Romsey Primary School upgraded to Promethean Interactive Flat Panels – here’s how it went…

We recently installed 3 Promethean Interactive Flat Panels into one of our schools, Romsey Primary School. They wanted to upgrade their projectors and whiteboards for something that they could use “all in one”.

To use the whiteboards they are able to connect their laptop or PC via HDMI to the Interactive Flat Panel. It will then essentially work like a giant touch screen computer!

Interactive Flat Panels are a great way to get the teachers and students involved with the lesson. The ‘crisp image and brilliant colours’ in the Promethean Flat Panels make it easier to read. Also with Promethean, you get free next-generation interactive lesson software which is trusted by teachers worldwide.

Case Study – How we nearly doubled Wellow School’s IT suite capacity without building work or breaking the bank

We recently completed a project for Wellow Primary School who are a Primary School based in Wellow.

They gave us the task of increasing the current suite of 17 machines to 30 which would allow each pupil to have a machine of their own. This all had to be completed within a fixed budget and a strict time scale. This needed to be ready for pupils to use in their new term beginning September 2017.

Here you can see what the It Suite looked like before the install.

For the solution we chose modern Dell Latitude All-In-One desktops. They offer the smallest desk footprint possible and due to having to fit almost double the amount of desktops into the same space, these were the best fit. They also have minimum cables and look very modern but also have the performance to handle the most demanding educational software. We also installed an oval shaped table which made best use of the available space in the IT Suite. Then the last thing we did was change the large chairs to smaller stools. In order to deliver this project in the most cost effective manner, we rebuilt the existing machines with Windows 10. This was delivered on time and within budget.

Once the project was completed, the school got an array of benefits from our solutions. Firstly, the use of the All-In-One desktops allowed for more space which enables the desks to look tidier and clear. An up-to-date and modern classroom means that the students can work seamlessly without any unnecessary distractions. By using an oval table and smaller stools we managed to maximise the empty space in the room which allowed for the extra machines to put without the room looking overcrowded. By updating the older machines, this meant that we did not need to purchase a whole suite of All-In-One desktops which therefore meant that we could keep this project as cost-effective as possible.

Here you can see the IT Suite after the install.

This is what the client had to say about our work within this project –

“Thank you so much for updating our IT suite – it’s looking fantastic!”

Beth Larcombe, Headteacher.

So, what is Secure School Gateway?

You may of heard about it before, but you aren’t quite sure what it is or what it does. Coretek Secure School Gateway (SSG) is safe and secure home and remote working solution for schools, allowing staff to securely access school applications and data.

So, how does Secure School Gateway work?

Secure School Gateway is a home working solution that is easily accessible from a web portal. The portal simply requires you to enter your school username and password to gain access. Upon successful authorisation, you will see the school desktop which will provide you with everything you would normally use in school.

Why do we need Secure School Gateway?

Working from home or outside of school is now part of the modern work ethos and for some schools is an absolute necessity. Access to planning resources and other such information whilst out of school can present a headache (especially during holidays), with staff usually having to take work home on a memory stick to conduct such tasks. Coretek SSG removes the need to do this and has the ability for multiple staff to use the service simultaneously.

What can Coretek do for me?

We are aware that school staff require a secure, convenient and easy to use method for accessing school resources from home. The goal for Coretek was to develop a remote working solution that is easy to use, low cost and above all, secure.

When taking into account the sensitive nature of pupil information and other such data present on school networks, security concerns continue to be at the top of the agenda. For this reason, several security measures are built in the Secure School Gateway that make this solution both highly usable and as safe as possible, with the goal being an experience the same as being in-school. Here is an example of what the Secure School Gateway looks like from one of our schools:

What is the technology behind your Secure School Gateway Service?

Secure School Gateway services is based upon Microsoft Remote Desktop Services, a secure industry leading technology designed to make remote access easy and seamless. In comparison to some competitors solutions this is more secure and scalable. The system is hosted and managed within the school and requires no additional hardware.

What are the key benefits of your Secure Gateway Service?

There are many benefits that the Secure School Gateway services offers. Here are a few of our key benefits:

• It aligns with the requirements on secure data set by OFSTEDs eSafety Policy.
• Multi user support meaning that staff can use the service at the same time.
• No USB sticks are needed!
• Ability to print to local printers.
• Access from anywhere, on almost any device.
• Ability to restrict use to certain users or groups.
• SSL secured web portal and complex password requirements.
• No additional hardware is needed.

How do I get Secure School Gateway?

Coretek are happy to carry out a free, live demonstration which will allow you to see first-hand how the platform works. We offer Secure School Gateway free of charge for all schools who take out our flexible Coretek Total Care support package. We will also license the platform for 5 initial users at no extra cost. Additional user licenses will need to be procured by the school, however these are very low cost to educational institutions, even more so if you are already using a licensing scheme such as Microsoft EES.

So if you want to know more about our service or want to book in your free live demonstration then please get in contact with us today! Call us on 0800 304 7444 or email us at enquries@coretek.co.uk, we hope to hear from you soon!