Hopedale School

The customer

Hopedale Children and Family Services is an organisation based in Staffordshire, UK, that provides therapeutic educational services for young people with complex social, emotional, and mental health needs. Their mission is to empower these individuals to lead independent, fulfilling lives and to contribute positively to society. Hopedale operates a small number of schools, creating safe and nurturing environments to facilitate personalised learning and development.

The challenge

Hopedale required a managed network and security service to ensure proper safeguarding measures across their schools. With a small IT team, managing a complex network internally was not feasible. The solution needed to be scalable to accommodate the addition of new schools without significant rework. Additionally, the network had to meet high standards for reliability and security, ensuring uninterrupted access to educational resources and safeguarding student data.

The methodology

To address Hopedale’s needs, Evolving Networks employed its proven engagement methodology. This began with workshops to fully understand the specific requirements and goals of the organisation. A detailed network design was created, mapping out the connectivity, security, and scalability requirements.

Using this structured approach, we developed a bespoke Network as a Service (NaaS) solution, ensuring the design aligned with Hopedale’s unique operational and educational needs.

The Solution

Evolving Networks delivered a comprehensive NaaS solution for Hopedale, incorporating:

• Connectivity: A mix of leased lines, SoGEA, and FTTP connections aggregated from multiple carriers to ensure resilience and high bandwidth at all six school sites.
• High Availability: Each site was equipped with Evolving Networks High-Availability EVX options, ensuring continuous connectivity even in the event of individual circuit failures.
• Security: The network includes the provision of centralised Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) features which provide advanced content filtering and security, safeguarding students and staff.
• Scalability: The network was designed to facilitate the seamless addition of new schools, enabling Hopedale’s operations to grow without compromising performance or security.

The results

The implemented solution has transformed Hopedale’s network infrastructure:

• Secure and reliable: The robust network ensures safeguarding compliance while providing fast, reliable connectivity to all schools.
• Scalable and flexible: The network can easily adapt to Hopedale’s evolving requirements, supporting the addition of new schools or changes in demand.
• Simplified IT management: With the managed service in place, the burden on Hopedale’s IT team has been significantly reduced, allowing them to focus on strategic initiatives rather than day-to-day network maintenance.
• Enhanced user experience: Staff and students benefit from a seamless and secure online experience, supporting learning and administrative functions without disruptions.

Evolving Networks continues to support Hopedale Children and Family Services, ensuring their network remains future-proof and aligned with their mission to provide exceptional educational and therapeutic services.