Independent Technology Consultancy for Schools and MATs
Technology in schools moves fast, and it doesn't always come with a clear instruction manual. Whether you need help building a digital strategy, understanding the risks of AI in your school, or working through a long-term IT plan, we're here to help you make sense of it. Our consultancy work covers the things that don't fit neatly into an audit or a procurement project - but matter just as much.
Truly Independent Advice
Proven Expertise
Clear, Practical Guidance
The Requirement
Does Your School Have a Digital Technology Strategy?
The Department for Education expects all schools to have a clear, documented digital technology strategy in place, reviewed annually and supported by a named Digital Lead.
However, many schools and trusts are operating without a formal strategy or without clear ownership. This creates gaps in planning, limits budget control, and makes it difficult to demonstrate to governors and trustees that technology decisions are aligned with a defined vision.
Without a structured approach, schools risk reactive spending, inconsistent systems, and missed opportunities to improve teaching, learning, and operational efficiency.
At TGE Solutions, we support schools and MATs in developing robust, practical digital strategies. Whether starting from scratch or refining an existing plan, we take a structured approach—assessing your current position, defining your long-term objectives, and mapping out a realistic, deliverable roadmap.
Our digital strategy support includes:
- Reviewing your current provision against the DfE Digital Technology Standards
- Developing a clear, prioritised technology roadmap
- Budget planning for upgrades, renewals, and future investment
- Ongoing annual reviews to ensure your strategy remains current and effective
The Risk
AI in Schools:
Managing Risk, Unlocking Opportunity
Artificial intelligence is already being used across schools, often without formal oversight. Staff are exploring tools such as ChatGPT, students are experimenting independently, and while the Department for Education has issued guidance, many schools are still unclear on how to respond in practice.
This creates real and immediate risks. The use of AI platforms to process certain data can lead to breaches of UK GDPR if not properly managed. Without clear policies and controls, schools are left exposed, with staff and students making decisions without consistent guidance.
At TGE Solutions, we deliver practical AI workshops tailored for schools and MATs. These sessions are designed to demystify AI, address compliance concerns, and provide clear, actionable guidance on how to adopt these technologies safely and effectively.
Our focus is not just on understanding AI, but on ensuring your school has the right frameworks in place before it becomes embedded in day-to-day practice.
Workshop topics include:
- Understanding data protection and GDPR risks when using AI tools
- Interpreting DfE guidance and what it means in practice
- Developing a clear, fit-for-purpose AI usage policy
- Identifying where AI can genuinely support teaching, administration, and learning - safely and responsibly
The Document
Building a Robust IT Risk Register
An IT risk register is one of the most valuable governance tools a school or trust can have—yet it is often overlooked or deprioritised.
A well-structured register provides leadership teams with a clear, consolidated view of technology risks: where they exist, how significant they are, and what controls or actions are in place to manage them. For Multi-Academy Trusts, it also plays a critical role in demonstrating to trustees and governors that IT risk is being actively identified, assessed, and managed across both trust and school levels.
Without this visibility, risks can go unmanaged, accountability becomes unclear, and strategic decision-making is weakened.
At TGE Solutions, we work with you to develop an IT risk register that is tailored to your environment—aligned to your infrastructure, systems, and operational priorities. The result is a practical, working document that supports ongoing risk management and informed leadership decisions, rather than a generic template that quickly becomes outdated or unused.
The Support
Project Support
Not every technology project follows a clear or structured path. Schools and trusts are often partway through initiatives such as cloud migrations or multi-site infrastructure reviews, and require independent input to ensure everything is progressing as it should.
At TGE Solutions, we provide expert support at any stage of a project. Whether you need a second opinion before committing to a strategic decision or reassurance that an existing plan is on track, we offer objective, practical guidance.
We can review current plans, assess technical and operational risks, and identify any gaps or concerns that could impact delivery. Our focus is on ensuring projects are aligned with best practices, properly scoped, and completed successfully.
If a project doesn’t feel fully in control or you need additional confidence in the approach being taken, an independent review can provide clarity and direction at a critical stage.
What Schools Say
Trusted by Schools Across the UK
Common Questions About Working with Us
Questions We're Often Asked About Consultancy
Yes. The DfE requires all schools to have one in place, with a named digital lead responsible for reviewing it at least annually. Many schools we speak to haven’t yet put one together, or have one that hasn’t been looked at in years. This is something we can help you with.
Yes, and a fair amount of our consultancy work is at MAT level. Things like digital strategy reviews and IT risk registers are particularly valuable across a trust, where you need a clear picture of how technology is being managed centrally and at the individual school level.
Absolutely. We’re used to coming into projects at different stages. If something is already in progress and you’d like a second opinion, or you need help getting it over the line, just get in touch, and we’ll work out the best way to help.
Each project is scoped and priced individually, because no two schools are in exactly the same position. We’ll always be clear about what’s involved and what it will cost before any work begins.