The Requirement
Our Lady & St Joseph Roman Catholic Primary School is a brand new primary school built to serve the children of Poplar in East London. The school was formed following the merger of Our Lady Catholic Primary School and Holy Family Catholic Primary School. Both schools used very different technologies with Our Lady using predominantly Apple technology and Holy Family using Microsoft Windows technology.
Head Teacher Joan Hart wanted to create a successful and enjoyable teaching environment combining the best of the Apple and Microsoft technologies, whilst ensuring there was a flexible learning environment to support mobile devices.
The Solution
Levett Consultancy recommended our Microsoft and network technologies to achieve the expected outcomes. Our Microsoft solution using Impero Education Pro tools would incorporate a Microsoft domain with an Apple OS X server, to ensure that users using either a Windows or Apple device will be able to access with the same username and password.
However, before these technologies could be implemented our Consultancy Service had to create a plan to merge both schools technology. With both schools being in different locations we first had to arrange for the London Grid for Learning (LGfL) broadband connection to terminated at Our Lady as this site would no longer be used. Then we had to ensure the Holy Family LGfL broadband service was moved the correct location in the new school building.
Once the broadband infrastructure was dealt with our consultants undertook an audit of both schools ICT capabilities to ensure compatibility with our recommended technology solutions. When the review was completed our consultant delivered the outcomes to Joan Hart who approved the findings and solutions to be implemented within a 2 week gap at the end of August/start of September when the building was ready. As timelines were very short to implement everything our Professional Services team pre-configured the wireless and server at our development offices to ensure deadlines are met.
Our consultants working with Diocese of Westminster chosen building partner 8build worked closely together over the construction period ensuring the ICT works progressed on schedule. Before we could implement the Microsoft solution our Professional Services team first had to deploy and commissioning the wireless network based upon D-Link enterprise wireless using 802.11ac 3×3 technology. The wireless solution comprised of the following:
- xStack switches providing 40Gbps throughput between switches and 1Gbps desktop connections
- DGS-3160 wireless controller to manage up to 48 access points
- 802.11ac 3×3 dual simultaneous access points for connected up to 30 mobile devices per classroom
Once wireless network was installed our Professional Services team then commissioned the Microsoft solution that comprised of:
- Fujitsu RX300 server using Windows 2012 R2
- D-Link 8TB SAN
- Mac OS X Maverick server
- Configuring OS X Open Directory to work with Microsoft Active Directory domain for Single SignOn
- Adding workstations/laptops and tablets to the school domain
- Deploying Impero Education Pro classroom and management tools to compatible devices
- Deploying Home Access Plus+ to allow teaching staff to access and edit school resource from home
As part of the overall solution, our Professional Services team worked with build to ensure other non ICT devices like heating boilers also connected to the newly deployed network.
The Outcome
Levett Consultancy was chosen as our preferred partner as the solution proposed and their track record working with schools gave us the confidence that they would deliver my prefered outcome. I am pleased that Our Lady and St Joseph RC Primary School now is moving on the right track to creating a successful and enjoyable teaching environment.Joan Hart (Head Teacher)