The education-only IT partner trusted by over 100 schools and trusts. Proactive monitoring, onsite technicians and a service desk that speaks school, so your staff can teach, not troubleshoot.
Trusted by schools, academies and trusts, from Merseyside to the Middle East
Chesterfield High School
University Technical College Norfolk
University of Liverpool Maths School
Morecambe Bay Academy
The Deanery Academy
St Christopher’s School, Bahrain
Technology partners Microsoft · Google · Apple · Dell · HP
The problem
When school IT fails, it fails in front of thirty pupils.
A frozen screen in an office is an annoyance. In a classroom, it’s a lost lesson. Yet too many schools are stuck with IT that’s reactive, generic and one resignation away from a crisis.
08:40
The morning surprise
Outages nobody warned you about, discovered when the register won’t load and Year 9 are already in their seats.
1 person
One resignation from a crisis
When everything you know about your IT sits with one technician, a new job, a holiday or illness can stop a school in its tracks.
60%
Risk you can’t see
Of secondary schools identified a cyber breach or attack in the last year, most often phishing.1
2030
A deadline on the horizon
The DfE wants every school working towards six core digital and technology standards by 2030.2 You need a plan, not a panic.
What we do
Everything your school runs on, looked after by people who know schools.
From the Wi-Fi in the sports hall to the MIS at morning registration. Choose a fully managed service, or just the expertise you need.
Managed IT services
Your complete IT department: onsite technicians, a friendly service desk, 24/7/365 monitoring and a clear SLA.
University Technical College Norfolk Norfolk · Ages 14–19
IT went from staff’s number-one concern to one less thing to think about.
Chosen from four bidders in an independent tender. A long-term plan, managed kit replacement and a ticketed service desk. When lockdown came, lessons moved online the very next day.
“In summary, we’ve found the Dataspire experience first-rate.”
University of Liverpool Maths School Liverpool · New school
A brand-new school, ready for day one, in the middle of a pandemic.
Network, Wi-Fi, devices and AV designed and installed in a refurbished campus building through August 2020, ready for the first students that September.
“Dataspire ensured we had a fully functional wired and Wi-Fi network, staff and student computers, and much else.”
Since 2005, every project, every ticket and every hire has been about schools. It’s a big part of why 95% of our contracts are retained.
100% education
We’ve worked exclusively in education since 2005. Timetables, safeguarding and Ofsted are our normal.
People from schools
Many of our technical and project staff were recruited directly from school leadership and IT roles. They know what a lost lesson costs.
Proactive, not reactive
24/7/365 monitoring and alerting spots problems early, often before they reach a classroom.
Accountable by design
Regular reviews with your leadership team, driven by user surveys and real-time service desk data. Evidence, not spin.
Easy to buy
An approved Education Technology ICT Solutions supplier on the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) framework: a compliant, simpler route to market.
Secure & certified
ISO 27001 certified for information security, plus ISO 9001 for quality and ISO 14001 for environmental management.
BETT Awards finalist, ICT Company of the Year
2014
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2024
ISO 9001
ISO 14001
ISO 27001
Constructionline Gold
CCS framework supplier
Acclaim accredited
Free tool · 60 seconds
Are you on track for the DfE’s 2030 standards?
The DfE expects every school and college to be working towards six core digital and technology standards by 2030. Answer six quick questions to see where you stand. No email needed.
We’ve stepped in for schools let down by previous providers, including one whose ICT supplier went into administration just as its new academy building opened. Here’s how we make the move calm.
01
Listen
We start with questions. What’s working, what isn’t, and what are you trying to achieve?
02
Review
Our engineers review your whole ICT estate, then share a current state report and a critical risk register.
03
Plan
A clear solution design and cost model: the right things, in the right order, for your budget. Pilots before big spends.
04
Launch
We introduce the team to your staff, train any retained IT colleagues and go live with onsite technicians and a sector-leading SLA.
05
Improve
Regular reviews with your leaders, using user surveys and real-time service desk data to keep getting better.
New school builds
The ICT partner behind 100+ new school builds.
Contractors, trusts and the DfE rely on us to design, install and hand over fully integrated ICT, on programme and ready for the first day of term.
Can you work alongside our in-house technician or network manager?
Yes. Our technical support service is designed for schools with their own IT team: your technicians can call on our education IT specialists whenever they need to. Or we can provide your whole IT team as a fully managed service.
How disruptive is it to switch IT provider?
Less than you’d think. We review everything first, plan the move with your leadership team, introduce our people to your staff and keep you updated at every step. We’ve even stepped in when a school’s previous supplier went into administration.
Can you help us meet the DfE digital and technology standards?
Yes. We’ll measure your current setup against the standards, then build a plan that sets out how and when you’ll close any gaps, from broadband, Wi-Fi and switching to cyber security, filtering and monitoring.
Do you work with multi-academy trusts?
Yes. We support single schools and trusts, and can help a trust bring its schools onto consistent infrastructure, support and contracts.
Can we buy through a framework?
Yes. Dataspire is an approved Education Technology ICT Solutions supplier on the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) framework, and many of our longest-standing partnerships began with a tender through it.
What does a managed IT service cost?
It depends on the size of your school, your sites and the level of support you need. After your free IT review, we’ll recommend the right service and send a clear proposal, with no obligation.
Where are you based?
Our head office is at Lowry Mill in Swinton, Greater Manchester. We support schools across the UK and British international schools in the Middle East.
Free IT review
Make IT one less thing to think about.
Book a free, no-obligation IT review with an education IT specialist. We’ll look at what’s working, what’s at risk and where the quick wins are.