Get a network tailored to you by partnering with
European Electronique on the Connect the Classroom Scheme.

What is Connect the Classroom?

The Connect the Classroom scheme is a government-funded programme by the Department for Education (DfE) aimed at improving internet speed in schools by upgrading Wi-Fi access points and network switches. The programme will run until 2025 and is designed to help schools in education investment areas that have an Ofsted rating of ‘requires improvement’ or ‘inadequate’.

Eligible schools will receive funding if they fall below the DfE’s Wi-Fi connectivity standards. These standards include using the latest wireless network standard approved by the Wi-Fi Alliance, having a fully functional signal throughout the school buildings, and installing security features to prevent unauthorised access.

Schools are responsible for procuring their own suppliers to carry out the IT improvement work, which must meet the DfE’s specifications. The DfE provides an information pack containing procurement requirements and advice on finding suitable suppliers.

Who is eligible? 

The DfE has classified all eligible schools into 3 categories: Priority Education Investment Areas, Education Investment Areas, and Intervention Schools.

Priority Education Investment Areas – All schools in the following areas are eligible

Blackpool, Bradford, Derby, Doncaster, Fenlands and East, Cambridgeshire, Halton, Hartlepool, Hastings, Ipswich, Knowsley, Liverpool, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire Coast, Norwich, Nottingham, Oldham, Portsmouth, Rochdale, Salford, Sandwell, Stoke-on-Trent, Tameside, Walsall, West Somerset

Education Investment Areas – All schools in the following areas rated as ‘Requires Improvement’ or ‘Inadequate’ at last inspection.

Bedford, Blackpool, Bolton, Bradford, Bury, Cambridgeshire, Central Bedfordshire, Cornwall, County Durham, Coventry, Darlington, Derby, Derbyshire, Doncaster, Dorset, Dudley, East Sussex, Halton, Hartlepool, Isle of Wight, Kirklees, Knowsley, Leeds, Lincolnshire, Liverpool, Luton, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Norfolk, North Northamptonshire, North Somerset, North Yorkshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, Oldham, Peterborough, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Rochdale, Rotherham, Salford, Sandwell, Sefton, Somerset, South Gloucestershire, South Tyneside, St. Helens, Stoke-on-Trent, Suffolk, Sunderland, Swindon, Tameside, Wakefield, Walsall, Wirral

Intervention Schools – All intervention schools are eligible, no matter of location.

How do I apply for the Connect the Classroom Scheme for my School?

If you are eligible, you will receive a letter from the DfE as an invitation to submit a compliant bid to obtain the available funding. European Electronique can provide you with information to help you complete this bid.

  1. Contact our team to request a quote and discuss your specific requirements.
  2. We will provide a quote tailored to DfE specifications for your review and to share with your DfE advisor.
  3. Upon approval, our team will develop a comprehensive plan for the delivery and installation of your project.
  4. Throughout the process, you will receive proactive support, guidance, and training, as well as aftercare once your project is complete.
  5. Relax in the knowledge that your school has network infrastructure that work for years to come!

Why European Electronique?

European Electronique specialise in deploying secure wired and wireless solutions and have a long and respected history of installing high performance and resilient infrastructures. EE have worked with the DfE on infrastructure projects for schools for over 20 years. We have successfully delivered over 200 Free School and CTC projects.

We also have some great support from our Vendors. We are one of only a handful of Aruba Platinum partners with some of the UK’s most highly accredited engineers. Being Vendor agnostic we are also a Cisco/Meraki Certified partner, and we can provide Extreme, D-LINK and Ubiquiti.

Here what some of our customers had to say in our case studies:

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