Stroud High School has improved wireless connectivity to support its digital strategy of replacing traditional paper-based resources with enhanced digital tools for more collaborative, agile learning. With additional devices increasing demand on the wireless network, the school needed to upgrade to a high-density network that would provide robust Wi-Fi coverage with the capacity to ensure seamless access to online learning materials.

Stroud High School is a selective grammar school for girls aged 11-16 with a co-educational sixth form. It provides a broad and vibrant curriculum to 1,026 pupils and was named the ninth best secondary state school in the Southwest by the 2023 Parent Power Schools Guide.

The senior school is housed in a 19th century Queen Anne style building with additional buildings for the junior school, sixth form, technical suite and a 160-seat lecture theatre.

Stroud’s unreliable network needed replacing

Whilst Stroud High School had invested in its IT infrastructure its existing wireless network was outdated with Aruba Wi-Fi 5 access points that were past their effective life – which was causing the school’s WiFi to be unreliable and slow. To enhance the student learning experience, the school’s digital strategy included the roll-out of a 1:1 device provision with all students in years 7-13 being given their own Microsoft Surface Pro device.

Terry Watts, Assistant Headteacher for Digital Strategy, at Stroud High School says:

“With our existing Wi-Fi already struggling and our plans for additional technology and more devices, we needed to futureproof our wireless network with a high-density solution that would give us the confidence to migrate to our 1:1 learning provision.”

Once the school had identified its network needs, it went out to tender for a new wireless infrastructure and shortlisted three possible suppliers.

Terry says: “We had completed our potential supplier list then I was recommended to Redway Networks by another school. I called Redway and they really stood out in terms of wireless expertise and education-sector knowledge. I was so impressed following my initial phone call I decided to add Redway Networks to the supplier list at the 11th hour.”

Stroud selects Redway Networks

Following more in-depth conversations, Redway Networks was chosen to conduct a technical Wi-Fi survey to evaluate the school’s network and produce a detailed report on the coverage, capacity, bandwidth and performance needed from the new wireless network.

Terry says: “We were super impressed with the results from the Wi-Fi survey and the knowledge of Redway Networks was firstrate. They really listened to what we needed as opposed to just recommending ‘a solution’.”

Redway Networks’ engineer then validated and optimised the school’s network and with cost being a key consideration recommend a Cambium WiFi 6e cloud-managed solution to provide a reliable and high-performance WLAN with low total cost of ownership.

Terry says: “Redway’s engineer explained that Cambium would meet all our needs for delivering a reliable, secure network, but with considerably lower costs than other enterprise-level solutions as Cambium has no extra management licence fees, subscriptions or ongoing costs. In addition, Redway Networks also advised us to keep our existing cabling which reduced costs further meaning we were able to purchase more access points to ensure super-fast wireless coverage from anywhere on campus.”

Cambium provides robust WiFi at lower costs

Redway Networks then installed 77 x Cambium indoor Wi-Fi 6e access points, all managed through a single cloud controller for better network visibility. Cambium’s entire solution is cloud managed meaning faster deployment, configuration and troubleshooting for the lifetime of the network.

Terry says: “The WiFi is such a crucial element for supporting our digital strategy and the management of individual network devices is essential for us to understand how and when our applications are being used, and we can identify this easily in Cambium’s cloud dashboard.”

Stroud High School’s legacy network has been transformed into a future proofed Cambium solution that is providing higher wireless capacity and delivering fast, stable WiFi experiences to its students and staff.

Terry says: “I was really impressed with Redway Networks. Its team provided a real technical understanding throughout the whole process and spent considerable engineering time with us to identify our needs and provide the right WiFi solution.

We are delighted with Cambium which is accommodating our users with ease and its reliable, high-density Wi-Fi has enabled us to confidently support our students as they transition to 1:1 learning.”