Integrating ICT into school construction projects

When it comes to school construction projects, technological infrastructure is of paramount importance. From smart classrooms to data management systems, ICT is heavily embedded into education settings - not only does it facilitate learning and improve efficiency, but it introduces students to important digital skills they will rely on once they leave school. 

As education providers continuously strive to keep up with modern digital requirements, the onus also falls onto the main contractors appointed as suppliers on the School buildings: construction framework 2021 to get the planning right before any ground is broken.  

From comprehensive connectivity to smart security, there are many aspects to consider during the construction phase of a school. 

Read on to discover everything you need to know about integrating ICT into your school construction project.

Early planning

Incorporating ICT elements into your school construction project is not something that should be left until the last minute. 

As always, it’s important to start with the bigger picture: teaching and learning. What’s the vision for how school life will run and the use of technology in and out of the classroom?

This type of workshopping exercise should involve all stakeholders from the very beginning - design teams, project teams, specifiers, QS, DfE, school administrators, teachers, subcontractors, architects and ICT and digital consultants will need to be actively consulted.

As we’ll constantly refer to in this blog, it’s also important to keep future-proofing infrastructure in mind when planning a school construction project. As technology advances at a rapid rate, factors such as network capacity, bandwidth, wireless connectivity standards and power requirements will need to be taken into consideration to make sure schools can adapt to emerging technologies. 

This is where it's worth consulting with an experienced new-build ICT contractor like Novatia to talk through the vision for ICT and how the infrastructure can support it. 

Cover the bases

Ensuring you’ve got the essentials covered is crucial when integrating ICT into school construction projects. 

Here are some of the key types of ICT infrastructure that you’ll need to consider:

• Data cabling and networking infrastructure - this is crucial for connecting devices, systems, and users within the school environment. You will need to implement both wired and wireless networks that provide high-speed internet access throughout the campus. Factors such as network capacity, bandwidth requirements and coverage areas will also need to be considered. In observing not only the picture of today but also tomorrow, while Cat 6a cabling may be commonplace in new build projects today, we already have Cat 7 and Cat 8 standards available in the market and have started to see some use in the commercial sector especially in data centre considerations.
• Wireless connectivity - in the modern digital age, mobile devices and laptops are commonplace in educational settings. Therefore, wireless connectivity is critical for ensuring adaptable and mobile learning environments. The school construction process should oversee the installation of Wi-Fi access points in classrooms, social areas, and outdoor spaces to facilitate seamless connectivity for staff and students. While 2024 sees a movement from Wi-FI 6e (802.11ax) to Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), we already have Wi-Fi 8 (802.11bn) penned for adoption in 2028. This means ensuring that the data cabling and networking infrastructure is designed to not only grow with the ambitions of the school but with the increasing size of data and bandwidth requirements over time.
• Data storage and management systems - these are necessary for securely storing and accessing educational resources, student records and administrative information. Cloud-based storage solutions, data backup systems and data security measures are all essential components that work to manage and protect the data of your institution.
  

Evaluate learning space design

When planning a school construction project, it is important to take into account elements such as classroom design. In an era that is witnessing increasing digital engagement, you will need to consider features such as interactive whiteboards, integrated audio-visual systems and collaborative workspaces to maintain the immersive learning environments that students are accustomed to. 

Again, the pedagogical approaches to learning within the individual institution, and the curriculum subjects they teach at the school beyond those that are mandatory, will drive much of the design of individual learning spaces. As always, we must start with the teachers and the vision for how individual subjects will be brought to life, or for more functional spaces like learning resource centres the functional need. You’ll need to consider:

• Lighting, both artificial and natural
• Position of the teacher or support staff
• Classroom layout, furniture design and procurement
  

For example, a more collaborative pedagogical style might do away with a teacher at the front, lectern style, in favour of circular conference style seating with the teacher taking more the role of a facilitator in supporting the pupils in developing metacognitive skills.

Whereas constructivist pedagogy, which favours learning through activities, might do away with seating altogether and opt for workbenches to stand at and engage with the subject matter in all its multi-sensory glory. 

That’s not to mention the mechanisms for how students will access digital resources, software applications and online learning platforms. This will involve supporting a range of ICT equipment and devices, such as tablets, laptops, computers and charging/storage accessories. Therefore to implement these features effectively in construction plans, it’s a good idea to allocate both room and power for these devices and give space for flexibility when it comes to future technological developments.

Opt for energy-efficient solutions

The Department of Education (DfE) unveiled a strategy in 2022 that sets the goal for schools to achieve zero carbon status by 2030 under the initiative named "Let’s Go Zero". The strategy aims to eliminate inefficient buildings and outdated technology, which currently results in schools spending approximately £630 million annually on energy expenses.

Therefore, keeping sustainability in mind when undergoing school construction work not only helps the environment but can also save you money. Many people are aware that technology can help facilitate energy-efficient solutions - from features such as LED lighting to smart heating and cooling systems, there are many ways to minimise our effect on the planet. However, ICT can also play an important role in helping schools meet net-zero goals:

• Opting for energy-efficient ICT equipment assists in reducing overall energy usage and carbon footprint. This also involves replacing old and out-of-date equipment that requires more power and energy to run.
• By making the most of data analytics, schools will be able to track their energy usage patterns and make informed choices to further optimise their energy consumption.
• Integrating energy management systems is another way to stay on top of energy consumption in schools, cut bills and reduce carbon emissions. 
  

By incorporating these features into the early stages of school construction projects, main contractors, schools and MATs get a headstart in meeting sustainability targets. 

Focus on security

With issues such as cyberattacks, hacking and data breaches presenting a continued threat to the education sector, new school construction is the ideal opportunity to focus on enhancing both physical and digital security. When incorporating ICT infrastructure, it’s wise to implement measures such as Firewalls data encryption.

But with the Internet of Things and the huge uptake in connected devices, items like building access control, intruder alert systems and CCTV again will all require not only the power and connectivity needs today but also a consideration of where that’s going in the future. 

UK regulations implemented in April 2024 now enforce consumer protections against hacking and cyber-attacks, mandating that internet-connected smart devices meet minimum security standards by law. This brings with it new considerations in selecting the right system from a compliance perspective in addition to the existing GDPR and The Data Protection Act 2018 policies.

Collaborate with experts

ICT experts are the driving force behind the success of your school construction project, and this makes collaboration essential. It’s crucial to seek advice from EdTech consultancy firms, who have extensive knowledge of the digital landscape you’ll be working with and experience supporting contractors throughout the RIBA process.

At Novatia, we understand the importance of incorporating ICT into educational facilities to enhance teaching and learning experiences - it’s why we’re the ideal ICT construction partner for your school or MAT. When you work with us, you can expect:

• Proven experience - we have worked on over 150 school build projects with 15 different main contractors. This demonstrates that we are experienced in working with all the different teams from design in pre-construction through to delivery.
• ICT experts - we have worked in ICT in Education for over 20 years and so understand that ICT infrastructure is a core part of the way the school will operate and how this can have a positive impact on pupil and learning outcomes.
• Solid relationships - we work with 15 different main contractors and have built mutual trust. We have worked on multiple projects with many of these contractors.
• Project management - we work collaboratively with the design team, the school, DfE, CEMs and DTMs in the design development stage submission and bid responses. We also then project manage through all the RIBA stages ensuring the procurement, ICT implementation and handover run smoothly.
• DfE approved documentation - all our documentation from the inception of the project through to handover are robust, high quality and easy to read and we are proud that they are DfE approved. This, as well as hands-on coordination and liaison, has resulted in a good track record of first-time DfE sign-off.
• Quality assurance - Novatia invests heavily in our people and our processes and accreditation. This investment contributes to ensuring you receive the very best, up-to-date advice.

To discover more about how we can help you, please get in touch with us today.