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DfE Standards Updated To Include IT Support Standards For Schools

PrimaryNetMan

By PrimaryNetMan
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simpsonj

simpsonj

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28 minutes ago, Jaan said:

Does anybody know if there's an official tracker thank can been ticked or colour coded (traffic light system) so compliance can be tracked and monitored? Asking for a friend SLT member.

 

My version can be found here:

 

Timbo343 version is here:

 

I'll be updating my version with the Support Staff requirements at some point this term...

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mthomas08

mthomas08

Posted
Posted

So in continuing my work it turns out we need to meet Digital Standards by 2030? Does everyone already know this and I'm clearly not paying attention enough.

 

Albeit this is AI written but...

DfE Digital Standards Timeline to 2030

Now – 2026 (Foundation Stage)

  • Appoint a Digital Lead in SLT.
  • Create a digital strategy aligned with school improvement plans.
  • Start asset register and cyber security training.
  • Ensure filtering and monitoring policies are in place.

2026 – 2028 (Infrastructure Upgrade)

  • Upgrade broadband to meet DfE minimum speed and resilience standards.
  • Improve wireless coverage across all teaching spaces.
  • Begin replacing outdated network switches for security and performance.

2028 – 2030 (Full Compliance)

  • Complete all six core standards:
    • Broadband
    • Wireless
    • Network switching
    • Digital leadership & governance
    • Filtering & monitoring
    • Cyber security
  • Embed digital governance into annual review and risk management.
  • Ensure disaster recovery and business continuity plans include IT.
willtech

willtech

Posted
Posted (edited)
4 hours ago, mthomas08 said:

So in continuing my work it turns out we need to meet Digital Standards by 2030? Does everyone already know this and I'm clearly not paying attention enough.

 

Albeit this is AI written but...

DfE Digital Standards Timeline to 2030

Now – 2026 (Foundation Stage)

  • Appoint a Digital Lead in SLT.
  • Create a digital strategy aligned with school improvement plans.
  • Start asset register and cyber security training.
  • Ensure filtering and monitoring policies are in place.

2026 – 2028 (Infrastructure Upgrade)

  • Upgrade broadband to meet DfE minimum speed and resilience standards.
  • Improve wireless coverage across all teaching spaces.
  • Begin replacing outdated network switches for security and performance.

2028 – 2030 (Full Compliance)

  • Complete all six core standards:
    • Broadband
    • Wireless
    • Network switching
    • Digital leadership & governance
    • Filtering & monitoring
    • Cyber security
  • Embed digital governance into annual review and risk management.
  • Ensure disaster recovery and business continuity plans include IT.

Did not remember seeing it but just looked and can see "All schools and colleges should be working towards meeting 6 core standards by 2030"

 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/meeting-digital-and-technology-standards-in-schools-and-colleges#:~:text=All schools and colleges should be working towards meeting 6 core standards by 2030%3A

 

Only just sorted out Windows 11 on a limited budget. 

Edited by willtech
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Ditto

Ditto

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, willtech said:

Did not remember seeing it but just looked and can see "All schools and colleges should be working towards meeting 6 core standards by 2030"

 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/meeting-digital-and-technology-standards-in-schools-and-colleges#:~:text=All schools and colleges should be working towards meeting 6 core standards by 2030%3A

 

Only just sorted out Windows 11 on a limited budget. 

I see a lot of positives in the idea, and for creating a better recognition of the importance of well implemented IT policies and procedures. But, there has to be a cost. Where's the money coming from? Regardless, if I was in school and a budget holder, I'm looking to putting a coated 5 year plan together and start securing funding now. If I didn't have a budget, I've pushing the budget holder to explain how they plan to work towards meeting the requirements - or ask for a budget! I can see the larger MATS running this centrally. It is the smaller clusters that might struggle.

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DrBeaker

DrBeaker

Posted
Posted
1 minute ago, Ditto said:

I see a lot of positives in the idea, and for creating a better recognition of the importance of well implemented IT policies and procedures. But, there has to be a cost. Where's the money coming from? Regardless, if I was in school and a budget holder, I'm looking to putting a coated 5 year plan together and start securing funding now. If I didn't have a budget, I've pushing the budget holder to explain how they plan to work towards meeting the requirements - or ask for a budget! I can see the larger MATS running this centrally. It is the smaller clusters that might struggle.

 

 

I was being a tad facetious but ... just imagine how much kit we could all buy for our schools, if we cut maybe.... I dunno... The CEO's roles?  £150K-500K a year then for IT improvements. THAT ... would make a SUBSTANTIAL difference to IT standards in schools, could pay for most of these upgrades and for my 2 cents would deliver far better value for money.
 

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Koldov

Koldov

Posted
Posted
17 hours ago, mthomas08 said:

So in continuing my work it turns out we need to meet Digital Standards by 2030? Does everyone already know this and I'm clearly not paying attention enough.

 

I'm not sure when '2030' was decided and written in to the Digital Standards. There was an post about the standards (2024), but I didn't see anything mentioned then (albeit the thread got a bit off topic)...

 

https://www.edugeek.net/forums/topic/216292-dfe-digital-standards-updated-january-2024/page/2/#comments

 

18 minutes ago, kennysarmy said:

Rumours that the date of 2030 will be brought forward.

 

Also, I think I've asked before, but what is the penalty for not reaching the standards by 2030, and who is going to audit whether you've met them or not?

kennysarmy

kennysarmy

Posted
Posted
10 minutes ago, KSCSIT said:

Needs a source...

 


Deputy Head was on a course recently, mentioned it to me this week, we've scheduled a meeting in the New Year to start going through the standards starting with "IT Support Standards".

nicholab

nicholab

Posted
Posted

This Digital lead seems to be the issue appoint a digital lead in SLT that suggest they are already on the SLT.  Ideally, the digital lead should be the IT technical team leader or a dual role I bet the Site manager reports directly to the head.

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Rob_D

Rob_D

Posted
Posted
3 minutes ago, nicholab said:

Ideally, the digital lead should be the IT technical team leader or a dual role I bet the Site manager reports directly to the head.

I'm in favour of the digital lead being a teacher. Being able to get a teacher, tech and SLT round the table to plan is the ideal IMO.

JazzFlute

JazzFlute

Posted
Posted
4 minutes ago, nicholab said:

This Digital lead seems to be the issue appoint a digital lead in SLT that suggest they are already on the SLT.  Ideally, the digital lead should be the IT technical team leader or a dual role I bet the Site manager reports directly to the head.

 

I know schools are putting a non technical teacher as digital strategy and paying them a tlr for it!  I imagine this will be commonplace.  I would imagine schools employ IT Staff because they are qualified and experienced and all of a sudden find themselves explaining things to someone not technical or even being led by them in terms of how they want things to happen in the future etc.  and IT Support being further pushed down the chain of command for want of a better phrase.

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simpsonj

simpsonj

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Unless this is picked up as part of an Ofsted inspection, or similar outside body, I don't see many headteacher's giving the (substantial) resources required to meet these standards.

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TechMonkey

TechMonkey

Posted
Posted

One question though. If schools don't meet these standards, by 2030 or at all, what will happen?  Is OFSTED going to be checking, is the LA going to start looking?  Will MATs and Trusts be held to account, fined, have schools taken away?

 

I think it is great that we have some standards to aim for or exceed but what is the point of a metric if there is no risk or reward?  Especially with budgets as they are and the usual "SLT says no"

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Koldov

Koldov

Posted
Posted
20 minutes ago, JazzFlute said:

 

I know schools are putting a non technical teacher as digital strategy and paying them a tlr for it!  I imagine this will be commonplace.  I would imagine schools employ IT Staff because they are qualified and experienced and all of a sudden find themselves explaining things to someone not technical or even being led by them in terms of how they want things to happen in the future etc.  and IT Support being further pushed down the chain of command for want of a better phrase.

 

This...

 

We used to have a 'ICT co-ordinator' teacher... not quite a Computing Lead or Digital Lead as we're a very small Primary sized school, but similarly funny because they were, how shall I put it... Technologically Challenged... Almost every week they'd come in and enthuse about the latest thing they'd seen another school do, or a video about, or read about on the internet and wanted to do that day, or bring me things they'd buy from Amazon and want to use without asking if it was even  possible etc. This is the type of person that will be informing and leading your Digital Strategy...

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southhamster

southhamster

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, Koldov said:

 

This...

 

We used to have a 'ICT co-ordinator' teacher... not quite a Computing Lead or Digital Lead as we're a very small Primary sized school, but similarly funny because they were, how shall I put it... Technologically Challenged... Almost every week they'd come in and enthuse about the latest thing they'd seen another school do, or a video about, or read about on the internet and wanted to do that day, or bring me things they'd buy from Amazon and want to use without asking if it was even  possible etc. This is the type of person that will be informing and leading your Digital Strategy...

We always used to say it was the person who came late into the meeting when all the other teacher roles had already been handed out....

Ditto

Ditto

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, JazzFlute said:

 

I know schools are putting a non technical teacher as digital strategy and paying them a tlr for it!  I imagine this will be commonplace.  I would imagine schools employ IT Staff because they are qualified and experienced and all of a sudden find themselves explaining things to someone not technical or even being led by them in terms of how they want things to happen in the future etc.  and IT Support being further pushed down the chain of command for want of a better phrase.

My goodness, you just described my job and role in a nutshell!

Just today, I spotted that my new LM (who, on paper, has full responsibility for Data Protection and Cybersecurity and has admitted to me in our first 1-1 she doesn't really know much about it but is looking forward to learning from me), I spotted a ticket has been raised that reported suspected spam. IT support agreed and has blocked. I'm trying to find out if IT support blocks the whole domain for all users or the reporting user - I suspect the former. The issue is that the email is from a 100% bona fide charity to provide support to other charities in AI and cybersecurity, and can assist with funding on occasions. The reviews for them are excellent, and all their details, like charity number, are included in the email. Talk about swimming against the tide - I'm one half, no quarter, decent job offer of being out of this insanity in a flash,

TechMonkey

TechMonkey

Posted
Posted

This is an age-old question, should a LM be proficient in the area they are managing? At a certain level the answer is yes, but at a higher level the answer most certainly is no.  It is up to the head of the department or line-managed to be able to articulate and persuade the Line manager their intentions or provide enough information that they will be able to explain at higher level meetings.  Worse case, they should have the leadership abilities to be able to go to a meeting and say, "I have discussed this with IT and it is in hand".

 

In this day and age though I am bemused at a school having a Head of computing manage the IT department, but as ever no judgement as you never know the history or the make-up of the school.  I am still a strong advocate of the IT lead being on SLT but that seems to only happen in big Trusts or MATS now.

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nicholab

nicholab

Posted
Posted

As said, the head of technology does not look line manage the site team, and the head of food technology does not manage the catering team.  IT should report and high level to the SLT.  Ideally, I would have the corporate service part of the school into 3 teams: IT (Admin and IT technical + Timetalbing and MIS), Sites, and Finance + HR.  The reason for this is IT designs most of the IT for admin systems and they are very close to being giving all the admin work awayway.

mthomas08

mthomas08

Posted
Posted

AI (albeit AI) told me certain aspects should be completed sooner. It clearly got the data from somewhere but magically vanished....

 

2030 is a date on the DfE website. Even our governor knew about it and she runs the IT at a university and pushed for the SLT spot. She's been great for advice.

 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/meeting-digital-and-technology-standards-in-schools-and-colleges

 

On 12/12/2025 at 09:17, Rob_D said:

I'm in favour of the digital lead being a teacher.

 

I'm not😇

 

Whole point is having IT knowledge and answers there within SLT working directly to HT/governors. I've had teachers managing us and wires constantly crossed... coming back to me.. back to SLT repeat 5 times... sometimes happens with SBM. Okay not everyone is capable of understanding T&L (let alone IT) or not interested which is a key part.

 

SBM is in SLT, answers to HT/governors and attends all meetings and he understands T&L, has more knowledge of IT compared to nearly every teacher I've worked with. Yet issues are there.

 

Don't get me wrong, not an impossible task but get the feeling it's easier for schools to employ head of ICT because within education.. teachers respect each other.. compared to support staff. How many times have I witnessed staff respect change when they realise the IT person is in fact.. head of ICT and/or SLT not just 'IT techie'.

 

For us to be taken more seirous.. it needs to be us...    sounds like i'm trying to persuade myself!!!

 

On 12/12/2025 at 09:38, TechMonkey said:

One question though. If schools don't meet these standards, by 2030 or at all, what will happen?  Is OFSTED going to be checking, is the LA going to start looking?  Will MATs and Trusts be held to account, fined, have schools taken away?

 

Good question. I think Ofsted will be paying attention to it on some level, we already get that with internet filtering. Our DSL had to jump through hoops to make sure safeguarding hit 10/10. She had visitors from Outstanding schools and consultants. She had to update herself how we managed Lightspeed and needed a ton of stuff recorded.. documented.. and... well.. those pesky tick boxes. We now have a process for staff requesting websites to be blocked/unblocked and safeguarding checks through her. Honesty, should have been in place 10 years ago.

 

As a result of what she did.. Ofsted recently praised our DSL/safeguarding on point. When previously it needed reviewing..

 

Only time will tell.................

  • 1 month later...
kennysarmy

kennysarmy

Posted
Posted

Has anyone started to put their Information Asset Register (IAR) together yet?

 

Anyone happy to start brainstorming what data from an IT point of view needs to be provided to the DPO?

 

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