While students and staff may be heading off for well-earned holidays, the quieter months of summer present the perfect opportunity to turn a critical eye toward your school or MAT’s digital approach.

Whether you’re struggling to recall the last time you reviewed cybersecurity measures and data protection policies or you’re concerned about your educational institution’s abilities to meet emerging challenges such as AI integration, an ICT audit can ensure your technological capabilities are up to speed.

Read on to discover why the warmer months are the ideal time to give your school’s ICT systems the attention they deserve.

Reduced disruption to learning

Conducting an ICT audit during the academic year can pose several challenges. 

Audits will typically involve a thorough review of your institution’s technological systems, infrastructure, policies and procedures.

For example at Novatia, we work closely with you across your school estate to target the:

  • Technical - from exploring the condition of your network infrastructure to the usability of classroom audio-visual technologies, we make sure your ICT software and services are fit for purpose. 
  • Operational - we look at the structure of IT support provision, as well as the knowledge, skills, and capacity of the technical support team, to help your team work together as cohesively as possible.
  • Educational - most importantly, we assess how ICT is actually being used in your classrooms and establish a robust path forwards to ensure you meet your pedagogical goals. (Though absent students and teachers mean this aspect of the review should happen in term-time!)

To perform a full audit seamlessly, ICT in education specialists will require access to tech, tools and systems to perform extensive checks and assessments. Teachers rely heavily on devices, networks and learning management systems to keep classes running smoothly - any downtime can cause disruptions that may negatively impact learning outcomes.

Summer offers a window of opportunity where systems can be tested, upgraded or replaced without interfering with daily instruction. Devices can be removed, networks can be stress-tested and upgrades can be implemented without the fear of slowing down digital classrooms or losing important student data.

Time to reflect

The end of the school year is a natural point for reflection. When it comes to your school’s digital approach, now’s the perfect time to consider what went well and what could be improved moving forwards. With school admissions completed, exams over and months of learning under the belt, teachers and IT staff alike can identify technology pain points that arose during the year. Whether it was lagging Wi-Fi, unreliable devices or an outdated and frustrating management information system - an ICT audit gives schools the necessary information and evidence to take the next steps.

With empty classrooms and no formal teaching, summer provides the space and time to gather feedback from staff, review system logs, analyse hardware performance and determine which investments are paying off and where improvements are needed. Without the daily pressure of classroom demands and administrative burdens, your team can make clearer, more informed decisions grounded in robust data.

Simplified inventory management and assessment of infrastructure

During the chaos of a school year, it’s not unusual for devices to get lost, damaged or simply disappear. Conducting a full inventory during the school term can be challenging and stressful when every laptop, tablet and projector is in use. Therefore, summer is the perfect time to carry this out, as devices are returned, classrooms are empty and equipment is far easier to account for.

An ICT audit includes a full inventory of hardware and software assets, making summer a convenient opportunity to check what you have, what condition it's in and what needs replacing. This also supports better budget planning and grant applications. 

At Novatia, we take a thorough look at the wider technical picture:

  • Condition of network infrastructure
  • Environmental conditions of ICT server and hub rooms
  • Scalability, reliability, flexibility, and resilience of the network
  • Quality, age, and suitability of user devices
  • Usability of classroom audio-visual technologies

We’re aware that building the infrastructure necessary for ICT in education is more than just providing devices From data cabling and network capacity to wireless connectivity, we assess your digital environment to make sure you’re future-proofed for any technological changes that lie ahead.

That’s why the quieter summer months make it far easier to access critical areas, run cabling, install hardware and thoroughly test network performance. By the time staff and students return, your digital infrastructure will be ready to support a smoother, faster and improved learning experience.

Sufficient time to identify security risks

Cybersecurity in schools is an essential component of your wider digital approach. 

With 50% of the schools visited by Novatia consultants in the last 6 months having experienced a cyber-attack of some sort in the previous 12 months, it’s more important than ever that schools are taking the necessary steps to stay cyber safe - and this involves incorporating strong cybersecurity measures into your wider digital strategy.

An ICT audit can uncover vulnerabilities such as outdated antivirus software, weak passwords or unpatched systems, and provide targeted solutions to these problems.

Summer provides IT teams the breathing room to run vulnerability scans, audit user permissions, test backup systems and apply necessary updates or changes. These efforts are much more effective when they don’t have to be done in a rush or worse still, in response to a live incident.

Integrating audit findings with teacher training

An additional benefit to conducting an ICT audit during summer break is that findings and recommendations can be taught to staff during teacher training sessions, which are often held early in the school year.

Whether it’s updated security measures or new device usage protocols, sharing the results of your summer ICT audit during teacher training sessions ensures that staff are not only informed but actively engaged in the school’s digital development. Remember, there’s no point investing in upgraded tools and systems if teachers are unable to use them!

Preparation for fresh autumn term success

Schools increasingly rely on technology for attendance, grading, remote learning, standardised testing and more. If your tech infrastructure isn't ready on day one, it can set the tone for a stressful and inefficient school year.

A summer ICT audit ensures everything is running optimally before students return. It gives your team the chance to implement recommended changes, such as procuring devices, configuring networks and ensuring all systems are ready to go. For example if you’re trialling a new cloud-based LMS, you’ll want to have it set up and running before students’ first day back at school. Taking a proactive approach reduces first-day errors and builds confidence in your school's digital readiness for staff and students alike.

At Novatia, we have extensive experience providing schools and MATs with ICT audits and successful strategies. With nearly 20 years of ICT experience and 250 clients within the education sector, we can help you achieve your educational aims - get in touch with us today to discover how we can help your school achieve excellence.
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