Digital Standards Framework For Schools In Stockport Explained
Let's be real. The Digital Standards Framework for Schools in Stockport is not a nice extra. It is not a last minute job before an inspection. It is the baseline. The thing that stops your school falling apart when someone clicks a dodgy link.
Most schools already do parts of it. But the work is not joined up or tracked. That is where it all slips. At Cleartwo, we see schools that are brilliant at teaching but stretched thin on digital leadership and long term planning. The framework is not here to make life harder. It is here to stop chaos. Let's break it down properly.
Digital Standards Framework Leadership And Governance
Here's what's actually happening. Tech decisions get made in panic mode. Something breaks, you replace it. Someone mentions a shiny tool, you try it. No plan. No owner. No control.
The DfE guidance could not be clearer. You need a named SLT digital lead. Not the tired ICT teacher who is already doing ten jobs. A senior leader with real authority and time to handle it.
If you haven't read the guidance yet, start here: Digital leadership and governance standards from the DfE. It spells out exactly what is needed.
In simple terms, you need:
- A named SLT digital lead
- An up to date asset register
- Contract and licence logs
- A documented digital strategy
- A yearly governance review
- A risk management plan
- A clear reporting line
Cut the nonsense. If you do not know how many devices you own or when your firewall contract ends, you don't have governance. You have wishful thinking.
This is where proper school IT support in Stockport comes in. Not to take control, but to help your SLT build a working digital strategy that supports the school plan.
Building A Digital Strategy That Actually Gets Used
Stop pretending a long PDF hidden on a shared drive counts as strategy. It does not.
Your strategy must link to teaching, safeguarding, operations, and finance. It must cover cyber security, filtering, monitoring, network resilience, and device planning. And yes, review it every year.
Want real advice on linking tech to results? Read our recent blog on building a digital roadmap for schools. It cuts through the waffle.
And yes, governors need to understand the basics. They do not need to set up switches. But they must ask the right questions about risk and business continuity.
Digital Standards Framework Safeguarding And Online Safety
Now for the part that keeps DSLs awake. Online safety.
Filtering and monitoring is not about blocking social sites and hoping it works. The DfE expects clear reviews, escalation routes, and active monitoring.
You need:
- A clear online safety policy
- Age appropriate filtering
- Real time alerts
- Logged incidents
- Regular reviews with your safeguarding lead
If your filtering has not been checked in two years, you are asking for trouble. Threats change. Behaviour changes. Your controls must keep up.
Cyber Security And UK GDPR Compliance
Bluntly, attacks on schools are routine now. Ransomware does not care that you are a Stockport school. It cares that you are an easy target.
National guidance is here: Meeting digital and technology standards in schools.
You need:
- Multi factor authentication
- A secure firewall
- Regular patching
- Tested backups
- Staff training
- An incident plan
And yes, UK GDPR. Know your data. Know who uses it. Know how long you keep it. You are a data controller. That matters.
Cleartwo helps schools with cyber security for education and data protection. No scare tactics. Just real fixes.
Network Infrastructure And Connectivity
If your WiFi dies when one class logs on, your digital plan is a fantasy.
Great. Your strategy looks nice. Too bad lessons stop the second someone opens a Chromebook.
You need reliable broadband. Set up switches. Segmented networks. Secure WiFi. That is your base. Without it, cloud services are pointless.
Network resilience matters too. Do you have a backup connection? Or do lessons stop until someone 'tries turning it off and on'.
With structured managed IT support, you can check if your network can handle today and tomorrow.
Cloud Services With Microsoft 365 And Google Workspace
So you moved to the cloud. Job done? Come on.
Cloud services reduce on site faff. They do not remove responsibility. You still need access control, secure setup, and backup rules.
Stop giving everyone admin rights. Stop leaving leavers' accounts active. Stop trusting default settings.
Set up well, cloud tools boost teamwork. Set up badly, they open huge risks.
Device Management And Lifecycle Planning
Buying thirty laptops in a panic is not a plan.
You need a three to five year view. What gets replaced? What gets upgraded? What costs money to support? And yes, you need device management. Central control. Security rules. Remote wipe for lost kit.
For smart tips, read our guide to smart IT procurement. It focuses on long term value.
Digital Teaching Learning And Assessment
Tech does not magically improve teaching. Throwing tablets at a class with no training is just expensive chaos.
Digital teaching needs purpose. Staff confidence. Clear platforms. Tools that save time, not add work.
This links straight to your digital strategy. If staff do not know what to use, you get confusion and wasted time.
Accessibility Inclusion And Assistive Technology
This is not optional. Accessibility is a legal must.
Assistive tech helps SEND pupils. Screen readers. Speech to text. Adjusted displays. Structured resources. But staff must be trained, and tech must support it.
Accessibility belongs in your digital plan from day one.
Business Continuity Backup And Disaster Recovery
Let's talk worst case. Your server dies. Your cloud gets hit. Your school floods.
If your plan is silence and panic, you need to sort it now.
You need clear backups. Off site storage. Regular testing. A recovery plan linked to your school continuity plan.
The cloud provider is not your safety net. You are still responsible.
Technical Support Service Levels And Improvement
And finally, support.
Who do staff call when it breaks? How fast is it fixed? Do you analyse issues or just patch them?
Service levels matter. Clear response times. Clear escalation. Reports to SLT and governors.
Continuous improvement is not fluff. It means spotting patterns and upgrading over time.
Cleartwo helps Stockport schools build support models that match the Digital Standards Framework. No more reactive firefighting. Just solid planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do All Stockport Schools Have To Follow The Framework
The DfE sets national expectations. State funded schools must work towards full compliance by 2030.
Who Should Be The SLT Digital Lead
A senior leader with real decision power and time to do the job.
How Often Should Filtering Be Reviewed
At least yearly and after major safeguarding issues.
Is Moving To The Cloud Enough
No. You still need secure setup, access control, and backup rules.
Where Should We Start If We Are Behind
Start with governance. Appoint a digital lead. Update your asset register. Fix the basics of cyber security. Then build from there.
This is not about perfection. It is about control and clarity. The Digital Standards Framework for Schools in Stockport is not red tape. It is your safety net. Use it properly.
