The Diocese of Salisbury Academy Trust (DSAT) is a multi-academy trust overseeing a network of 28 primary schools across the south west. Dedicated to delivering high-quality education, DSAT supports schools in achieving excellence by fostering collaboration, innovation, and enabling all to flourish. As the Trust continues to grow, it prioritises a robust and future-ready IT infrastructure striving for digital excellence to enhance teaching, learning, and administrative efficiency.
The Challenge
With 28 schools operating under the Trust’s umbrella, DSAT faced several IT challenges:
- Inconsistent IT Strategy: Schools had varying levels of IT infrastructure, making it difficult to implement a cohesive strategy across the Trust
- Outdated Systems: Many schools were using legacy on-premise IT systems, which limited flexibility and efficiency
- Communication Barriers: Each school had separate phone and email solutions, leading to inefficiencies in communication and increased operational costs
- Cyber security Compliance: The Trust needed to ensure schools were aligned with cyber security best practices and compliant with government standards, particularly achieving Cyber Essentials Accreditation
Recognising the need for a unified, secure, and scalable IT environment, DSAT partnered with Oakford Technology to develop and implement solution to achieve their IT goals.
The Solution
Over the past two years, Oakford Technology has worked closely with DSAT to transform its IT landscape through:
- IT Strategy and Consultancy
Oakford provided ongoing consultancy to help the Trust establish a cohesive IT strategy. By assessing the needs of each school, we designed a tailored approach to standardise and modernise IT across the Trust.
- Cloud-Based IT Systems
We migrated DSAT to a cloud-based IT infrastructure, enabling seamless collaboration and remote access to resources. Implementing a single Microsoft 365 email tenancy and a Cloud-based IT system across all schools enhanced productivity, communication, and data security.
- Centralised Phone System
To address communication challenges, Oakford deployed a centralised cloud-based phone system. This provided cost-effective, streamlined communication between schools, staff, and leadership, significantly improving operational efficiency.
- Cyber Essentials Accreditation
One of the most significant achievements of our partnership was guiding DSAT to successfully attain Cyber Essentials Accreditation. Oakford worked closely with the Trust to implement essential security measures, including:
- Strengthening network security and access controls.
- Implementing robust policies to protect against cyber threats.
- Ensuring compliance with DfE and National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) guidelines
This accreditation not only safeguarded DSAT’s digital infrastructure but also demonstrated its commitment to protecting students, staff, and sensitive data.
The Results
Through our partnership, DSAT has achieved significant improvements:
- A Unified IT Strategy: Schools now benefit from a cohesive and scalable IT approach.
- Enhanced Collaboration and Efficiency: Microsoft 365 and the cloud-based system have streamlined operations, enabling seamless remote learning and administration.
- Improved Communication: The central phone system has cut costs and improved internal communication across schools.
- Stronger Cyber security Posture: Achieving Cyber Essentials Accreditation has positioned DSAT as a leading Trust in cyber security compliance, reducing risks and ensuring a safer IT environment.
Testimonial
“Oakford Technology is a trusted partner in our digital journey; instrumental in transforming our IT infrastructure. Their expertise has enabled us to standardise IT systems, significantly improve our communication platform and, achieve Cyber Essentials Accreditation in supporting our schools to protect against evolving cyber threats.”
Daniel Parker, CFOO (Diocese of Salisbury Academy Trust)
Get in touch
Are you looking to develop a future-proof IT strategy, enhance communication, or strengthen cybersecurity in your education Trust or school? Oakford Technology is here to help. Contact us today to discuss how we can support your digital transformation.
