Strategic ICT Support
What is Strategic ICT?
Strategic ICT is about ensuring the equipment and software that you choose to invest in, properly fulfils a need and most importantly has a place helping you achieve your long-term vision for teaching and learning.
It’s all too easy to hear about something amazing or see a new piece of EdTech at BETT and envisage doing great things with that in your school. But if you don’t first ensure you have the right equipment, infrastructure, software platforms and importantly teacher training in place, then that great idea can easily suffer a false start and become a wasted investment, used by and benefiting just a few.
Why do we need Strategic ICT?
It’s hard to underestimate the impact technology is having on teaching, learning and the way schools operate generally. There is an “IT First” approach to problem saving now that does not come naturally to everyone. There are very real costs associated with IT, both in terms of money and time so it’s important to make smart choices and get things right the first time.
With so many options available it takes someone with experience to define the infrastructure, software, services, devices and even training best suited to reach a vision. Knowing what’s possible, plausible and even affordable can help steer that vision and ensure that you end up with an all-encompassing IT solution that is fit for purpose and affordable to maintain.
And it’s not all about tech, your pedagogy is just as important to take into account, whether it’s finding solutions to suit existing practice, or solutions that help shape new practices, everything must be taken into account for a successful solution. From the senior leadership team to the teachers we can work closely with everyone to help develop strategies that can drive your vision and help develop your leaning environments.
What does this service include?
Everyone’s needs are different, maybe you have an expert that just needs a little additional support or perhaps you are looking for help all the way from developing to implementing a vision. We can provide as much or little support as you need. Just contact us to find out how we can help.
A great place to start is our Computing and Strategic ICT Support Service. This is a baseline bundle designed to help you achieve your ICT Vision and support your ICT /Computing Coordinator.
Some of the benefits included in a Computing and Strategic IT package are:
- Strategic planning meeting with SLT and/or ICT Leader
- Access to our Termly computing coordinator meetings, which are designed to foster collaborative working and knowledge sharing directly between schools.
- Regular updates and tips delivered to your ICT/ Computing Leader
- Remote support and advice for your learning platform- Includes: Google for Education, J2e, Office365, Fronter, FrogOS and Edmodo
- Access to Governor awareness training
- 15% reduction on attendance at our CPD training sessions
- Strategic planning meeting with SLT and/or ICT Leader
- Regular updates and tips delivered to your ICT/ Computing Leader
Why should I choose Cygnet?
Cygnet has over 25-year experience supporting schools and MAT’s in their ICT development and strategy. Our skilled and knowledgeable team have worked with schools at every stage of their journey and understand the difficulty that comes with making technology-based decision in schools and MAT’s. With our help, you can bring your school ICT vision to life with less stress, and fewer hurdles and roadblocks.
Get in touch today to explore how we can help you achieve more with our technical support for
Rapid response and on-screen support was incredibly helpful. You have a great team working very hard clearly.
Rapid response and on-screen support was incredibly helpful. You have a great team working very hard clearly.
– April 2024
Alison is always very helpful. I don’t know where I’d be without her!
Alison is always very helpful. I don’t know where I’d be without her!
– April 2024
Very attentive and patient. Problem resolved perfectly. Thankyou.
Very attentive and patient. Problem resolved perfectly. Thankyou.
– April 2024
Very helpful advice on the phone, offering ideas for how I could access the info I wanted.
Very helpful advice on the phone, offering ideas for how I could access the info I wanted.
– March 2024
Alison M has been amazingly helpful with my MANY census queries! Thank you so much for your patience.
Alison M has been amazingly helpful with my MANY census queries! Thank you so much for your patience.
– March 2024
This was the first time we set up a (new user) account under our new IT provider and it was very simple and worked first time…
This was the first time we set up a (new user) account under our new IT provider and it was very simple and worked first time. This was refreshing… Thank you for making it simple.
– March 2024
Super quick response, Alison was very helpful.
Super quick response, Alison was very helpful.
– February 2024
Cygnet support team have always gone over and above to support me and my queries…
Cygnet support team have always gone over and above to support me and my queries. Our new technician for the school is very quick at responding to any problems we have come across in the school on site. I have developed a really good communication system with him, where I table to go through issues with him and know they will get sorted.
– February 2024
Ryan dealt very efficiently with the query and provided an instant solution. Great work as always.
Ryan dealt very efficiently with the query and provided an instant solution. Great work as always.
– February 2024
Always extremely helpful and pleasant service. Quick to respond and answer questions.
Always extremely helpful and pleasant service. Quick to respond and answer questions.
– January 2024
Everyone is always so helpful and pleasant to deal with
Everyone is always so helpful and pleasant to deal with.
– January 2024
Cygnet resolved the issue very quickly, and was really helpful on the phone, thank you!
Cygnet resolved the issue very quickly, and was really helpful on the phone, thank you!
– January 2024
Alison M was friendly, efficient and made sure my query was fully resolved. Very helpful.
Alison M was friendly, efficient and made sure my query was fully resolved. Very helpful.
– December 2023
Great support, as always. Thank you.
Great support, as always. Thank you.
– December 2023
Sarah is always so helpful and goes above and beyond to help. Thank you.
Sarah is always so helpful and goes above and beyond to help. Thank you.
– December 2023
I am very thankful for the incredible help provided
I am very thankful for the incredible help provided.
– December 2023
Alison was extremely helpful and knowledgeable resolving my Bromcom issue
Alison was extremely helpful and knowledgeable resolving my Bromcom issue.
– November 2023
Quick friendly and professional
Quick friendly and professional.
– November 2023
Cygnet were assisting a third party with providing a backup of data and did their part very efficiently
Cygnet were assisting a third party with providing a backup of data and did their part very efficiently.
– November 2023
Ryan was excellent – he dealt with the issue and followed up until the ticket was closed.
Ryan was excellent – he dealt with the issue and followed up until the ticket was closed.
– October 2023
Strong subject knowledge to be able to provide me appropriate support for my query
Strong subject knowledge to be able to provide me appropriate support for my query – jovial and friendly manner. Thank you.
– October 2023
‘Nothing is too much for Chris. He goes above and beyond to help us with our queries. He is very flexible and addresses things at short notice. He has also solved issues with potential technical problems as and when they arise. He has been an incredibly approachable to us.
‘Nothing is too much for Chris. He goes above and beyond to help us with our queries. He is very flexible and addresses things at short notice. He has also solved issues with potential technical problems as and when they arise. He has been incredibly approachable to us.
– October 2023
Always a great service also love the fact that we can speak on the phone or remote on.
Always a great service also love the fact that we can speak on the phone or remote on.
– September 2023
Fantastic support from the team as usual. Thank you for resolving this issue with InVentry.
Fantastic support from the team as usual. Thank you for resolving this issue with InVentry.
– September 2023
Simon was extremely patient and helpful with resolving my query and supported me through the steps with ease.
Simon was extremely patient and helpful with resolving my query and supported me through the steps with ease.
– September 2023
Simon was a star, as usual!
Simon was a star, as usual!
– August 2023
I’d like to personally think Andy for being so patient and helpful..
I’d like to personally think Andy for being so patient and helpful; continually trying to resolve my printer issues and really making a huge effort to ensure that the problem was resolved after my profile was finally recreated. He was, at all times understanding, helpful and persistent – looking for ways to help me! Thanks again.
– August 2023
Alison M was brilliant, patient and amazing with helping me.
Alison was brilliant, patient and amazing with helping me.
– August 2023
Very helpful and patient member of staff. Thanks for helping me so swiftly.
Very helpful and patient member of staff. Thanks for helping me so swiftly.
– July 2023
Zoe is so patient and gets to the bottom of any issues
Zoe is so patient and gets to the bottom of any issues.
– July 2023
Always so prompt and helpful. Thank you.
Always so prompt and helpful. Thank you.
– July 2023
Comprehensive and easy instructions as always.
Comprehensive and easy instructions as always. Very helpful refresher course too.
– June 2023
Really quick effective response from my inquiry
Really quick effective response from my inquiry.
– June 2023
Andy K went above and beyond at very short notice
Andy K went above and beyond at very short notice
– June 2023
Alison M was very efficient and followed up on the FMS query straightaway and kept me informed.
Alison M was very efficient and followed up on the FMS query straightaway and kept me informed.
– May 2023
This request was sorted very quickly, thank you.
This request was sorted very quickly, thank you.
– May 2023
Very clear and helpful support from Alison S, thank you.
Very clear and helpful support from Alison S, thank you.
– May 2023
Very impressed with the service and experience…
Very impressed with the service and experience. Ryan was patient and solved it for me with few steps over the phone and a couple of clicks in remote access. Fantastic work!
– April 2023
Zoe was great, and my questions were all answered.
Zoe was great, and my questions were all answered.
– April 2023
Dealt with my enquiry really quickly and efficiently.
Dealt with my enquiry really quickly and efficiently.
– April 2023
Ryan was very quick to respond and offered a solution I didn’t think was possible. He then solved the problem quickly for us.
Ryan was very quick to respond and offered a solution I didn’t think was possible. He then solved the problem quickly for us.
– March 2023
Kat is always so helpful and knowledgeable. She is also very patient.
Kat is always so helpful and knowledgeable. She is also very patient!
– March 2023
Dealt with my enquiry really quickly and efficiently.
Dealt with my enquiry really quickly and efficiently.
– March 2023
Simon was able to provide a solution on multiple levels as this was a very complex problem
Thank you, Simon, for helping me with a very complex parent mail data import issue. Simon was able to provide a solution on multiple levels as this was a very complex problem. Many thanks, Simon, and Cygnet Team.
– February 2023
Fabulous staffing team. Nothing is ever trivial or too much.
Fabulous staffing team. Nothing is ever trivial or too much.
– February 2023
Always a professional and helpful service
Always a professional and helpful service
– February 2023
Simon is very helpful
Simon is very helpful
– February 2023
My issue was resolved so quickly, and the manner was so calm
My issue was resolved so quickly, and the manner was so calm. The person who helped was brilliant!
– January 2023
Excellent service from start to finish. Thank You.
Excellent service from start to finish. Thank You.
– January 2023
Great service every time
Great service every time
– January 2023
The service was quick, fast and efficient
The service was quick, fast and efficient
– December 2022
Alison was very helpful and understanding
Alison M was very helpful and understanding
– December 2022
I always find that the Cygnet helpdesk team are friendly, supportive and go the extra mile to try and help resolve any issues however minor or trivial
I always find that the Cygnet helpdesk team are friendly, supportive and go the extra mile to try and help resolve any issues, however minor or trivial. Even at their busiest times, you are never made to feel rushed or that you are in any way wasting their time. Thank you to the team.
– November 2022
Zoe is amazing! Always solves my queries.
Zoe is amazing! Always solves my queries.
– November 2022
Very clear demonstration and Sarah was able to answer our questions
Very clear demonstration and Sarah was able to answer our questions
– October 2022
Quick service and very informative
Quick service and very informative
– October 2022
Ryan was very helpful and efficient
Ryan was very helpful and efficient
– October 2022
Sarah always provides excellent and professional service. So easy to follow via telephone.
Sarah always provides excellent and professional service. So easy to follow via telephone.
– September 2022
Ryan provided a first-class service, quick and responsive to request including coming up with a very helpful and cost-effective solution when we encountered an unexpected problem
Ryan provided a first-class service, quick and responsive to request, including coming up with a very helpful and cost-effective solution when we encountered an unexpected problem. He kept me informed at every stage, which was much appreciated. Thank you.
– September 2022
Very quick, professional and warmth from David! Many thanks.
Very quick, professional and warmth from David! Many thanks.
– September 2022
I believe staff who I speak with are very patient and understanding. Thank you!
I believe staff who I speak with are very patient and understanding. Thank you!
– August 2022
As always, a very quick and successful outcome. Team always helpful.
As always, a very quick and successful outcome. Team always helpful.
– August 2022
I always have great faith in the Cygnet team that someone will know the answer to my query
I always have great faith in the Cygnet team that someone will know the answer to my query.
– July 2022
Thank you, Andy, for working around my timetable and resolving quickly
Thank you, Andy, for working around my timetable and resolving quickly.
July 2022
My question was quickly resolved by Zoe, very happy with the service
My question was quickly resolved by Zoe, very happy with the service.
July 2022
Matt was excellent in resolving this issue. What more to say but thank you!
Matt was excellent in resolving this issue. What more to say but thank you!
July 2022
Extremely quick response to my raised ticket
Extremely quick response to my raised ticket.
– June 2022
Simon was great, resolved my problem quickly, thank you.
Simon was great, resolved my problem quickly, thank you.
– June 2022
My problem was quickly resolved and explained clearly
My problem was quickly resolved and explained clearly to me, so now I know what to do. Thank you.
– June 2022
Really helpful and managed to solve issue swiftly
Really helpful and managed to solve issue swiftly.
– June 2022
Excellent support throughout the whole process
Excellent support throughout the whole process and the team worked around when it was suitable for me, in order to access my computer. Very grateful for their help.
– May 2022
Sarah and Kat were most helpful in looking at all avenues for my merge report difficulties
Sarah and Kat were most helpful in looking at all avenues for my merge report difficulties. They were both patient and supportive. I am grateful, as ever, for the assistance your guys provide.
– May 2022
I had a difficult problem. Marc and Ryan helped me, and they were good at explaining every step.
I had a difficult problem, Marc and Ryan helped me, and they were good at explaining every step.
– May 2022
Simon was helpful, friendly, and saved me loads of work – Thank you!
Simon was helpful, friendly, and saved me loads of work – Thank you!
– April 2022
Thank you to Simon and the rest of the team – always ready to help
Thank you to Simon and the rest of the team – always ready to help.
– April 2022
David was very quick to set up the account and answer my supplementary questions – excellent service. Thank you.
David was very quick to set up the account and answer my supplementary questions – excellent service. Thank you.
– April 2022
Extremely helpful and friendly service resolved my issue immediately
Extremely helpful and friendly service resolved my issue immediately.
– April 2022
Marc was super friendly and helpful and resolved my issue with professionalism
Marc was super friendly and helpful and resolved my issue with professionalism.
– March 2022
Incredible levels of professionalism and efficiency as always
Incredible levels of professionalism and efficiency as always.
– February 2022
Jess was very kind and welcoming, and explained each chapter with great detail
Jess was very kind and welcoming, and explained each chapter with great detail.
– February 2022
The course was very clear and covered all the content needed
Very informative. The course was very clear and covered all the content needed.
– January 2022
First class service!
Your staff are so experienced and what they don’t know, they will find out and get back to you. First class service!
– January 2022
Am very happy every time I ring Cygnet.
Am very happy every time I ring Cygnet. You can always resolve my issues.
– January 2022
Really helpful and quick response
Really helpful and quick response.
– January 2022
Good joint work between Cygnet and TSI to find a resolution to situation with minimal disruption
Good joint work between Cygnet and TSI to find a resolution to situation with minimal disruption
– January 2022
Always a SUPERB SERVICE
Always a SUPERB SERVICE.
– December 2021
Simon and the SIMS support team is always fantastic.
Simon and the SIMS support team is always fantastic.
– December 2021
Friendly and speedy service to get the issue solved quickly.
Friendly and speedy service to get the issue solved quickly. Very helpful to use the chat option to liaise when the computer could be fixed without disrupting lessons. Saved the day!
– December 2021
Jessica is very knowledgeable in SIMS and was able to resolve my query in a matter of minutes
Jessica is very knowledgeable in SIMS and was able to resolve my query in a matter of minutes, ensuring I could get on with my job.
– December 2021
Kyla is absolutely fabulous, so knowledgeable
Kyla is absolutely fabulous, so knowledgeable and able to swiftly deal with technical issues that it enables me to keep to tight deadlines.
– December 2021
Simon is so helpful, friendly and a pleasure to work with
Simon’s visit was invaluable. Saved us a lot of headache and, as usual, Simon is so helpful, friendly and a pleasure to work with. Thank you.
– November 2021
Very helpful and professional
Very helpful and professional.
– November 2021
Really speedy and prompt response, thank you!
Really speedy and prompt response, thank you!
– November 2021
The service is always very good and very fast – always impressed!
The service is always very good and very fast – always impressed!
– November 2021
As always, a great support from Simon and Kat
Thank you. As always, a great support from Simon and Kat, and very much appreciated.
– October 2021
Excellent customer support
Always offer professional and friendly advice together with explanation of query. Excellent customer support.
– October 2021
Always so helpful and quick to respond
Always so helpful and quick to respond. So grateful for all the support Simon has given me in particular.
– October 2021
Very helpful as usual!
Very helpful as usual!
– October 2021
Very helpful
Zoe has been very helpful helping me resolve my query.
– September 2021
Helpful and extremely competent
Simon was really helpful and extremely competent to resolve the issue timely.
– September 2021
Very efficient and friendly
Fast, very efficient and friendly and sorted the problem within 20 minutes of me asking. Fantastic service.
– September 2021
So quick and helpful
“So quick and helpful.”
– August 2021
Always a great service
Always a great service. Thank you to all at the SIMS team. I can’t recommend your services enough.
-July 2021
Fast, very efficient, and friendly
Fast, very efficient, and friendly and sorted the problem within 20 minutes of me asking. Fantastic service.
– July 2021
Only provider who provides a near normal service
Definitely the only provider who provides a near normal service in the current environment.
– Jan 2021
1st class service
1st class service with nothing too much trouble. Thank you so much, you always ease my burden.
– Dec 2020
Excellent response and results
“Excellent response and results”
Excellent throughout the upgrade
“I would like to say that Giovanni and Julie were both excellent throughout the upgrade and managed to fit in with our restricted opening hours post lockdown and a few unexpected issues en route.”
So glad we have you
“The only company who seems to be able to support us in the current environment- so glad we have you”
Hard-working and dedicated teams
“Chris and Anton have worked really hard to ensure all bases have been covered and that the school has had minimal disruption. They clearly have a wealth of knowledge and a can do attitude, to go the extra mile, when needed.”
“Meeting some of the support team has enabled a great opportunity to enhance our working relationship and provide a greater understanding of the needs of the school. Your hard-working and dedicated teams (IT and SIMS) are clearly what gives Cygnet it’s USP, and they should be congratulated.”
Cygnet are friendly
“Cygnet are friendly, helpful and efficient, even when I probably ask the same questions over and over again. Their customer service is second to none.“
Always Extremely Helpful
“All members at Cygnet are always so helpful and knowledgeable. Thank you”
“Always extremely helpful, friendly and will go the extra mile to ensure everything is working for me.”
Friendly Service
“So lovely to have a friendly, cheerful person answer your questions and resolve them so speedily.”
Helpful and Happy
“Laura is great, always so helpful and happy”
“Think the whole team are doing an incredible job”
1st Class Support
“Cygnet support is always 1st class!”
Customers Are Priority
“Always helpful and issues resolved. I am very happy making contact with anyone at Cygnet, and the technician always makes me feel as I am a priority. Thank you”
Going the extra mile to meet customers needs
“We were so impressed with Ant and Giovanni’s product knowledge, attention to detail and offering to explain the process to us. Ant kindly took us through the processes and gave us an overview at the end to help improve our knowledge of the product”
Great Service; I always recommend Cygnet
At our School, the combination of knowledge and the personal touch that Cygnet provides is really valuable to us. I have been working with the team for many years and am pleased with the quality of service – we can get all the support we need for all our IT, delivered by staff who understand our pressures.
“I always recommend Cygnet to others as a service provider you can trust.”
Our great training feedback
The advice given was very useful and relevant.”
“As a newcomer, I found the whole event very educational and insightful.”
“Very professional feel to the event; well run, with the right number of attendees.”
Understanding issues and resolving them
I had previously worked with another SIMS team. After not receiving the service I felt we required, I moved to Cygnet. The problems I had been wanting addressed and resolved were rectified in the very first meeting…following this their work has continued to be excellent.
“I find all the staff to be approachable and polite. I am never made to feel that I am wasting time in asking questions.”
Good introduction to an important subject
92% of respondents rated our GDPR training course ‘Very Good’or ‘Excellent’ and said they were ‘Extremely likely’ or ‘Very likely’to recommend Cygnet training to others.
“The [GDPR] presenter was very knowledgable, and the pack provided was also very useful to pass on to colleagues back at school.”
Same excellent team, same excellent IT service
“I have been working with the team for many years and am pleased with the quality of service – we can get all the support we need for all our IT, delivered by staff who understand our pressures.”
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