Short notes on designing systems for use in schools

When designing applications and systems for schools two key aspects of the end user scenario need to be considered: the nature of enterprise networks and the impact of filtering systems. 
1.	Enterprise networks
Schools in the UK typically run enterprise style networks, comprising multiple VLANs, heavy security rules, often connected (especially in Multi-Academy Trusts) across some form of WAN with corporate strength proxy firewalls. This means that systems designed for consumer locations (e.g.: typical home networks) are unlikely to be able to function on a school network. For example, devices which require ethernet connection are very unlikely to be able to communicate with other devices in the network due to security protocols in place. 
2.	Filtering
Schools in England and Wales are required to have filtering systems in place. The government document Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE)…
(https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2 ) 
…mandates this and filtering is inspected by OfSTED. Failure to have adequate filtering would lead to schools failing their inspections. 
For further details see section 144 of KCSIE for details. KCSIE links to the UK Safer Internet Centre guide which provides specific details:
(https://saferinternet.org.uk/guide-and-resource/teachers-and-school-staff/appropriate-filtering-and-monitoring) 

What this means for design
Systems that assume consumer level connectivity may not work in school situations. Any changes to networks to allow new systems to work, such as port opening or filtering changes, are unlikely to be made as a change control process would be invoked and often school networks (especially the firewalls) are managed by third parties who charge for changes. Typically, if a system does not work out of the box then schools are unlikely to consider it.
In addition, assumptions that particular web services are available should not be made. For example, many schools block pupil access to websites such as YouTube through their filtering systems and changes to filtering policies are a potential safeguarding risk and would need to be carefully considered. 
To maximise the chances of applications working in schools, and thus any potential market, careful consideration needs to be made of the way schools manage their networks and associated security to ensure ease of deployment.