Background information on the broadband network and advice on the development of services.

A few schools have made enquiries recently about providing Internet based services to pupils and their families. Unfortunately in one or two cases decisions on doing this appear to have been made without reference to Broadband Sandwell or the security design of our private network, and has created some difficulties. Schools are advised to contact us to discuss their requirements. In almost all cases the business requirements of each school may be accommodated, however this may need to be implemented in a way that differs from what might be initially envisaged by a school's own technical team.

Schools should note that they do not have a broadband connection to the Internet, rather they have a connection to a local private network which is connected to a regional private network. Through the latter we receive Internet services. This approach ensures that schools have access to the emerging 'National Education Network'. In practice this means that Internet traffic from users based at home have access only to the Broadband Sandwell data centre (or 'server farm') which is the interface of our local private network but they do not have direct access to systems located in their school or anywhere else on the network.

In order for schools to offer additional services that will be accessible from pupils' homes, the fileservers hosting these services should be located within the data centre and not within the school. This has the additional benefit of placing the equipment in a highly secure and managed environment, namely the Sandwell Council House computer room. The management of the services and servers can still be undertaken by a schools' own staff - remotely, on-line, it is only servers that are physically hosted elsewhere; therefore control remains with the school. This for example, is how the Shireland Learning Gateway is implemented.

Most High Schools are identifying the provision of access to school work from home as a main priority for both staff and pupils. This function along with email (MS Outlook) can be provided by the Shireland Learning Gateway, which all High Schools have subscribed to and this may be offered to Primary Schools next year. If an different solution is required then please contact us.

It should be noted also that there is a powerful Video conferencing management system within the network called Click2Meet, and this is linked to regional and national systems. Schools should not invest in their own conference management systems because not only is it unnecessary but there is the risk that they will be incompatible with regional and national implementations. There is concern being expressed by some national bodies that schools are investing unnecessarily video conference management units. Training courses in the use of the Broadband Sandwell Video conferencing system are being offered.

ICT systems on school networks should comply with local and national standards and schema. There is an IP addressing scheme for the Sandwell network which should be accomodated on all school networks and there is a Video Conferencing H.323 addressing scheme (E164) which needs to implemented in schools that use H323 compliant video-conferencing systems so they may link regionally and nationally with other users.

All schools are strongly advised to seek advice from Broadband Sandwell before planning or purchasing equipment or services that rely upon the broadband network. We cannot guarantee to be able to accomodate every system but if schools seek our advice early we will consult with our service provider to identify the best possible means of meeting their requirements.

Schools are reminded that their use of the broadband network is subject to the terms and conditions of the 'code of connect', which all schools signed prior to receiving connections. The broadband equipment (the switch & router) in your school should not be used for any other purposes - this is for reasons of future expansion and the management of the quality of service. Under no circumstances should schools connect separate ADSL or ISDN connections to the school network as this will compromise the security of the network and may cause other problems .