Background

Prospect Technology College are the only Technology College in the Reading LEA. They have invested heavily in developing their ICT infrastructure to become one of the leading Technology Colleges in the country.

A strong relationship with the Technology Colleges Trust combined with being a centre for a range of national training schemes for ICT, which are offered to local community and local industry, have created a positive cycle of ICT income, demand and expansion.

The first phase of the school’s TC Trust funding gave them the opportunity to expand their existing ICT facilities by an addition 100 computers with the necessary expansion of their data network. Existing systems were dated and ran as thin clients from two Novell servers, one for the curriculum and one for administration. By introducing these new computers there was an opportunity to begin phasing out the Novell by installing a new NT-based file server. Although fully aware of the software solutions available to schools from nationally recognised school ICT solution providers like Research Machines, Prospect didn’t want to be restricted to a fixed functionality system. Instead they designed an almost impenetrable client access solution based around NT’s powerful security and user policies.

Solution

Having won the tender on a combination of competitive pricing and reference sites, it was ESP’s brief to install the new data cabling throughout the school, put Prospect’s designs for the file server into practice and implement all of the new PC’s within the summer break. It is rare for a project of this size not to encounter problems, but ESP’s willingness to address all of the resulting issues meant the
project was a resounding success.

Since the initial phase, the network has grown from being a single collision domain, shared, campus-wide system with 100 new computers, to a fully hierarchical layer 3 switched gigabit backbone with controlled collision and broadcast domains and over 450 new ESP systems with access to two Internet pipes and four file servers. As the school continues to grow, ESP is working with the ICT department to ensure that the infrastructure continues to develop at the same rate, thereby ensuring consistent access for all users far into the future.

“We have developed a good working relationship with ESP over the past few years.” comments Trevor Blunn, ICT Coordinator of Prospect Technology College. “On first inspection their solution was not the cheapest available to us. However once we had considered the total cost of ownership of the entire installation we found that the value added by ESP was unsurpassed. Even though much of the original
kit is now out of warranty, they are always available to assist my team when called upon. It is this type of partnership that has proved essential to us during the development of our ICT network”

To find out how you can benefit from the ESP experience call 0118 916 9300 now
or send an e-mail to sales@esp.co.uk

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