As a MAT leader, the importance of robust technological infrastructure across all your schools cannot be overstated. Partnering with a reliable ICT consultancy can transform your educational environments, enhance learning experiences, and streamline administrative processes.

However, choosing the right ICT consultancy requires careful consideration. You’ll want to select the right fit for your MAT: an experienced partner who can tailor their experience and services to meet your individual needs and requirements.

Read on to discover the key values to keep in mind when choosing an ICT consultancy for your MAT:

Understanding your needs

Before engaging an ICT consultancy, it’s essential to have a clear understanding of your MAT's specific needs. 

When it comes to MATs and ICT requirements, there are several challenges that you are likely to encounter:

  • Infrastructure and hardware management - many schools within a MAT may have outdated hardware and software systems that need upgrading to ensure compatibility and efficiency. ICT infrastructure may also need to scale up to support multiple schools with varying needs and sizes, with a blend of cloud, hybrid and on-premise configurations..
  • Data management - with some MATs consisting of up to 50 schools, MATs need to deal with a vast amount of data from multiple sources. From collating information into one centralised hub to the varying quality of data from individual schools, sorting out this material can seem daunting for many MAT leaders.
  • Cyber security - school leaders need to ensure compliance with data protection regulations (e.g., UK Data Protection Act), protect sensitive student and staff data from breaches, as well as safeguard against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, including malware, ransomware, and phishing attacks.
  • Technical support and staffing - recruiting and retaining skilled ICT staff who can manage and support a complex multi-school environment can be a challenging feat within many MATs.
  • EdTech integration - with digital learning consistently on the rise, encouraging and supporting the adoption of new educational technologies to enhance teaching and learning has never been more important.

With these factors in mind, you'll need to consider whether you’re looking for a complete overhaul of digital technologies and its link to education, or rather need specific solutions like enhanced cybersecurity, improved network infrastructure, or cloud-based learning platforms.

A valuable educational ICT consultancy should be able to provide scalable solutions that address an extensive range of issues.

Experience and expertise

Experience is a significant indicator of a consultancy’s ability to deliver effective solutions, and you should therefore look for organisations that have a proven track record (think hundreds of happy customers) in the education sector. They should have a comprehensive understanding of the unique challenges faced by MATs and be able to provide tailored solutions that address those challenges.

Before confirming an ICT consultancy as your institution’s partner, some questions you may want to consider asking include:

  • How many MATs have you worked with?
  • Can you provide case studies or references?
  • What specific expertise do you bring to the table?

The answers to these questions will help you gauge the level of experience and expertise held by a specific ICT consultancy.

For example, Novatia has worked on 510 varied and effective ICT projects. Collaborating with over 250 clients in UK Education, with 20 multi-academy trust partnerships and 60 unique ICT strategies written, we think the numbers speak for themselves…

Customisation and flexibility

Every MAT is unique, with different structures, cultures, and technological needs. A good ICT consultancy should offer customised solutions rather than a one-size-fits-all approach - they should be willing to work closely with your team to understand your specific requirements and design a tailored strategy.

Take data management as an example. Syncing data, such as assessment cycles, across multiple schools can present specific challenges. Systems must be robust enough to ensure timely collection of aligned, accurate and complete data from multiple different sources, as well as holding the flexibility to allow a degree of autonomy for individual schools tracking data. An effective ICT in education consultancy should be recommending scalable software that can be tailored to the needs of individual schools while maintaining a centralised approach to ensure consistency across the board.

Accessibility is another consideration. If schools within your MAT require specific adjustments for SEND students, you should opt for a consultancy that has previous experience implementing assistive technology solutions and personalised learning.

Ultimately, you need to ask yourself:

  • Does the consultancy offer flexible solutions?
  • Are they willing to customise their services to fit your MAT’s needs?
  • How do they handle changes or evolving requirements?

Comprehensive services

A full-service consultancy can handle various aspects of your ICT needs, from initial assessment and planning to implementation, training, and ongoing support. When it comes to specific services, the more extensive the better - a holistic approach ensures consistency and quality across all stages of your ICT projects.

These are just a few crucial services you should be looking out for:

Here at Novatia, we provide all these services and much more. 

Training and support

Technology is only as good as its users. An educational ICT consultancy should ideally provide comprehensive training for your staff and ongoing support to ensure they can effectively use and manage new systems.

Training and support could include:

  • Initial and ongoing training sessions
  • Detailed user manuals and documentation
  • Helpdesk and technical support services

Ideally, staff and teachers should receive continued training and support to boost progress and maintain centralisation across schools - so it’s definitely worth searching for partners that can provide this.

Technological partnerships

A consultancy with strong partnerships with leading technology providers can offer access to the latest tools and innovations - these partnerships often mean better pricing and priority support for your MAT.

For example, if you are looking for cloud-based computing software to use across schools in your MAT then a reliable ICT consultancy can point you in the right direction. 

When making initial enquiries, it’s important to find out the specific technology providers they partner with. Do these partners align with your technology preference and what benefits do these partnerships offer?

Future-facing ideas

It’s all very well working with a company who can address your short-term problems, but you also need to be planning ahead. 

From the rapid development of AI to accommodating new Wi-Fi infrastructure, there are many future factors you will need to consider when it comes to ICT and your MAT.

A forward-thinking ICT consultancy will:

  • Have a developed vision for the future of ICT in education
  • Stay up-to-date with technological advancements
  • Be proactive in suggesting new solutions

Choosing the right ICT consultancy for your MAT can significantly impact every aspect of your educational environment. For tailored advice and comprehensive ICT solutions, you should be partnering with a consultancy that understands the unique needs of MATs - and that’s where we come in. 

At Novatia, we understand that ICT is an incredibly powerful and enabling tool. Let us help you and your education organisation harness it effectively to improve your teaching & learning - get in touch with us today to learn how we can help you achieve your technology goals.
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