Wave 5 and wave 6 roll-out of Connect the Classroom
Schools in the next waves of the connect the classroom programme are expected to be contacted by the DfE in the coming months. The DfE will send details of how schools can receive the grant for network infrastructure and wireless upgrades. Implementation is expected to take place in 2023, although may continue into 2024. For more information on the programme, please see our post on the DfE Connect the Classroom Programme
Are you eligible for Connect the Classroom?
The schools eligible for the latest waves of the programme are based on the recently published Education Investment Areas (EIA).
Priority education
investment areas
If your school is in a Priority EIA, you should be eligible for funding. The list below shows the Priority EIAs.
- 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
Additional education investment areas
Schools in these areas that were rated as Requires Improvement or Inadequate in their most recent Ofsted inspection should be included in the programme.
- Bedford
- Bolton
- Bury
- Cambridgeshire*
- Central Bedfordshire
- Cornwall
- County Durham**
- Coventry
- Darlington
- Derbyshire
- Dorset
- Dudley
- East Sussex*
- Isle of Wight
- Kirklees
- Leeds
- Lincolnshire
- Luton
- Manchester
- Norfolk*
- North Northamptonshire
- North Somerset
- Nottinghamshire**
- Peterborough
- Plymouth**
- Rotherham
- Sefton**
- Somerset*
- South Gloucestershire
- South Tyneside
- St. Helens
- Suffolk*
- Sunderland
- Swindon
- Wakefield
- Wirral
* LAs containing Opportunity Areas
** LAs containing areas previously identified for additional school improvement support in Plymouth, Ashfield & Mansfield, South Sefton & North Liverpool, and North Durham, City & Sedgefield
The list of areas should be taken as a guide. Eligibility is based on the DfE’s EIA selection methodology.
How do we receive funding?
You should receive an email from the DfE before March 2023. This should be sent to the head teacher or business manager. The DfE email will come from an @education.gov.uk email address and should have a DfE logo in the signature.
Do we need a survey or meetings before the DfE get in touch?
No. Some schools are being emailed and called by companies asking for meetings or surveys but these are not required. You could ask your IT team to audit your current wireless network and infrastructure in advance but action is only required after the DfE have been in touch.
How do we place the order and receive the grant?
Once you receive the email from the DfE, they will send details of how to place the order. This will require a quote for the upgrades from a supplier that can fulfil the DfE’s requirements. In order to speed up the process, you could use a framework such as Everything ICT to direct award the work, rather than requesting multiple separate quotes.
How we can help
As a supplier on the Everything ICT framework and partner with Meraki and Aruba, we would be able to quote and install your new system – having installed systems in earlier waves of the programme, our team support you through every step of the process.
Why work with Primary Technology?
If you choose to work with us, you’ll be supported through the full process, from initial application to your go-live day. We have worked with schools for over fifteen years and have extensive knowledge of the Connect the Classroom programme. We’re partners with the leading manufacturers of Wi-Fi 6 networks, Meraki and Aruba, allowing us to offer the most suitable solution for your school. You can contact us about Connect the Classroom if you would like help or support.