DfE Digital and Technology Standards 2030
What the standards mean for your school.
Six standards, covering everything from broadband to cyber security, to be met by 2030. Most schools haven’t looked at them yet, and there’s no reason to panic if you’re one of them. Planned properly with inTEC, this is manageable. Start with the DfE’s free self-assessment, then we’ll turn what it tells you into a costed plan.
What the standards are.
The DfE has set six core standards every school and college should be working towards by 2030. They
apply to independent schools as well as state schools, and they’ve changed more than once since
publication. The wireless requirements were updated in April 2026, and the cyber security standard was
updated in June 2026 to align with Cyber Essentials 2026.
Broadband
A connection fast and reliable enough for how the school actually uses it.
Wireless network
Coverage that works everywhere it needs to, built to current standards rather than whatever was installed last time.
Network switching
The switching underneath the Wi-Fi, which is where most connectivity problems actually live.
Digital leadership and governance
Someone accountable for technology at leadership level, with a plan rather than a reaction.
Filtering and monitoring
Safeguarding requirements that feed directly into your DSL reviews.
Cyber security
Annual risk assessment, account and access controls, anti-malware and firewalls, backups, licensing and incident reporting.
The DfE also says clearly that IT support can be internal, external or hybrid, and that your provider should
be helping you meet these standards. If yours hasn’t raised them with you, that’s worth asking about.
Roadmap
The journey to full compliance.
Nobody meets all six at once, and nobody expects you to. Planned properly, the work fits into budget cycles you already have. This is roughly how it looks, though every school starts from a different place.
2026
Find out where you stand
With a commitment to exceptional education, Sweethaven and Rivanet join forces to create inTEC Education Services Limited – a new brand within the inTEC Group.
2027
Fix what’s exposed
Cyber security and filtering first, because that’s where the risk sits and where the standards have moved most recently.
2028
Rebuild the foundations
Switching, cabling and wireless, staged block by block so nothing stops while it happens.
2029
Connectivity and resilience
Broadband, failover and the things that keep the school running when something goes wrong.
2030
Governance and keeping it there
Digital leadership embedded, an annual review cycle in place, and a plan for what comes next.
Find out
where you stand.
Start with the DfE’s free self-assessment. Then we’ll turn what it tells you into a costed, staged plan
you can take to your governors.