New term, resilient IT: what schools should check now
The return to school is one of the busiest periods of the year for IT teams. New pupils arrive, staff return from summer breaks, devices come back online, and networks experience a sudden increase in demand. A smooth start to term depends on preparation.
Small issues that go unnoticed during quieter periods can quickly become disruptive once classrooms are full and lessons are underway.
This checklist highlights the areas schools should review before the new term begins and outlines how Ballicom can help reduce risk and keep users productive.
The Start of Term Puts School IT Under Pressure
School technology needs to work from day one.
Whether you are managing a primary school, secondary school, academy trust or sixth form college, a resilient IT environment helps support:
- – Consistent access to learning resources
- – Reliable classroom technology
- – Staff productivity
- – Online assessments
- – Communication with parents and guardians
- – Compliance and safeguarding requirements
The weeks before term starts provide an opportunity to identify weaknesses before they affect teaching and learning.ate.
A Practical IT Checklist for Schools
Use the following checklist to assess your readiness for the new academic year.
1. Review Device Readiness
Over the summer, devices may have been unused, reassigned or prepared for new users.
Check that:
- – Laptops and desktops are fully updated
- – New devices are configured and ready for deployment
- – Interactive displays and classroom technology are functioning correctly
- – Device management policies are current
- – Spare devices are available for emergencies
A device issue affecting only a handful of users can quickly generate dozens of support requests during the first week of term.
2. Check Network Performance
A network that performed well before the holidays may face different demands when hundreds or thousands of users reconnect.
Review:
- – Wireless coverage across teaching spaces
- – Network switch health
- – Internet connectivity performance
- – Capacity for cloud applications
- – Guest and staff network segregation
Schools increasingly depend on cloud-based platforms, making network reliability a day-to-day requirement rather than a long-term project.
3. Confirm Backup and Recovery Processes
Many organisations only discover weaknesses in their backup strategy when they attempt to recover data.
Before term begins, verify that:
- – Backups are completing successfully
- – Recovery processes have been tested
- – Critical data is included within backup policies
- – Retention settings align with school requirements
- – Recovery objectives remain appropriate
The ability to restore systems quickly can help minimise disruption following hardware failure, accidental deletion or a security incident.
4. Review Cyber Security Controls
Schools remain attractive targets for cyber criminals because they manage large amounts of personal and operational data.
A new term is a good opportunity to review:
- – Multi-factor authentication settings
- – Endpoint security protection
- – User account permissions
- – Staff cyber awareness training
- – Vulnerability management processes
- – Email security controls
Even straightforward checks can help strengthen the overall security posture of the school.
5. Audit Licensing and Software Access
Changes in staffing, student numbers and teaching requirements can lead to licence inefficiencies.
Consider:
- – Removing unused licences
- – Confirming staff access requirements
- – Reviewing education agreements
- – Checking application compatibility
- – Ensuring software remains supported
Regular licence reviews can help schools maintain compliance while avoiding unnecessary expenditure.
6. Prepare for Staff and Student Support Requests
The opening weeks of term often generate a sudden increase in support tickets.
Common issues include:
- – Password resets
- – Device enrolment problems
- – Application access requests
- – Printing issues
- – Classroom technology faults
Having documented processes, escalation routes and spare equipment available can help reduce response times.
How Ballicom Supports School IT Teams
Ballicom works with organisations across the public and private sectors to help simplify technology procurement and IT lifecycle planning.
Our team can support schools with:
- – Device procurement
- – Infrastructure upgrades
- – Networking solutions
- – Cyber security technologies
- – Licensing advice
- – Backup and storage solutions
- – Asset refresh planning
Whether you are preparing for the new academic year, expanding an academy trust environment or replacing ageing infrastructure, we can help identify solutions that fit your requirements and budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should schools start preparing IT systems for the new term?
Ideally, reviews should begin during the summer break, allowing sufficient time to resolve infrastructure, security or deployment issues before staff and students return.
What is the biggest IT risk for schools at the start of term?
The answer varies by organisation, but commonly encountered issues include device readiness, network performance problems and cyber security weaknesses.
How often should schools review their backup strategy?
Backup processes should be monitored regularly, and recovery testing should be carried out periodically to confirm data can be restored when needed.
Can Ballicom help with school device refresh projects?
Yes. Ballicom can support device procurement and advise on suitable technology options for education environments.
What should schools prioritise first?
A good starting point is device availability, network health, backup validation and cyber security controls, as these areas often have the widest operational impact.
Let’s talk.
Speak to experts and see how we can transform your journey to IT excellence