Northern Grid for Learning - School Broadband, eSafety, Learning Resources and More

Security
Leavers and New Starters

Good schools have effective security policies and practice. Having these in place enables more creative and positive uses of technology. Does your school have Policies and Practices which support creative uses of online technologies?

Knowing who has access to your systems is important. How do you ensure integrity and confidentiality of staff and pupil data? Is your security policy enforced and reviewed regularly? What would be the consequences of public access to your confidential data? Loss of reputation is a key driver for securing your information infrastructure.

Why not ask Heads of Departments to remind all users to change their passwords on a termly basis? Northern Grid's resources will be useful.

Effective policies which deal with "leavers and new starters", improve the security of your systems and data. Do you remove former pupils and staff from your database to prevent them from accessing your systems remotely once they have left? Is someone tasked with ensuring that email accounts and other online systems have been disabled for those who are no longer part of your establishment? Do you ensure that new starters are provided with secure usernames and passwords which can identify them as unique users on your system? What about continuing staff and pupils? Do you have a system which requires unique usernames and passwords for all users and which has to be changed regularly? Why not ask Heads of Departments to remind all users to change their passwords on a termly basis? Northern Grid's resources will be useful.

eSafety
Acceptable Use Policy Updates

Creative use of communication and social media technologies can have a positive benefit on teaching and learning. Does your policy adequately manage the risks and also ensure effective teaching and learning takes place?

When did you last review your Acceptable Use Policy? Is it fit for purpose? Creative use of communication and social media technologies can have a positive benefit on teaching and learning. Does your policy adequately manage the risks and also ensure effective teaching and learning takes place?

Policies should be developed and reviewed frequently in consultation with teachers and students. Good schools invite involvement and engagement with parents and carers. Is your AUP underpinned by training, support and a consistent pastoral and discipline system? Do you need to review or audit your AUP? Northern Grid is experienced in working with schools to review practice and develop appropriate and effective eSafety policies and training. Why not visit the eSafety section of our website or contact us for more detailed information.

How to write a social media policy.

Technical
What about Wireless?

Wireless networks are common in most schools. They promote flexible and innovative use of technologies and extend the reach of fixed networks. Wireless networks which are well planned and managed support teaching, learning and management in schools.

Does your school use a wireless network around the school buildings? Did you know that wireless networks, if incorrectly configured, can slow down the performance of your network? Are you confident that your wireless network is as secure as possible?

Failure to put appropriate security levels on your wireless networks could result in your bandwidth being used by others outside the school. This will not only reduce the effectiveness of your network but could result in your data being stolen or corrupted. Why not talk to your network manager or contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to find out how your wireless network can be improved?

Broadband Connectivity
Is your connection up to scratch?

Robust, fast and reliable broadband is essential for all schools. It enables creative use of technologies, supports effective management and provides access to a wealth of resources. Do you know what kind of broadband connection you have? Do you know its speed and capacity? How confident are you that you are receiving the bandwidth you pay for?

Depending on your broadband provider and the type of connection you have, you could be sharing your bandwidth with other schools or even with other domestic broadband users. Ideally, your bandwidth should be dedicated to you with no more than one jump from your school onto a fast broadband network. Your school broadband connection may be part of a “daisy chain” where other schools share your connection. Why not ask Northern Grid to check your current provision and tell you about our broadband services?

Best Value
Do you know how much you can save by being part of Northern Grid?

Northern Grid buys broadband on behalf of schools in 8 Local Authorities. Because we aggregate broadband demand we save money for schools through volume discounts. Our average 100mb connections cost around £12,000pa. By comparison a commercial 100mb line can cost over £50,000.

Last year we saved over £7,000,000 across all the schools in our seven Local Authority partners. We pass these savings to our LAs so that they can pass them on to their schools. From this academic year, we will be working more directly with schools. Why not ask Northern Grid to provide you with details of new broadband products and pricing?

Schools benefit from other best value offerings. We deliver nationally procured software such as Audio Network and the British Pathe Archive. We offer school based support on eSafety and integrating learning platforms. Attendance at our regional events and conference is available to all schools in the region and free of charge to Northern Grid partner schools.

Procurement
Do you know how much you can save by procuring smartly?

Volume discounts add up and save schools money. Your school could join together with other schools and together develop more buying power. Suppliers prefer to work with one key contact rather than lots of individual schools. Why not talk to other schools in your area? Once you have done that, contact Northern Grid to ask how we can deliver greater savings by procuring on your behalf across schools in the North East.

Engaging Parents
Do You Exploit Technology To Engage Parents?

Many parents are keen to use technology to keep in touch with their children’s learning. Some schools use mobile devices which pupils take from home to school. These can help engage parents with homework or enable them to understand what their children do in class. Why not find out from other schools how they are using mobile devices to support learning and increase interactions with parents or contact Northern Grid for advice?

Technology can be used to communicate with large numbers of parents quickly. Good examples of using bulk text messages include when a school has to be closed in an emergency. Many schools have access to learning platforms. These can be used to share information on how well children are doing at school by sharing assessment data confidentially with parents. Online resources can be accessed and parents can communicate with teachers about their children’s learning. Why not ask your pupils to show their parents how they use the school’s learning platform?

Staff Development
Do staff make best use of your investment in IT?

As part of your drive to become an outstanding school, you spend thousands of pounds each year in maintaining and improving your ICT and broadband provision. Do you know if your teachers use these resources effectively to engage and motivate learners? Why not ask Northern Grid to help you undertake an assessment of staff ICT skills to ensure that professional development is targeted to best effect? Many teachers now have good personal IT skills but may not have considered how effective use of IT can support teaching and learning. What about asking teachers to share online blogs on how they exploit the interactivity of ICT to support a range of teaching styles? Northern Grid has extensive experience of using social media to support teaching and learning. Why not ask us to help?

Environmentally Sustainable
Could you save money and energy by using The Cloud?

Have you ever thought how much power is used by all the IT equipment in your school? Have you noticed how server cupboards become hot and how you have to install expensive air conditioning to keep them all in working order? You could save significant costs and reduce your electricity consumption by moving your data and applications into “The Cloud”. Security and safety issues need to be addressed when moving data and systems off site but there are savings to be gained. You will be doing your bit for the planet too. Why not ask Northern Grid how you could use the regional hosting system to move power hungry systems out of your school?

Who Can Help?

Northern Grid and its team of experienced and knowledgeable staff can provide you with advice, guidance and practical help on all these issues. If your school already gets its broadband from Northern Grid these services are included in the price, if not there may be a charge for some services. If you’re reading this electronically, you can follow the “hot links” and access some of Northern Grid’s free resources.

	Our Service Guide provides more details of Northern Grid’s services.
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it	You can email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
	Follow us on Twitter
	Like us on Facebook
	Watch us on YouTube