Connect the Classroom
Has your school been contacted by DfE?
Connect the Classroom is a Department for Education programme funding eligible schools to improve Wi-Fi and associated network infrastructure where existing provision does not meet current standards.
If your school has been contacted, Wave9 can help you understand what happens next and move the project through survey, design, approval and delivery.
For the 2026/27 programme, all work must be completed and final claims submitted by 26 February 2027.
From survey to completion
A Connect the Classroom project brings together network design, DfE technical and cost documentation, procurement, installation and handover, all within a fixed delivery window.
1. Survey and design
We assess your existing Wi-Fi environment, switching and cabling before designing a solution that meets DfE standards and fits your current infrastructure, network strategy and available funding
[Read the official DfE Connect the Classroom guidance]
2. Documentation and DfE approval
The proposed design and supplier costs must be submitted to DfE for approval before work can begin.
Wave9 prepares the technical design and supplier cost information needed for your submission, helping ensure the detail is accurate and supporting any queries or changes required during review.
3. Project management and installation
Once funding is approved, our project team coordinates the equipment, engineers, cabling, site access and installation timetable.
We work around the school calendar, keep everyone informed and manage the dependencies so your team is not left coordinating different suppliers or chasing progress.
4. Testing and handover
Once installation is complete, we test the network and provide the relevant handover, warranty and technical documentation.
The result is reliable infrastructure ready to support teaching, learning and the wider digital environment of the school.
Why Wave9?
Proven Connect the Classroom experience
Wave9 has delivered more than 90 successful Connect the Classroom projects since the programme began in 2021.
That experience gives our team a detailed understanding of DfE requirements, the documentation involved and the practical issues that can affect delivery.
Designed around your school
We design networks across primary, secondary, trust and FE environments.
Your project starts with what is already in place and what the school needs next. We can provide different technology and vendor options where appropriate, while ensuring the proposed solution meets DfE standards and fits the available budget.
The aim is infrastructure that works for the school, across classrooms, shared spaces, administration, safeguarding and cloud services.
Project management that takes ownership
Our project team manages the work from survey through to completion, coordinating the technical and practical detail and keeping the school informed throughout.
When something changes or a dependency causes a problem, we deal with it and keep the project moving.
A practical route to procurement
Schools and responsible bodies follow their own procurement procedures when selecting a Connect the Classroom supplier.
Wave9 can support competitive procurement and can also be procured through Everything ICT where appropriate, providing an established framework route for schools and trusts.
Connect the Classroom FAQs
What is Connect the Classroom?
Connect the Classroom is a Department for Education-funded programme helping eligible schools improve their Wi-Fi and associated network infrastructure.
Who is eligible for Connect the Classroom funding?
Schools receiving targeted support through the RISE programme are currently eligible, subject to the condition of their existing wireless infrastructure. DfE contacts eligible schools directly.
What can Connect the Classroom funding cover?
Funding can support Wi-Fi access points and associated networking infrastructure, including relevant switching, cabling, installation, configuration, testing and handover.
How does Wave9 support the DfE process?
Wave9 can survey the existing network, design the proposed solution and prepare the supplier-side technical and cost information needed for the school’s DfE submission. We then manage delivery once approval has been received.
Do we have to use a particular network manufacturer?
No. Wave9 can propose different vendor options where they meet DfE requirements, fit the available budget and make sense alongside your existing network strategy.
When must 2026/27 projects be completed?
All work must be completed and final claims submitted by 26 February 2027. Starting early gives more flexibility to complete surveys, approval and installation around the school calendar.
Been contacted about Connect the Classroom?
Tell us where you are in the process.
Whether you need an initial survey, a compliant network design or help getting an approved project delivered, our team can help you understand the next step.
We are available Monday to Friday 8am to 5:30pm.
01785 472 200
info@wave9.co.uk
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