NM Cabling has been working in schools since 2001, installing Wi-Fi networks, data cabling and fibre optic connections. Our work began with the London Borough of Barnet, where we became a preferred supplier and have since supported more than 130 primary and secondary schools, colleges and other education sites.
A school Wi-Fi upgrade often involves more than replacing access points. Older cabling, limited fibre connections between buildings and poorly positioned equipment can all affect how well a wireless network performs.
We survey the existing infrastructure, plan the cable routes and install the cabling, fibre and access points needed for the new network. We can work alongside a school’s existing IT provider, so there is no need to change support arrangements just to upgrade the infrastructure.
Much of our school installation work takes place during holidays, allowing larger projects to be completed with minimal disruption to lessons.
We’ve worked in all sorts of school buildings over the years. Some have fairly new cabling and network equipment. Others have had bits added or replaced whenever money became available. It’s not unusual to find several generations of equipment in the same school.
Before quoting for a Wi-Fi upgrade, we need to know what’s already installed. That means checking the cabinets, cabling, fibre links and access point locations. There’s no sense replacing equipment that’s still suitable, but equally, we don’t want to leave old cabling in place if it’s going to cause problems later.
In primary schools, we often find that the building itself is the biggest challenge. Thick walls, extensions and temporary classrooms can make it difficult to get a good signal everywhere. We survey the site and work out where the access points and new cables need to go.
Secondary schools are usually larger, with more buildings and more devices being used at the same time. A classroom might have 30 laptops connected, while a hall could have several classes using the network together.
As well as the wireless equipment, we check the switches and fibre connections between cabinets. These can be just as important as the access points themselves, particularly when a school is moving towards one device per pupil.
For academy trusts, the work can involve several schools with completely different setups. We can visit each site, check what’s needed and put together a programme of work. Most schools prefer the larger installations to take place during holidays, so we plan around the time available.
We install the data cabling, fibre, cabinets and wireless access points. If a school already has an IT support company, we’re happy to work alongside them. They can continue looking after the network while we carry out the installation.
We can start with a visit to the school to look at the existing network and discuss what’s needed. For larger projects, we use Ekahau survey software to check wireless coverage and help plan where access points should be fitted.
Once the design is agreed, our engineers install the new cabling, fibre and wireless access points. We can also replace or alter network cabinets where the existing setup needs changing.
We regularly work with Cisco Meraki equipment and are also familiar with Ruckus, Aruba and Ubiquiti UniFi. If a school or its IT provider has already chosen the wireless equipment, we can install the cabling and access points to suit their design.
All new data cabling is tested before handover. We provide the test results and can supply drawings and other installation records where required.
Most projects start with a visit to the school. We meet the IT team or the person managing the upgrade, look at the buildings and check the existing cabling and network cabinets.
If a wireless survey is needed, we can use Ekahau to check coverage and plan access point positions. We then work out the cable routes, equipment locations and how long the installation is likely to take.
Much of our school work takes place during the Easter, summer and Christmas holidays. This gives us access to classrooms and corridors without disrupting lessons. Smaller jobs can sometimes be completed during term time, depending on the areas involved.
School holidays can be short, particularly at half-term. We agree the work programme before starting and arrange the engineers and materials to suit the time available.
Once the cabling is installed, we test the new connections and label them so the school’s IT team can identify each outlet. We can also provide cabinet records, drawings and test results as part of the handover.
Our engineers are DBS checked and used to working in schools. If the school’s IT provider is responsible for configuring the wireless network, we can coordinate with them so the equipment is ready when they need it.
Getting Wi-Fi into every part of a school isn’t always straightforward. A school might have classrooms in the main building, a separate sports hall, temporary classrooms and offices spread across several floors.
We’ve worked in schools where the buildings have been extended over many years. Thick walls, long corridors and separate blocks all need to be considered when planning the wireless network.
We use site surveys to work out where access points are needed. Some areas need better coverage, while others need enough capacity for a whole class using laptops or tablets at the same time.
Where a school has several buildings, we may need to install new fibre optic cables between them. These connect the network cabinets and provide the links needed for the wireless access points in each block.
We’ve installed fibre backbones and Cat6a cabling as part of school Wi-Fi upgrades, including projects with more than 100 access points. The cabling is tested and labelled before we hand it over to the school’s IT team.
Many of the schools we work with already have an IT company looking after their network. There’s no need to change that arrangement when upgrading the Wi-Fi.
We can work from the IT company’s drawings or meet them on site to agree where the access points, cabinets and cables need to go. If the school hasn’t had a wireless survey carried out, we can help with that too.
Our engineers install the Cat6a cabling, fibre optic links, cabinets and wireless access points. The IT provider can then configure the equipment and manage the network as they normally would.
Some schools also need help looking after their Wi-Fi once it’s installed. We work with specialist IT partners who can provide managed wireless services, including monitoring, updates and technical support.
If a fault turns out to be a damaged cable, a faulty connection or a problem with the physical installation, we can return to investigate and carry out the necessary repairs.
This means the school can keep its existing IT support arrangements while using NM Cabling for installation, cabling upgrades and maintenance.
For more information on school cabling requirements, see our guide to network cabling standards for schools and colleges.
Working in schools means taking extra care over who is on site and when work takes place. Our engineers are DBS checked, and we provide risk assessments and method statements before starting work.
We try to carry out larger installations during school holidays. This gives our engineers better access to classrooms and corridors and reduces disruption to pupils and staff.
Schools often need different levels of network access for staff, pupils and visitors. This can involve separate wireless networks, VLANs and firewall rules.
We install the cabling, fibre and access points needed for the network. The school’s IT team or support company can then configure the wireless equipment, set up access permissions and manage the security settings.
Schools also need systems to filter unsuitable websites and monitor online activity. These are normally chosen and managed by the school or its IT provider.
When planning an installation, we can work with the IT provider to make sure the new equipment and cabling suit their requirements. This is particularly useful when several schools within an academy trust use the same network setup.
Further guidance on filtering and monitoring is available from the Department for Education.
We’ve worked with the London Borough of Barnet since 2001, supporting cabling and network projects across more than 130 schools. That includes small jobs in individual classrooms as well as larger upgrades involving new fibre, cabinets and wireless access points.
Our school work isn’t limited to London. We’ve also carried out installations in Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and other parts of the country.
Many schools now have whole classes using laptops or tablets at the same time. A classroom with 30 devices puts more demand on the Wi-Fi than one where only the teacher needs a connection.
When planning an upgrade, we check how many devices will be used and where. We also look at the existing cabling, switches and fibre links to see whether anything needs replacing.
We’ve completed school projects with more than 100 access points, including new Cat6a cabling and OM4 fibre between network cabinets. These larger jobs are usually planned around school holidays so the work can be finished before pupils return.
If a school is having problems with its Wi-Fi, we can visit the site and look at what’s installed. We’ll check the existing cabling, cabinets and access points, and discuss what the school wants to improve.
This first visit and discussion are free. It gives us a chance to understand the job and advise on what might be needed.
For larger projects, we can carry out a more detailed survey using Ekahau. This helps us check wireless coverage, find areas with a weak signal and work out where access points should be installed.
We can also carry out a cabling and fibre audit. This is useful in older schools where the network has been changed or extended several times. We may find cables that need replacing, cabinets that are full or fibre links that are no longer suitable.
Detailed Ekahau surveys and network audits are chargeable. The cost can often be included in the price of the installation if the school decides to go ahead.
We’ll explain what we’ve found and what we think needs doing. This might be a small change to the existing network or a larger upgrade involving new cabling, fibre and access points.
We can then provide a quotation for the work. If a school pays for a detailed survey, it can also use the results with another installer or its own IT company. There’s no obligation to have us carry out the installation.
It really depends on what’s already there. If the cabling is in good condition, the school might only need a few new access points. If the network is older, there could be fibre and cabling to replace as well. We’d normally visit the school first, have a look at what’s needed and then put a price together.
Yes, and that’s when we do a lot of our school work. We’ve completed installations during summer holidays, Easter, Christmas and half-term breaks. It gives us better access to classrooms and means we’re not trying to work around lessons. Smaller jobs can sometimes be done during term time.
A few access points might only take a day or two. Rewiring a whole school is a different matter. We’ve completed some fairly large installations during half-term, but it depends on the buildings, the amount of cabling and how easy it is to get around the site. We’ll agree a timetable before we start.
Of course. A lot of our work comes through IT companies that need someone to install the cabling and wireless equipment for their customers. We’re happy to work from their drawings or meet them at the school to plan the job. They can carry on managing the network once we’ve finished.
If there’s a problem with cabling or equipment we’ve installed, get in touch and we’ll look into it. Sometimes a Wi-Fi problem turns out to be a network setting rather than a cabling fault. If that’s the case, we can work with the school’s IT company to help find out what’s wrong.
We’ve carried out Wi-Fi and network cabling upgrades in primary and secondary schools across the UK. Here are three examples of the work we’ve completed.
The existing Wi-Fi and fibre network at Watford Boys needed upgrading to cope with more pupils using laptops and other devices throughout the school.
We installed a new OM4 fibre backbone, Cat6a cabling and over 120 wireless access points across the site. The work was carried out during the Easter and summer holidays, when we could get into classrooms and other areas without disrupting lessons.
We also carry out data cabling installations in Watford and the surrounding areas.
Knockhall Primary had problems with Wi-Fi coverage and older cabling that needed replacing.
We installed 41 wireless access points, along with Cat6a cabling and OM4 fibre connecting three network cabinets.
The whole installation was completed during a two-week half-term break, ready for the school to reopen.
George Dixon School needed its network infrastructure upgraded across several buildings.
We installed 88 wireless access points connected through ten network cabinets, with new Cat6a cabling and OM4 fibre links.
The work was completed over the Christmas holidays, with the school able to return to normal at the start of term.
We also provide data cabling services in Birmingham for schools and commercial buildings.