Broadband Service Level Agreement
From April 2011
All schools in Northumberland are connected to the Internet for curriculum and Admin purposes through Broadband connections provided by NCC Information Services.
In the past the Harnessing Technology Grant has been central to the acquisition and ongoing provision of this Broadband Internet access to schools. This funding has been used to provide connectivity to schools through a number of approaches. The method of connection for schools around the County varies, largely due to the inability of the market to offer solutions available in other more urban authorities and for this reason the Council, with the support of One North East and the Northumberland Strategic Partnership implemented its NorthNet project.
Schools are now connected via either BT services managed by NCC or NCC NorthNet connections. These connections range from 2mb in bandwidth for smaller schools, through 10mb to 100mb in High schools.
From April 2011 the Harnessing Technology grant will cease. As a consequence the Local Authority consulted with the schools forum on how the current Internet services to schools will be maintained and funded.
It is proposed that from April 2011 schools be charged for the Broadband connection, Internet services and support at a level that reflects the cost and the bandwidth of the connection to each school.
The Broadband SLA on the Northumberland Courier website provides an overview of the costs to schools. These arrangements have been agreed with Schools forum after the consideration of a number of possible charging models and provide schools with what we believe is a fair and good value solution to the need for Internet access in school.
Charging model
It is proposed that schools will be charged a pro-rata cost which will be based on the actual costs of their level of bandwidth connection. This will be shared for all schools on that level of connection. This will provide a range of charges which are realistic, competitive with the market rate and accommodate the range of school sizes. Charges will include all current services – broadband connection, Internet Service Provision, web filtering, email, hosting & technical support for the broadband connection in school.
Charges grouped based on level of bandwidth connection:
| First & Primary schools – Bandwidth - 2.5mb | £2780 |
| First & Primary schools – Bandwidth - 10mb NorthNet | £4600 |
| Middle Schools – BT MetroVPN & Northnet 10mb connections | £4600 |
| Special Schools – 10 mb NorthNet connections | £4600 |
| High Schools – 100mb NorthNet | £11,000 |
SLA services
The Broadband SLA provides schools with the following services:
- Admin and curriculum broadband connectivity via secure Northumberland and Durham corporate networks.
- Internet Service Provision through an approved DfE schools broadband provider (Durhamnet).
- Filtered Internet access to Becta agreed standards.
Schools requiring websites blocking or unblocking should contact the Information Services Helpdesk to make requests. ICS.Helpdesk@northumberland.gov.uk - Technical support for Broadband connectivity issues.
Schools should report any technical issues to the Information Services Helpdesk to make requests. ICS.Helpdesk@northumberland.gov.uk - School website hosting.
Contact the Information Services Helpdesk for further information. ICS.Helpdesk@northumberland.gov.uk - Technical support for Trapeze wireless networks in schools.
Schools should report any technical issues to the Information Services Helpdesk.
ICS.Helpdesk@northumberland.gov.uk
SLA issues
Providing Broadband connectivity to schools through an optional SLA, raises a number of issues:
- Because of the complexity of the connectivity around County it is difficult to balance fairness of charging with schools size and actual cost of service.
- Secure admin services are currently provided on a closed network to all schools via the admin connection. If a school was to opt out and no longer be connected on the secure network there are implications for Information Services on future provision and security of services. There may be costs and staffing implications for Information Services if a number of schools need supporting with ‘unique systems’.
- If schools opt out of the centralised service they would need to organise their own email systems and web hosting. Secure access to e-business has also been raised as an issue. There will be cost and capacity issues for schools in dealing with this, as well as security issues if schools opted for cheap web based ‘free’ solutions without regard for data protection.
- Perhaps the greatest issues centre around impact of individual schools opting out on the overall costs for those that remain and the management of transfer of services from NCC to a school. Current models are based on economies of scale with all schools buying in. If some schools opt out costs could potentially alter for others.
- Transfer of services from NCC is not a simple transaction. NCC have contracts with BT and for NorthNet maintenance which would need to be terminated. Schools cannot just ‘adopt’ and take on charges for a current line. BT require schools to ‘novate’ the line from one owner to another. This in effect means that schools would have to pay line installation charges before adopting a connection and managing themselves. BT also require 60 days lead in before a transfer can take place.
- Because of commitments to BT and NorthNet maintenance NCC Information Services would require 6 months notice in order to terminate services from them. This is necessary in order to cease current services and contracts and also for the school to arrange ‘installation’ of its own new services.
- Internet services from other providers may not be filtered and heads and governors would need to ensure that services into school meet DfE criteria.