Government pledges £45m for better connectivity in schools

The government is investing £45m to boost school infrastructure, including £25m to upgrade wireless networks in 2025 – helping get classrooms online and raising standards, in the latest phase of funding that has so far improved connectivity for more than 1.3 million pupils in 3,700 schools.

The funding comes on top of the £20m already invested in fibre upgrades to 833 schools and follows a recently launched consultation to gather views on a long-term ambition for all schools and colleges to meet six core digital standards by 2030.

These standards cover the foundations of good tech – ensuring essential technology infrastructure and connectivity, digital security and leadership.  

It also follows the government’s Digital Inclusion Action Plan which will give the most digitally-excluded groups the confidence and skills to benefit from digitisation – a key driver of growth under the Plan for Change.  

This boost will mean no learner is left behind in a modernised education system – as the government delivers on its Plan for Change to break the link between children’s background and their success.

In classrooms, effective use of technology boosts pupil performance and improve outcomes for children with additional needs, but the 2023 Technology in Schools Survey found just 63% of schools reported having a fully functional Wi-Fi signal throughout the school.

Peter Kyle, Science Secretary said: “Last month, we launched a Digital Inclusion Action plan setting out how we will bring everyone along with us and break down the barriers to the opportunities in the digital revolution.”

The core standards schools outlined in the consultation are: broadband internet; wireless networks; network switches; digital leadership and governance; filtering and monitoring; and cyber security.

These make up part of the eleven digital and technology standards, published by the Department from 2022, to support schools and colleges to use the right digital infrastructure and technology – which only 16% of schools report meeting.  

The consultation, which is open for eight weeks, invites those working in and supporting the education sector to share their views on the proposals - including their readiness to meet the six standards and other support they might need.