Technology Audit for Nottingham based school

Hollygirt School is an independent school in Nottingham. Senior leaders and trustees require clear oversight of the technology environment supporting teaching, administration, safeguarding and governance.

Schools rely on interconnected systems, policies and controls, making it difficult to assess technology risk and statutory compliance in isolation. Hollygirt School needed a structured, independent view across its digital infrastructure, safeguarding arrangements, cyber-security, data protection and long-term technology planning.

PSP delivered a wide-ranging technology audit led by education technology consultant Scott Slocombe. The review examined:

·       Email security and protection: SPF, DKIM, DMARC and controls against spoofing and unauthorised activity.

·      Network infrastructure: firewall and switch firmware, bandwidth, latency, reliability, fault tolerance, VLAN segregation and wireless coverage.

·     Systems and support: server and client operating systems, TPM, BitLocker, IT support capacity, skills and training arrangements.

·      Safeguarding: KCSIE-aligned filtering and monitoring, SSL inspection, group-based filtering, alerts, governance, validation and trustee reporting.

·       Cyber-security: MFA, patching, Zero Trust principles, role-based access control, encryption and Microsoft 365 security capabilities.

·       Data protection and policy: privacy notices, records of processing activities, acceptable use policies and alignment with the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR.

·       Technology strategy: hardware standardisation, lifecycle planning, digital literacy, teaching technology and readiness for digital examinations.

The audit brought the school’s operational, safeguarding, governance and compliance considerations into one structured assessment. It provided senior leaders and trustees with a consolidated view of the technology environment and the evidence required to understand its current position.