DfE Connecting the Classroom project funding

[DJ_MonkeyBoy]

I'm hoping a supplier or IT company can answer my question about the Cisco SME range. They seem to come with perpetual licensing, which to be honest is my preferred solution. Has the Cico branding and reliability. Im happy to manage the switches locally, if need be I can also VPN remotely. The fact Meraki just switches itself off after licensing runs out is a bit alarming and a problem that schools will definitely be hit with.

[DJ_MonkeyBoy]

They are not quite so straight forward, there is a lot of work to be done before even submitting the quote as well as onsite surveys, this takes alot of resource. (no charge to school or shouldn't be at least at this stage)

It is then a case of making sure you get the best for the school with the requirements, then once submitted we then often have a call with DfE to help justify anything they may query. (Cabs is usually something)

 

The requirements are high spec but that's not down to the suppliers, working with a trusted IT partner would be best way.

I am sure there is the odd ones as you say rubbing hands but the majority should i would hope are doing their best to help the schools through this process.

 

Out of interest do these products fit the Dfe spec and requirements? No licensing required?

 

Wifi: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/soluti.../wireless.html

 

Switches: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/produc...hes/index.html

[DrCheese]

Out of interest do these products fit the Dfe spec and requirements? No licensing required?

 

Wifi: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/soluti.../wireless.html

 

Switches: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/produc...hes/index.html

 

DFE requirement is that they can be cloud managed, so unless Cisco give it for free (& commit to it for 10 years) then probably not

 

Also the APs and switches aren't 2.5gb or WiFi 6

Edited December 9, 2022 by DrCheese

[DJ_MonkeyBoy]

DFE requirement is that they can be cloud managed, so unless Cisco give it for free (& commit to it for 10 years) then probably not

 

Also the APs and switches aren't 2.5gb or WiFi 6

 

Sorry these. Wrong link

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/wireless/catalyst-9100ax-access-points/index.html#~benefits

[DrCheese]

Sorry these. Wrong link

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/wireless/catalyst-9100ax-access-points/index.html#~benefits

 

hehe, you click cloud management it sends you to Meraki

 

Yes those would probably be fine - Has the 2.5gb nic as well.

[RedwayNetworks_Michael]

Sorry these. Wrong link

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/wireless/catalyst-9100ax-access-points/index.html#~benefits

 

So these are the dual personality ones, you choose the personality,

If going cloud it would be Meraki for example.

 

No reason these wouldnt be ok to use however its not something we would recommend and could open a can of worms on licencing.

Might as well go the meraki route

[Wave9_Lee]

Just a quick note to say that due to resource constraints on DfE approvals etc, the claim deadline for Wave 4 of end Feb has been removed. The only deadline now is that the full and final claim needs to be submitted by Feb 2024.. So a bit of pressure off, and maybe an opportunity for anyone that didn't proceed with a project, thinking they'd miss the deadline.

[Zoom7000]

Just a quick note to say that due to resource constraints on DfE approvals etc, the claim deadline for Wave 4 of end Feb has been removed. The only deadline now is that the full and final claim needs to be submitted by Feb 2024.. So a bit of pressure off, and maybe an opportunity for anyone that didn't proceed with a project, thinking they'd miss the deadline.

 

I was always of the understanding that you had to be chosen to apply. Has it now changed that any school can apply?

 

We're in a bit of a risk quandry. I implemented a Meraki network at my 2 schools back in 2017. At the time, Meraki were very much telling us that when licenses on devices expired, you wouldn't be able to manage devices in the Dashboard anymore, but the devices would keep on working. This obviously changed over the years and now devices will stop working as soon as the license expires, which I am sure most here are aware of.

 

I'm now weighing up whether it's more prudent to replace most of our network kit with something like UniFi, as opposed to renew licenses on now ageing Meraki hardware.

 

Either way, it's just another difficult financial conversation with school leaders, who still after all these years, don't prioritise IT.

 

The DfE programme is great, but without the option to apply, schools could end up paying thousands for kit, that they didn't end up needing to spend and couldn't really afford in the first place.

[localzuk]

Just a quick note to say that due to resource constraints on DfE approvals etc, the claim deadline for Wave 4 of end Feb has been removed. The only deadline now is that the full and final claim needs to be submitted by Feb 2024.. So a bit of pressure off, and maybe an opportunity for anyone that didn't proceed with a project, thinking they'd miss the deadline.

Wait, really!? This would lift a huge weight off my shoulders!

[RedwayNetworks_Michael]

Wait, really!? This would lift a huge weight off my shoulders!

 

I can confirm also one of the projects im currently working on we requested the deadline as got worried and DfE said March 2024 deadline to have complete so looks like they giving more time.

 

I think this is also due to stock restraints, especially Aruba ETAs which are pretty much non existent, im am starting to hear rumours Aruba having a big push though and hoping to clear alot of back orders before summer.

 

I wont hold my breathe but fingers crossed.

[NikTheGeek]

Out of interest do these products fit the Dfe spec and requirements? No licensing required?

 

Wifi: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/solutions/small-business/networking/wireless.html

 

Switches: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/switches/catalyst-1000-series-switches/index.html

 

The wifi access points are not wi-fi 6 (they are AC Wave 2), so would not appear compliant with CTC specs. The switches don't appear to have mgig so wouldn't be compliant as wi-fi edge switching and for core switches they would need 10Gbps uplinks to the edge and 40Gbps dedicated stacking ports - which I don't think they have. So no, IMO they wouldn't meet requirements (since no one else had answered you).

 

Nick

[cheekycharly]

Does this DFE initiative still exist?

[RedwayNetworks_Michael]

I believe its Wave 5 now , usually invites go to the school business manager

[Primus]

It is indeed wave 5 - emails seem to go to the HT from what we've seen (secondary) and still go there even after you respond and ask to be listed as the point of contact!

[Sonic007]

Tonnes of companies contacting me and mentioning the government Connect the classroom. Yet I doubt we have anything to gain as we installed a new system two years ago.

[atcoates]

Tonnes of companies contacting me and mentioning the government Connect the classroom. Yet I doubt we have anything to gain as we installed a new system two years ago.

The DFE spec is incredibly high. Unless you have cat6a cabling to all APs, and all APs and switches are multigigabit you wouldn't benefit. They will also upgrade fibre connections where appropriate, and consolidate smaller cabinets into larger cabinets. Every school that gets invited should gain something, unless you are a very lucky school already ;-)

[cheekycharly]

Is it just for Primary or is it Secondary as well?

 

I was reading ... Connect the Classroom Wave 5 and Wave 6 | Primary Technology

 

Is there a government web page about it?

[Sonic007]

The DFE spec is incredibly high. Unless you have cat6a cabling to all APs, and all APs and switches are multigigabit you wouldn't benefit. They will also upgrade fibre connections where appropriate, and consolidate smaller cabinets into larger cabinets. Every school that gets invited should gain something, unless you are a very lucky school already ;-)

Yeah our school is mostly a mixture of Cat5 and 6 with gigabit switches but could be better.

[RedwayNetworks_Michael]

Is it just for Primary or is it Secondary as well?

 

I was reading ... Connect the Classroom Wave 5 and Wave 6 | Primary Technology

 

Is there a government web page about it?

 

I have seen Primary, secondary and even small colleges so its hard to judge.

 

If im correct it was originally for rural schools mainly primary however it seems to have gone to all sorts now.

 

I dont think there is anything on the Gov site as its invitation only and i think its been kept quiet so they dont get every school contacting them to see if eligible.

[dcwhitworth]

DfE are running webinars on this every Tuesday - I attended one last week and they took questions and issued slides afterwards. They are saying "We encourage Wave 4 schools to submit at least a partial claim before the 24th February 2023."

[RedwayNetworks_Michael]

DfE are running webinars on this every Tuesday - I attended one last week and they took questions and issued slides afterwards. They are saying "We encourage Wave 4 schools to submit at least a partial claim before the 24th February 2023."

 

Yes this is correct, i think they have got abit behind and also stock delays, it seems now that aslong as you claim for a part invoice you then have more time to complete the project to claim the rest.

I have often just invoiced the pre audit part once approved so then you dont miss the deadline.

 

I must say the DfE have been super helpful for any schools ive worked with on these in regards to communications.

 

I dont know of anyone that has had issues submitting claims but be interesting to know if anyone missed any deadlines and what the situation was.

[Primus]

Eligibility is based on either being in a Priority Education Investment Area in which case all schools in that area are eligible or being in an Education Investment Area with an Ofsted grading of 3 or 4. I believe they are calling schools forward in waves to try to stagger the demand.

[RedwayNetworks_Michael]

Eligibility is based on either being in a Priority Education Investment Area in which case all schools in that area are eligible or being in an Education Investment Area with an Ofsted grading of 3 or 4. I believe they are calling schools forward in waves to try to stagger the demand.

 

Yes thankyou this is correct, they have confirmed for me.

 

All schools now upto Wave 5 have now been contacted however often the invites can be missed.

 

If a school has been invited they will try follow up with calls with all eligible schools.

 

In regards to where the emails are sent its whatever email they have on their system so sometimes this can be @head or @office for example so can often get missed.

[DrCheese]

We're in a EIA (wave 5) area & failed our Ofsted in October (Previously good) So when I joined the webinars they said we should be able to apply for this, but now I'm getting mixed messages back from them when I email. They're currently saying that they are reviewing the status of schools that have hit RI since the scheme started.

 

Desperate for this funding :/

Edited February 2, 2023 by DrCheese

[dcwhitworth]

We're in a EIA (wave 5) area & failed our Ofsted in October (Previously good) So when I joined the webinars they said we should be able to apply for this, but now I'm getting mixed messages back from them when I email. They're currently saying that they are reviewing the status of schools that have hit RI since the scheme started.

 

Desperate for this funding :/

 

The Ofsted rating is judged at the point the scheme started regardless of how the school may have changed since then, which is why our trust has two schools rated 'Good' in an EIA who are eligible, they were RI when the scheme started. The info I got from a webinar was that schools that had dropped into RI or below since the scheme started would not be eligible, but on the other hand it didn't feel like an absolute no.