Everything ICT

07/10/2026

Where does AI fit into the new Ofsted report card?

AI has no separate inspection grade, but how a school manages its use can inform inspectors’ evaluation of leadership, teaching and safeguarding.

Our latest article looks into what this means for school leaders and governors, and how existing policies, training and governance records can demonstrate how the school manages AI in practice.
https://everythingict.org/ai-governance-and-the-new-ofsted-report-card/

How AI governance fits Ofsted report cards, with practical guidance for school leaders and governors on policies, safeguarding and data protection.

05/10/2026

Better value from school ICT starts before a device is bought and continues long after.

The cheapest option upfront may cost more over its lifetime. So what should schools look for?

✅ Devices that stay secure, supported and useful for longer.
✅ Options to maintain, repair, refurbish and reuse.
✅ Suppliers who can explain ongoing costs and what happens at the end of use.

These choices can help budgets go further while reducing waste and the need for new equipment.

Extending device life can reduce environmental impact and replacement costs, provided equipment remains secure, reliable and fit for teaching and learning. Planning maintenance, reuse and timely replacement helps schools manage spending without compromising performance.

Planning your next ICT purchase? Our guide explores how schools can bring long-term value and environmental responsibility together:
https://everythingict.org/sustainable-ict-procurement-for-schools/

24/09/2026

Is your school is on track to meet the six DfE digital and technology standards?

2030 might feel some way off, but reviewing your position now can make future decisions much easier. It can show what is working well, where the evidence needs updating and what may need to be included in future plans and budgets.

From broadband and Wi-Fi to cyber security, filtering and digital leadership, find out what to review—and how to turn the findings into a practical roadmap.

Read more: https://everythingict.org/reviewing-your-school-against-the-dfe-digital-and-technology-standards/

Review your school against the six DfE digital and technology standards, covering broadband, cyber security, governance, filtering, networks and Wi-Fi.

22/09/2026

Your school’s responsibility for an old device doesn’t end when it leaves the building.

Simply deleting files may leave recoverable data behind. Key steps in the disposal process should include:

🔒 Verified data sanitisation or, where necessary, secure destruction, in line with NCSC guidance and supported by a clear audit trail
♻️ Assessment for refurbishment, reuse, donation or resale
🖥️ WEEE-compliant treatment by an authorised provider when equipment cannot be reused
📄 A record or certificate confirming erasure, sanitisation or destruction, as appropriate

Donating equipment to staff, charities or community groups can be a great way to extend its useful life. Before any transfer, schools should ensure that data has been securely sanitised and the appropriate checks have been completed.

Done correctly, IT disposal protects sensitive data, recovers residual value and prevents reusable technology from becoming unnecessary waste.

Through Everything ICT, schools can access pre-approved suppliers offering secure device disposal and refurbishment.

Find out more: https://everythingict.org/refurbished-and-recycling-guide/

18/09/2026

Mention sustainable procurement, and most people picture carbon targets, recycling and greener suppliers.

In school ICT, there is more on the table. A low purchase price soon loses its shine when devices fail early, licences sit unused or support costs climb.

Three questions help reveal the long-term value:
• What will this cost across its full life?
• Will it serve every pupil, including pupils with SEND?
• Can we explain the decision and track what the supplier promised?

For procurements covered by the Procurement Act 2023, the Most Advantageous Tender approach supports this broader view. Price and quality, alongside relevant social and environmental factors, can all shape how bids are assessed, provided the criteria relate to the contract and are clear, measurable and proportionate.

A sustainable ICT purchase should still look like a good decision three years later.

Read our practical guide for schools and MATs:
https://everythingict.org/sustainable-ict-procurement-for-schools/

17/09/2026

Cyber risk does not follow the school calendar.

During half-terms and other quieter periods, reduced IT cover can mean alerts are reviewed later, patches are postponed and incidents have longer to develop. Cyber criminals can also take advantage of reduced staffing.

A few checks now can help:
• Keep automated monitoring active year-round
• Confirm patching responsibilities and timescales
• Route alerts to a named contact who will be available

A quieter school still needs active cyber cover.

Our Cyber Security Checklist for Schools covers practical steps across monitoring, system updates, risk planning and incident response.
Download it here: https://everythingict.org/cyber-security-checklist-for-schools/



16/09/2026

Digital Individual Support Plans are coming. Is your school’s ICT ready?

The final requirements aren’t settled yet, but there are practical questions schools can ask now:

- Is your SEND platform capable?
- Are access controls and data protection ready?
- Do you have the assistive technology pupils need?

Our latest article looks at what school leaders can review now and where the Inclusive Mainstream Fund could help.

Read it here: https://everythingict.org/digital-individual-support-plans-are-coming/

15/09/2026

Framework or independent sourcing?

Both routes can work well. The right choice depends on what you’re buying, the contract value and how quickly you need to get things moving.

A framework can be quicker, with pre-assessed suppliers and a clear call-off process already in place. It can also mean less for your team to manage.

Independent sourcing gives you more flexibility over the specification, evaluation criteria and suppliers you approach. It also leaves more of the research, documentation, evaluation and record keeping with your team.

Whether your ICT purchase sits above or below the PA2023 threshold, Everything ICT can help. We support lower-value sourcing in line with local policies, as well as above-threshold procurement through our compliant framework.

Planning your next ICT purchase? Talk to our team about the right route.

14/09/2026

As schools explore AI, discussions can often centre on two questions: “Does it improve outcomes?” and “Will it save time?”

A few others deserve equal attention:

🔹 Are pupils’ personal data protected? Has a DPIA been completed where required, and are the supplier’s data-processing terms satisfactory?

🔹 Has the tool been tested for bias and differential impact, including for pupils with SEND, pupils who use English as an additional language and different demographic groups?

🔹 Can we clearly explain to parents and carers how and why the tool is used?

🔹 Is meaningful human oversight built into high-stakes decisions such as SEND support, exclusions and predicted grades?

🔹 Does its use align with KCSIE 2026 and the school’s safeguarding, filtering and monitoring arrangements?

Making these checks consistent, documented and ongoing can help schools adopt AI confidently and evidence the decisions behind its use.

11/09/2026

“Have an AI policy” is now common advice for schools. What that policy, or the school’s wider policy framework, should include is often less clear.

At a minimum, schools should consider:

• Scope: The tools, users and settings covered, including staff, pupils, governors, assessment and administration.

• Staff use: Approved tools, permitted uses and clear restrictions, including whether personal AI accounts may be used for school work or on school devices.

• Staff training: Who is responsible for AI literacy, how training will be provided and when it will be refreshed.

• Pupil use: Which tools pupils may use, when and for what purpose, taking account of age restrictions and appropriate supervision.

• Assessment and academic integrity: What support is acceptable, how AI use should be acknowledged, what constitutes misuse and the consequences.

• Safeguarding: Risks including deepfakes, AI-generated explicit or sexual imagery, harmful content, bullying and grooming, with clear reporting and response procedures.

• Data protection: The risk-assessment status of each approved AI use, including whether a DPIA is required, completed or under review.

• Accountability: A named lead or leadership team with clear responsibilities and appropriate knowledge and training.

• Review: A defined review schedule, at least annually and following any significant AI-related incident or material change in guidance.

For schools and colleges in England, KCSIE 2026 is now in force and expressly includes nudes and semi-nudes generated by AI.

Schools should ensure their AI arrangements connect clearly with their safeguarding and incident-response procedures. If they do not, they need updating.

Download our free AI policy considerations:
https://everythingict.org/ai-policy-considerations/