Everything ICT

As AI becomes more visible in day-to-day school practice, many schools and trusts are starting to formalise their approach through policy. A clear AI policy can help bring consistency to how tools are used and understood across the organisation. In practice, that often includes acceptable use guidance, data protection considerations, safeguarding implications, and clear direction for staff, supported by appropriate training. Rather than restricting use unnecessarily, a good policy should give staff clarity and confidence while helping the school manage risk. For leaders and governors, it is increasingly part of a wider conversation about oversight, accountability and responsible use. How is your school approaching AI policy at the moment? #AIinSchools #SchoolLeadership #MATLeadership #Safeguarding #DataProtection #ResponsibleAI #EducationPolicy #EdTech

The UK’s landline switch-off is not just a phone system issue for schools. Analogue lines may still be supporting alarms, lift emergency phones, gates, door entry systems and other services across the site. The main risk is hidden dependency. Something may still rely on an old line, even if it hasn’t been looked at for years. A clear review now can help schools and trusts understand what is affected, plan upgrades and avoid rushed decisions closer to the January 2027 deadline. Everything ICT can support schools and trusts with a compliant route to market for telephony and wider ICT infrastructure support. #LandlineSwitchOff #PSTNSwitchOff #Schools #EdTech #MATs #ICTProcurement

September can feel a long way off, but many ICT issues that surface at the start of the new academic year are often shaped by how early planning began. Late spring is usually the point where schools begin to shape plans for summer works, whether that’s network upgrades, device refreshes, telephony installations or wider infrastructure maintenance. Starting those conversations now can make it easier to secure availability, manage budgets and respond if pricing or lead times shift over the coming months. A bit of forward planning at this stage can help ensure systems are ready, reliable and fit for purpose when the new academic year begins. #SchoolIT #ICTSupport #EdTech #ITPlanning #SummerWorks

Sustainability is playing a more visible role in how schools and trusts approach procurement, including decisions around technology. Environmental and governance considerations are increasingly shaping how value is assessed alongside cost, performance and reliability. For ICT, this can include factors such as energy use, device lifespan, repairability and supplier approach, all of which influence environmental impact and long-term planning. As expectations continue to evolve, it is worth considering how these factors are reflected in your current strategy. Have ESG considerations been included in your procurement approach? #SustainableProcurement #ESG #DeviceLifecycle #CircularEconomy #EducationLeadership

Many teachers are already experimenting with AI tools in day-to-day work, whether that is drafting content, summarising information or reducing admin. For school leaders, the challenge is making sure any use is supported by clear oversight, appropriate guidance and a proper understanding of the risks. Safeguarding, data protection, accuracy and appropriate use all need to be part of the conversation. As AI becomes more visible in schools, it is also becoming a wider leadership and governance consideration. How is your school approaching AI governance at the moment? #AIGovernance #AIInEducation #SchoolLeadership #Safeguarding #DataProtection #ResponsibleAI

International Girls in ICT Day is a chance for schools to get girls thinking about the futures they could build in digital, data and AI. Figures such as Professor Rose Luckin, Joy Buolamwini and Professor Hannah Fry show the value of different perspectives in shaping how technology is developed, understood and applied. It is also a useful moment to reflect on the role AI is already playing in education, and to consider how organisations such as @Tech_She_Can and @mission44 can help schools create a more inclusive digital environment for young people. #GirlsInICT #InternationalGirlsInICTDay #WomenInSTEM #AIinEducation #EdTech #InclusiveEducation #DigitalSkills #GirlsInAI

Recently we shared the news that @Everything_ICT had been awarded the @heartacadtrust Neutral Vendor ICT framework. We’re now pleased to provide further information on the transition and what it means for customers and suppliers. HEART Academies Trust is the new framework owner for Everything ICT, supporting compliant, value for money, and effective procurement across the education sector. The framework covers a broad range of ICT products and services, including laptops, devices, Audio/Video equipment, network infrastructure, IT support, Software as a Service, and cloud solutions, and is open to schools, academies, trusts, and other public sector organisations. HEART Academies Trust places sustainability and social impact at the centre of its work, with a strong commitment to environmentally friendly and sustainable practices and delivering social value for the communities it supports. Whether you’re an existing customer or supplier or just interested in our framework activities, you’ll find clear guidance to support you through this transition on our new information page here: everythingict.org/framework-tran… Please be reassured that all contracts awarded under the E2BN framework will remain fully protected and supported until they naturally conclude whenever in the future that may be. #procurement #education #framework #schools #MATs #suppliers #sustainability #socialvalue

Earth Day is often framed around big systems and major policy change. But this year’s Our Power, Our Planet theme also points to something more grounded: the power of action in everyday decisions. That matters in education, where long-term impact is often shaped by practical choices made at local level through planning, problem-solving, collaboration and careful use of resources. Even ICT planning and procurement have a part to play. They may not sit at the centre of the conversation, but they do help shape decisions that are sustainable, practical and fit for the future. #EarthDay #OurPowerOurPlanet #Sustainability #Education #EdTech

Because issues can be easier to miss during quieter periods, it’s worth carrying out a few key checks when school networks return to normal use after a break. Backups, patching, monitoring, access reviews and log checks can all help schools spot issues sooner and strengthen cyber resilience before small problems become bigger ones. Our latest guide looks at what to check and why it matters. #SchoolIT #CyberResilience #EdTech #Schools #NetworkSecurity

Many schools still depend on analogue phone lines more than they realise. With the PSTN switch-off approaching, reviewing communication systems should now be part of the ICT roadmap. The analogue network is set to be retired by 31 January 2027. For SLT, this is about more than replacing old lines. It is about making sure the systems your school relies on every day are fit for the future. How is your school preparing? #SchoolLeadership #ICTStrategy #EdTech #EducationLeadership

How often does your school review its device lifecycle strategy? For many schools, device replacement can become reactive when budgets are tight and priorities shift. But with hardware markets remaining volatile, forward planning is becoming more important — not just for budgeting, but for procurement timelines too. For some schools and MATs, that is also prompting a review of internal approval processes, particularly where hardware quotes are only valid for a short period and decisions need to be made quickly. A clearer device lifecycle strategy can help schools plan ahead, avoid unnecessary pressure and make purchasing decisions in a more timely, informed way. #EdTech #SchoolIT #DeviceLifecycle #ITStrategy #EducationLeadership #Procurement #BudgetPlanning

AI is already becoming part of day-to-day school life — from lesson planning and report writing to admin tasks and communication. The challenge for schools and trusts is making sure policy, oversight and guidance keep pace. That means thinking carefully about data protection, safeguarding, student use, accountability and what responsible use really looks like in practice. Everything ICT supports schools and trusts in making well-governed, compliant technology decisions, helping leaders put the right structures in place as AI use continues to evolve. #AIinEducation #EdTech #SchoolLeadership #MAT #SchoolGovernance

Working on your next ICT procurement? We’re here to help — and not just your school. 🌱 With @Everything_ICT, you get: - A fully compliant procurement framework - Access to over 300 pre-approved suppliers - Expert support from start to finish - And for every accepted quote or review, a tree planted through our partnership with @Ecologi_hq 🌳 #SustainableProcurement #EducationSupport #SchoolTech

When school systems come back online after a holiday period, a few key cybersecurity checks can make a real difference. Quieter periods can allow issues to go unnoticed, particularly where monitoring has been reduced or systems have been used less actively. A structured review at the start of term can help IT teams spot problems early and reduce the risk of disruption. That should include checking that backups have completed successfully, confirming patching and updates are up to date, reviewing user accounts and permissions, making sure monitoring and alerts are active, and looking through security logs for anything unusual. Building these checks into post-holiday processes can help strengthen resilience and reduce the chance of avoidable issues later on. #CyberSecurity #SchoolIT #CyberResilience #ITSecurity #Schools #EdTech

ESG — and, more broadly, sustainability and social value considerations — is increasingly shaping procurement decisions, and that includes schools. For ICT purchasing, that can mean looking beyond upfront cost to factors such as energy efficiency, device lifespan, supply chain ethics and end-of-life disposal. Those factors can support stronger long-term financial planning too. As procurement expectations continue to evolve, ICT purchasing is becoming part of a wider conversation about value, responsibility and sustainability. Through the Everything ICT framework, schools and trusts can take a compliant, structured approach to ICT procurement while keeping those wider priorities in view. What does your school or trust currently take into account when making ICT purchasing decisions? #ESG #SustainableProcurement #ICTProcurement #EdTech #Schools #EducationLeadership #Sustainability

Many schools are still relying on telephony infrastructure that has been in place for years and may no longer reflect how technology and school operations have changed. With the UK’s analogue PSTN network due to be retired by 31 January 2027, now is a good time to review your current setup, identify what needs attention, and avoid unnecessary disruption later. The Easter break is a useful window to step back and ask whether your current systems are still fit for purpose before next term’s demands take over. #EdTech #Schools #UKEducation #PSTNSwitchover #VoIP #DigitalTransformation #SchoolIT #EducationLeadership

With the Easter break giving schools a rare pause, it’s a useful moment to look ahead at ICT priorities for the months ahead. Holiday periods can create space to review infrastructure, check device plans and revisit wider digital strategy — without the pressure of a busy school day. Planning early can help avoid delays, budget pressure and reactive decision-making when operational demands pick up again. A short review now can make upcoming projects easier to manage and keep technology plans aligned with your school’s broader goals. #EdTech #SchoolICT #EducationTechnology #DigitalStrategy #SchoolLeadership #ICTPlanning