Sectors
IT & comms that fit how schools actually run
Phone systems, IT support and cyber security shaped around the school day, the school year and a tight budget — from a team that already looks after trusts across the South West.
Schools don't run like other businesses. The pressure lands in waves — admissions, results day, the start of term — and the budget is public money that has to be accounted for. We build IT and comms around that reality, not around a generic SME template.
From single schools to multi-academy trusts
We support standalone schools and full multi-academy trusts, where the job is joining sites together so a central team can run IT and phones across all of them without losing local control. Cobalt already does this for United Schools Federation, Alumnis Multi Academy Trust and Lipson Co-operative Academy.
Built for safeguarding and budgets
Call recording, secure data handling and Cyber Essentials all matter more in a school. We help you meet those duties properly while keeping the cost predictable — and we time the disruptive work for the holidays, not the middle of term.
The brief
What education actually needs from IT & comms
Term-time pressure, holiday windows
You can't have systems down during the school day. We schedule migrations, upgrades and cabling work for half-terms and holidays, and keep support responsive when staff and pupils are all back in.
Safeguarding and pupil data
Pupil records, safeguarding logs and parent contact details are sensitive. We set up Microsoft 365 with the access controls, backup and security to protect them — and help you evidence that you've done so.
Multi-site trusts pulling together
MATs need central oversight without flattening each school. We join sites onto one phone system and one support model, so a trust IT lead can manage everything from one place while each school keeps its own number and identity.
Tight, accountable budgets
Every pound is public money. We size IT and phones to what a school actually needs, put it on a predictable plan, and tell you straight where you can spend less — not more.
Reaching parents reliably
When you need to get hold of parents — closures, absences, events — the phones have to work and the queues have to be sensible. A cloud phone system gives you the routing and resilience to handle the busy days.
Cyber-attacks aimed at schools
Schools are a regular ransomware target, and a hit can take out teaching for days. Cyber Essentials and tested backups close off the common routes in and get you back up fast if the worst happens.
What we'd put in place
The services that fit education
Proof
Businesses like yours that we already look after
Real South West organisations we support. Read the full story on each case study.
In your area
Education IT support, town by town
FAQs
Common questions
Do you support multi-academy trusts as well as single schools?
Yes — we look after both. For trusts, we join your schools onto a shared phone system and support model so a central team can manage IT across every site, while each school keeps its own number and local setup. United Schools Federation and Alumnis Multi Academy Trust are among the trusts we support.
Can you do the disruptive work in the holidays?
That's how we plan it. Migrations, cabling, server work and upgrades are scheduled for half-terms and holidays wherever possible, so teaching isn't interrupted. Day-to-day support stays responsive through term time.
Will this help with safeguarding and data protection?
It supports it. We set up your Microsoft 365 and systems with proper access controls, backup and security so pupil and safeguarding data is protected, and Cyber Essentials gives you a recognised standard to evidence. We'll help you get there step by step.
Is it affordable on a school budget?
We size everything to what a school actually needs and put it on a predictable plan, so there are no surprise bills. We'll also tell you straight where you can spend less rather than pushing extras you don't need.
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Ready when you are.
Tell us what's slowing your business down. We'll tell you exactly how we'd fix it — plainly, with no obligation.