access points provide a significant performance uplift over the legacy system, leveraging advanced features such as: 

• BeamFlex+™ adaptive antenna technology
  Enhances coverage and device connectivity by dynamically adjusting antenna patterns to reduce interference. 

• ChannelFly dynamic channel selection
  Continuously optimises channel performance in busy, high-density environments. 

• WiFi 6 efficiency & speed
  Supports speeds up to 1.8 Gbps throughput, ensuring smooth use of modern learning technologies, cloud platforms and safeguarding applications. 

2. HP Aruba PoE+ Switching Infrastructure

To deliver reliable power and high-speed data transfer to every access point, Simpli-Fi specified HP Aruba PoE+ switches, providing: 

• A large PoE budget to support high-performance WiFi 6 APs 

• 10Gbps backbone capabilities for future scalability 

• A stable, secure and efficient wired foundation for the wireless network 

3. Cloud-Managed Deployment

The entire system is cloud-managed, delivering: 

• Simplified deployment 

• Centralised monitoring 

• Easier day-to-day management 

• Faster response to issues and updates 

This ensures school IT staff and SBS support teams can maintain visibility and control with minimal effort. 

4. 3-Year Ruckus Support

A full support package provides long-term peace of mind, including: 

• Hardware assurance 

• Firmware updates 

• Troubleshooting support 

The Outcome 

Hawkswood Primary & Secondary School now benefits from a fast, resilient and future-proof wireless network designed for modern teaching and learning. 

The new WiFi 6 infrastructure ensures: 

• Consistent, stable coverage across all teaching and administrative areas 

• Capacity for over 1000 devices with no performance drop 

• Enhanced digital safety, security and performance 

• A scalable platform ready for future ICT expansion 

This upgrade positions Hawkswood for long-term success as digital learning continues to evolve. 

Key Highlights 

• High-capacity performance across all teaching areas 

• WiFi 6 speeds up to 1.8Gbps 

• Commscope Ruckus technology – market leader in enterprise WiFi 

• Cloud-managed network for simplified control and maintenance 

• HP Aruba PoE+ switching powering a high-performance backbone 

• 3-year Ruckus support included 

Upgrade your WiFi with confidence  request a consultation

See how Simpli-Fi supports schools across the UK

Download the School WiFi Upgrade Checklist