Funding for your school
CONNECT THE CLASSROOM
The DfE's Connect the Classroom Scheme has returned until 2025. We have worked with Schools & Trusts to secure over £2.5m in funding from the DfE thanks to our specialist team. We can help your school, and costs nothing to apply.
Connect The Classroom
The DfE’s Connect the Classroom Scheme has returned until 2025, helping to keep schools across the UK in Educational Investment Areas connected with a seamless and future proof wireless networking solution. We have worked with schools in education investment areas to secure over £2.5million in funding from the DfE, thanks to our specialist team. It costs you nothing to apply; everything is covered by the DfE, and you do not have to repay anything.
We’ll work with your school to provide a bespoke, hassle free DfE approved solution, tailored towards your requirements.
What is Connect the Classroom?
Connect the Classroom is a scheme funded by the DfE to provide eligible schools across the UK with a seamless and future-proof wireless networking solution. This initiative will transform your school’s current IT and network infrastructure, improving connectivity and coverage across your premises with Access Points and Fibre Cabling to meet the demands of your school.
If you’re reading this, it may be because your school is located within one of the eligible areas, in fact you might have already received an invitation from the DfE to apply. In order to get access to the funding. you’ll need to submit a compliant bid to the DfE, which is something our team can help you with, and guide you through the process. We have a dedicated team to securing funding via the Connect the Classroom Scheme, and what’s great is that the process costs you and your school nothing! It’s time to connect your classroom with AIT!
What are the next steps?
If you’ve already received an invitation from the DfE to apply for funding, we can help guide you through the process. If you have yet to receive an invitation, our team can contact the DfE and verify your eligibility on your behalf, this is completely free. Once you have your invite, we’ll come out to your school to meet you in person and conduct a site survey of your requirements and needs. The is no charge for your network assessment or site visits. We will then provide you with a proposal, designed specifically to DfE specifications which you can review with your DfE advisor. Having worked with schools across the East Midlands on Connect the Classroom, we understand the best ways to maximise your funding, and ensure your networks are comprehensively future proofed.
Why should we partner with AIT to upgrade our wireless network to WiFi6?
We’ve worked directly with schools for over 20 years, supporting them in every aspect of IT as an end-to-end solutions provider. Our dynamic team have a wealth of experience within the education sector, and thanks to our people first approach – you’re in safe hands. We make the whole process easy with minimum disruption to you or your school; we are with you every step of the way.
How does the process work?
The DfE send emails out to eligible schools. We will work with you to complete a list of the current network, and conduct an onsite network assessment. This will be sent to you prior to submission and then onto the DfE for review.
The DfE will send approved areas for funding, and we will the complete a quote for new network connections.
Our quotation will be submitted to the DfE, who will in turn ask for any clarifications. The DfE will approve a funding amount for the approved areas. Once a purchase order is raised, AIT will place kit on order and your timeline presented.
AIT meet on site with stakeholders (Headteacher, Site Manager, Current IT Support and IT lead) to plan the timeframes and logistics of the install. Project plans will be reviewed, installation and sign-off process discussed. All relevant paperwork for funding completed during this visit.
The DfE will send approved areas for funding, and we will the complete a quote for new network connections.
Week one installation focuses on the passive infrastructure (all cabling aspects) with no scheduled downtime. Week two is the move to the new system with scheduled downtime to suit the school.
Onsite testing in line with DfE specifications, and handover completed with your onsite IT support team. Funding is released and the project completed!
Lets Talk
Ready to start the process? Get in touch with our team and we will help you with your application.