The Challenge: Connectivity Designed Around SEND Learning
For Marjory Kinnon, connectivity wasn’t simply about providing internet access throughout a new building.
Technology forms an important part of teaching and learning, with adaptive and assistive technologies helping pupils access resources, communicate and participate in school life.
This meant the underlying network needed to provide reliable connectivity wherever teaching and learning took place.
The school’s extensive outdoor areas were also an important part of the learning environment, meaning wireless connectivity couldn’t stop at the classroom door.
With the opportunity to become involved while the new school was still being planned, Simpli-Fi could take a more strategic approach – understanding how technology would be used and ensuring the infrastructure was designed around those requirements from the beginning.
Early Engagement & Network Design
Working initially with the local authority, Simpli-Fi helped develop the network requirements for the new school before construction was complete.
This early involvement allowed connectivity to be considered as part of the wider building design rather than introduced as a standalone technology project at a later stage.
Simpli-Fi’s design encompassed the complete network environment, including:
- Core network architecture
- Communications cabinet locations
- Fibre backbone requirements
- Data outlet locations
- Internal wireless coverage
- External wireless coverage
By considering the active and passive infrastructure together, Simpli-Fi was able to create a network foundation designed around the operational and educational requirements of the finished school.
When the project progressed to delivery, Simpli-Fi was appointed by the main contractor to implement the network infrastructure it had helped to design.
The Solution: Network Infrastructure Designed from the Ground Up
The completed solution provides Marjory Kinnon with the underlying digital infrastructure required to support teaching, learning, administration and the school’s use of connected and assistive technologies.
Rather than fitting WiFi into a completed building, the network was considered as part of the school from the planning stage onwards, enabling the physical infrastructure and wireless environment to be designed to work together.
High-Performance RUCKUS WiFi
Simpli-Fi deployed a RUCKUS wireless solution to provide reliable connectivity across the school’s teaching, learning and operational spaces.
Access point placement was designed around the building layout and how different areas would be used, creating a wireless environment capable of supporting staff, pupils and the connected technologies used throughout the school.
The infrastructure also provides the capacity and scalability required as the school’s use of devices and digital learning technologies continues to evolve.
WiFi Designed Beyond the Classroom
Learning at Marjory Kinnon extends beyond the traditional classroom, so the wireless network needed to do the same.
Alongside the internal wireless deployment, Simpli-Fi installed RUCKUS T310 outdoor access points to extend reliable WiFi coverage into external teaching and learning areas.
This enables pupils and staff to continue using connected and assistive technologies as they move between indoor and outdoor environments, ensuring the school’s digital resources can support learning wherever it takes place.
Network & Fibre Infrastructure
The wireless environment was supported by a network infrastructure designed specifically for the new building.
Core network architecture, communications cabinets, fibre backbone and data outlet requirements were considered as part of the overall design, providing a robust physical foundation for the school’s connectivity.
By becoming involved before construction was complete, Simpli-Fi could ensure these elements were positioned and specified around the requirements of the network rather than having to work around infrastructure decisions made earlier in the build.
Managed WiFi, Security & Ongoing Support
Simpli-Fi’s relationship with Marjory Kinnon School continued after the new network went live.
Through its Managed WiFi service, Simpli-Fi provides ongoing specialist support to help keep the school’s wireless environment reliable, optimised and secure.
The service includes unlimited onsite and offsite support, firmware updates and next-day hardware replacement, providing the school with access to specialist network expertise when required.
Keeping network software and firmware up to date is an important part of maintaining both performance and security, while ongoing support helps ensure issues can be identified and addressed without the school having to manage specialist wireless infrastructure internally.
As the school’s use of technology continues to evolve, the Managed WiFi service also provides an ongoing relationship through which the network can be supported and adapted to changing requirements.
The Outcome: Connectivity Supporting Every Learning Environment
Marjory Kinnon School has a digital infrastructure designed around the needs of its pupils and staff from the outset.
The project delivered:
- Network design incorporated during the planning stages of the new school
- Core network and communications infrastructure
- Fibre backbone designed around the requirements of the site
- Data infrastructure supporting teaching and operational spaces
- High-performance RUCKUS WiFi
- Wireless connectivity across indoor teaching environments
- RUCKUS outdoor WiFi for external learning areas
- Infrastructure capable of supporting adaptive and assistive technologies
- Managed WiFi and ongoing specialist support
- Firmware updates to help maintain performance and security
- Next-day hardware replacement
- A scalable platform capable of evolving with the school’s technology requirements
Most importantly, connectivity was considered as part of the learning environment rather than simply as an IT system.
By engaging Simpli-Fi early, the school was able to ensure its network infrastructure was designed around the building, its users and the technologies it needed to support.
Client Testimonial
“The Simpli-Fi team were invaluable in the planning stages of our new school, working with us to understand exactly what we needed and ensuring the network infrastructure was designed around the requirements of our pupils and staff.
Technology, particularly adaptive and assistive technology, plays an important role in supporting our pupils, so having reliable connectivity throughout the school is essential.
The Managed WiFi service also gives us confidence that our network is continually supported, optimised and kept secure, with specialist expertise available when we need it.”
Mark O’Brian
Chief Operating Officer, Marjory Kinnon School
Building Connectivity into the School from the Start
Marjory Kinnon demonstrates the value of considering digital infrastructure early in the design of a new school.
As educational environments become more connected and technology plays an increasingly important role in supporting different learning needs, the network needs to be considered alongside the physical building rather than after it.
By combining early-stage consultancy and network design with infrastructure delivery, indoor and outdoor WiFi and ongoing Managed WiFi support, Simpli-Fi has provided Marjory Kinnon with a connectivity platform designed to support the school for the long term.
