Overview
Lion Academy Trust is a growing multi-academy trust operating 11 academies across London, Essex, and Wellingborough, serving over 5,300 pupils and more than 800 staff across its expanding estate. The Trust’s model emphasises improvement through robust leadership, high-quality teaching, and a planned approach to infrastructure and services that support learning outcomes.
Simpli-Fi has been a trusted delivery partner for over four years, working collaboratively with Lion Academy Trust to modernise network infrastructure, standardise connectivity across multiple sites, and build scalable, future-ready digital foundations that support both operational and classroom-centric technologies. Simpli-Fi’s Education WiFi Solutions were deployed across all 11 academies.
The Challenge: Legacy Infrastructure Across a Growing MAT
Schools joining the Trust typically brought legacy infrastructure that had evolved unevenly over time, often lacking the capacity, documentation, and performance required to support modern teaching and learning. Common issues included:
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Undersized WiFi systems originally designed for limited device density
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Inconsistent structured cabling and poorly documented network topologies
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Fragmented hardware ecosystems, complicating management and standardisation
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Infrastructure unable to support cloud platforms, device fleets, and modern teaching tools
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Variable performance in large teaching areas, breakout spaces, and outdoor IT-supported learning zones
Historic underinvestment had left gaps in segmentation and visibility, highlighting the need for Secure & Resilient School Infrastructure aligned to modern safeguarding and compliance expectations.
As the Trust pursued broader adoption of cloud-centric services, including Google Chrome devices, cloud-managed classroom services, and centralised administrative platforms, reliable connectivity became a prerequisite to educational delivery, not a nice-to-have.
Standardising WiFi Across 11 Academies
Lion Academy Trust needed a solution that delivered:
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Consistent, high-capacity WiFi coverage across teaching, social and outdoor spaces
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Seamless end-user experience across all 11 academies
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Support for cloud-based learning platforms and device fleets
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Simplified, centrally managed network control across multiple sites
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Infrastructure resilient enough to support strategic Trust growth and future educational technologies
Standardisation was essential to support effective Multi-Academy Trust Connectivity, enabling consistent performance, governance, and scalability across the Trust estate.
Our Solution
Through a structured Education Network Consultancy approach, Simpli-Fi conducted audits, design validation, and long-term roadmap planning.
Simpli-Fi designed and delivered an enterprise-grade, cloud-managed Ruckus network solution engineered to meet both performance needs and operational efficiency goals.
Cloud-Managed Network Design for Education
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Centralised management of all 11 academy sites using Ruckus Cloud, aligned with the Trust’s cloud-first IT strategy
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Consistent configuration templates, security policies, and performance benchmarking across the estate
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Zero-touch provisioning for rapid deployment, simplified upgrades, and reduced on-site intervention
The Trust now operates a unified School Cloud-Managed WiFi environment, centrally controlled and optimised across all 11 academies.
Delivering High-Density, Resilient School Connectivity
Simpli-Fi leveraged advanced Ruckus technologies to deliver predictable, high-density performance across classrooms, halls, outdoor spaces and breakout zones:
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AI-driven optimisation – intelligent channel assignment and airtime management
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BeamFlex adaptive antennas – dynamic signal direction for reliable coverage
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SmartCast – prioritised delivery for classroom devices and critical instructional traffic
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Airtime decongestion – efficient handling of large device populations
Structured Cabling & Physical Infrastructure Alignment
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Site audits and remediation planning to ensure structured cabling supported wireless design
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Verification of cabinet environments, fibre interlinks, and ground-up physical connectivity alignment
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Design that balanced flexibility with security and long-term scalability
Enabling Scalable, Future-Ready Digital Learning
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Consolidated platform for monitoring, alerting and lifecycle management
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Reduced burden on local IT teams through centralised visibility and support
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Standardised infrastructure for future academies joining the Trust
Long-Term Education Infrastructure Partnership
Thanks to the strategic upgrade and partnership with Simpli-Fi, Lion Academy Trust now benefits from:
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Reliable, high-performance WiFi across all phases of teaching and learning
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Standardised and scalable network infrastructure across 11 academy sites
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Cloud-managed operations that reduce local support workload
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Verified design and documented topology enabling faster support and clearer planning
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Future readiness for digital learning expansion and classroom technologies
Infrastructure is no longer a variable block on performance but a foundation that enables reliable delivery of educational objectives across the Trust. The cloud-managed platform also improved readiness for future Managed Network Services for Schools, reducing reliance on reactive on-site support.
Looking Forward
With a standardised, cloud-managed network in place and a strong operational model for infrastructure support, Lion Academy Trust is now better positioned to:
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Scale connectivity efficiently as new technologies emerge
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Continue expanding the Trust with predictable network performance
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Support hybrid learning, digital assessment platforms, and future classroom innovation
With infrastructure now aligned to educational strategy, Lion Academy Trust can focus on teaching excellence rather than reactive support.
FAQ’s
Why do multi-academy trusts need standardised WiFi infrastructure?
Standardisation ensures consistent performance, simplified management, reduced operational risk, and predictable scalability across multiple school sites.
What is cloud-managed WiFi in education?
Cloud-managed WiFi allows centralised control, monitoring, and optimisation of school networks across multiple campuses without heavy on-site infrastructure.
How many devices can a modern school WiFi network support?
High-density education WiFi networks must support hundreds to thousands of concurrent devices per site, particularly in one-to-one or Chromebook deployments.
