Is your school ready for the 2026 DfE Digital & Technology Standards? This guide walks you through a practical IT checklist covering networks, cybersecurity, devices, backups, cloud and ongoing support.

The Ultimate School IT Checklist for 2026 (Aligned with DfE Standards)

Schools across the UK are under growing pressure to modernise their digital infrastructure, improve cybersecurity, and ensure every aspect of technology meets the Department for Education (DfE) Digital & Technology Standards. With budgets tight and expectations higher than ever, a reliable, well-managed IT environment is no longer optional — it’s essential for safeguarding, teaching and learning.

At Remedian IT Solutions, we support schools across Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and the North West by ensuring every network, device, and system meets both current and emerging DfE requirements. This practical checklist is designed for headteachers, school business managers, IT leads and trust leaders who want confidence that their school is ready for 2026.

1. Core Network Infrastructure (DfE Requirement: Mandatory)

A stable, secure network is the foundation of every successful school IT strategy. If your infrastructure is slow, unreliable or difficult to manage, everything else — cloud services, safeguarding tools, classroom devices — will struggle.

High-Performance Wi-Fi Across the Entire School

The DfE expects schools to have fast, reliable, centrally managed Wi-Fi that can support high-density use, particularly in classrooms using cloud platforms such as Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and online learning tools.

Your school Wi-Fi should:

• Provide full coverage across classrooms, offices, halls and outdoor learning spaces
• Use modern standards such as Wi-Fi 6 or 6E where possible
• Offer separate, secure SSIDs for staff, pupils and guests
• Be centrally managed so changes, updates and troubleshooting can be handled quickly
• Include monitoring so you can spot issues before they impact lessons

If you still rely on consumer-grade access points, old controllers or “dead zones” in parts of the building, it’s a clear sign your Wi-Fi needs upgrading.

Discover our school Wi-Fi and network solutions

Structured Cabling that Meets Current DfE Standards

The DfE recommends that schools use structured cabling of at least Cat6, with Cat6A strongly advised for future-proofing. Poorly installed or outdated cabling can quietly become a major bottleneck.

Your cabling should be:

• Neatly routed, labelled and documented
• Able to support gigabit or 10-gigabit links where required
• Terminated into modern, ventilated cabinets with managed switches
• Free from daisy-chained switches and unmanaged “quick fixes”

Fast and Resilient Broadband

The DfE guidance sets clear expectations around broadband speeds, reliability and resilience. As a rule of thumb:

• Small schools: at least 100 Mbps download / 30 Mbps upload
• Medium and large schools: aiming for 1 Gbps up and down

Where possible, connections should be full-fibre, with appropriate failover options to keep the school online even if the primary link fails.

See how Remedian supports school networks and connectivity

2. Cybersecurity and Safeguarding (DfE Requirement: Mandatory)

Cybersecurity is one of the biggest risks facing UK schools, with ransomware, phishing and account compromise now common across the sector. The DfE and NCSC expect schools to have a baseline level of protection in place — but many still have gaps.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Enabled

MFA is now essential for protecting staff and admin accounts. It should be enabled for:

• Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace logins
• Admin and senior leadership accounts
• Remote access and VPN connections
• Key third-party systems such as HR, MIS and finance platforms

If your staff can access sensitive information using only a password, your school is exposed to unnecessary risk.

Modern Firewall and Web Filtering

Your school firewall should do far more than simply connect you to the internet. It should provide:

• Intrusion prevention and threat intelligence updates
• Granular web content filtering and category-based controls
• Application control and blocking of high-risk services
• Secure VPN access for staff where required
• Logging and reporting so you can evidence your safeguarding position

Web filtering should be appropriate to age, role and safeguarding requirements, with clear policies for staff and pupils.

Endpoint Protection on Every Device

All school-owned laptops, PCs and servers should have modern endpoint protection installed — not just basic “legacy antivirus”. Ideally this will provide:

• Real-time protection against malware and ransomware
• Behaviour-based detection, not just signature scans
• Central management so IT can view alerts and respond quickly

Explore our cybersecurity services for schools

Secure Email and Anti-Phishing Controls

Email remains the number one way threats enter schools. You should have:

• Spam and phishing filtering for all staff accounts
• Impersonation and domain spoofing protection
• Automatic detection of suspicious attachments and links
• Clear policies around external email, forwarding and data sharing

Regular Staff Cybersecurity Training

Technology alone is not enough. Staff should receive regular, practical training on:

• Recognising phishing emails and suspicious links
• Using strong, unique passwords and password managers
• Handling sensitive data securely
• Reporting concerns quickly to the IT team or provider

3. Devices and Classroom Technology

Even with a strong network and cybersecurity in place, teaching and learning will only benefit if devices are reliable, well-managed and age-appropriate.

Standardised, Managed Devices

Where possible, classroom devices should be:

• Standardised by type and model for easier support
• Enrolled into a management platform such as Intune, Autopilot or Google Admin
• Automatically updated with security patches and software
• Configured with appropriate restrictions based on pupil age

Old, inconsistent or unmanaged devices increase support workload and create risk in the classroom.

Secure Logins for Pupils and Staff

Staff and pupils should log in using unique accounts rather than generic shared logins. This supports:

• Better safeguarding and audit trails
• Personalised access to files and resources
• Easier management of leavers and joiners

Classroom Displays, Audio and Peripherals

Interactive panels, projectors, visualisers and sound systems should be:

• Reliable and easy for staff to use
• Connected to the network where required
• Covered by a clear refresh and replacement plan

See how we support classroom IT across primary and secondary schools

4. Data Protection, Backups and Disaster Recovery

Schools hold a huge amount of sensitive data — from pupil records and safeguarding notes to HR and finance information. Losing access to that data, even temporarily, can be devastating.

Regular, Tested Backups

Your school should have:

• Automated backups of on-premise servers and critical cloud data
• Offsite or cloud-based backup copies to protect against fire, theft or ransomware
• Regular test restores so you know backups actually work
• Clear documented recovery objectives (how quickly you can get systems back online)

Remember that many cloud services do not include full backup by default — especially email and files. A separate backup solution is often needed.

Learn more about backup and disaster recovery

Clear Access Controls and Permissions

Access to sensitive data should always be on a “need-to-know” basis. Ensure that:

• Staff only see the data required for their role
• Shared drives and SharePoint sites are correctly permissioned
• Leavers are removed promptly from all systems
• Admin rights are restricted and carefully monitored

5. Cloud Readiness and Modern Platforms

Many schools now rely heavily on cloud platforms such as Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, as well as cloud-based MIS, safeguarding tools and communication systems. The DfE expects schools to move towards secure, well-managed cloud environments.

Well-Configured Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace

It’s not enough just to have licences. Your tenant should be:

• Configured with security baselines and conditional access
• Using separate policies for staff and pupils
• Linked to a clear naming convention for users, groups and teams
• Aligned with your safeguarding and data protection policies

Secure Remote Access Where Needed

If staff access systems from home or off-site, this should be through:

• Secure VPN or remote desktop gateways
• Enforced MFA
• Managed devices where possible

6. IT Management, Monitoring and Support

Even the best technology will fail without proper management. The DfE emphasises the importance of strategic planning, proactive monitoring and reliable support.

A Clear IT Strategy and Roadmap

Your school should have an agreed, documented plan that covers:

• Where your IT is now and where it needs to be
• Planned upgrades and replacements over the next 3–5 years
• Alignment with DfE standards and any trust-wide strategy
• Budget planning for devices, infrastructure and support

Proactive Monitoring and Helpdesk

Instead of waiting for things to break, proactive monitoring allows issues to be spotted early. A managed IT service should provide:

• Monitoring of servers, backups, network and security
• A friendly helpdesk for staff to log issues quickly
• Onsite support when needed for more complex problems
• Regular reporting so SLT can see trends and risks

Find out more about our managed IT support for schools

7. Your School IT Checklist for 2026 – Quick Summary

If you are short on time, here is a condensed checklist you can use in your next SLT, governor or trust meeting:

• Network: Modern Wi-Fi, structured cabling and full-fibre broadband
• Cybersecurity: MFA, firewall, filtering, endpoint protection and secure email
• Devices: Managed, standardised and age-appropriate devices for pupils and staff
• Data protection: Tested backups, clear permissions and secure storage
• Cloud: Secure, well-configured Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace
• Management: Proactive monitoring, helpdesk and a clear IT roadmap

Need Help Aligning with DfE Standards?

Remedian works with primary and secondary schools, academies and trusts across the North West to deliver DfE-aligned, future-ready IT. Whether you need a full network upgrade, a cybersecurity review, or simply an honest health check of your current setup, we’re here to help.

Next steps:

• Book a free, no-obligation school IT health check
• Review your current position against this checklist
• Create a phased, realistic plan that fits your budget

Contact Remedian today to discuss your school’s IT strategy for 2026