DfE Connect the Classroom: what schools need to know about the 2025-2030 £325 million Wi-Fi upgrade

Is Your School Eligible for the 2025-2030 DfE Connect the Classroom Funding?

Schools across England are being offered fully funded Wi-Fi upgrades through the Department for Education’s Connect the Classroom programme. As one of the suppliers already delivering the scheme, Tel Group is setting out exactly what it means for eligible schools and trusts.

What is DfE Connect the Classroom?

Connect the Classroom is a DfE-funded programme helping eligible schools in England upgrade their Wi-Fi access points and network switches to meet current connectivity standards. Where a school’s existing infrastructure falls below the DfE’s Wi-Fi connectivity standards, funding is made available to bring it up to spec at no cost to the school.

The aim is simple: strengthen connectivity in schools so pupils and staff can make effective use of digital learning platforms, cloud services and connected classroom technology.

£325 million committed between 2025 and 2030

The DfE has committed £325 million to Connect the Classroom across the 2025 to 2030 financial years, building on £215 million already invested between 2021 and 2025. It’s a significant, sustained investment aimed at closing the gap between schools with modern, reliable networks and those still working with ageing or unsupported infrastructure.

Who is eligible for funding?

The current phase is targeted at schools receiving support through the Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence (RISE) programme. Eligible schools are contacted directly by the DfE and receive funding where their existing network falls below the required Wi-Fi connectivity standards, which include:

• Wi-Fi 7 as the standard where an upgrade is required
• Reliable coverage throughout school buildings, and externally where needed
• Centralised wireless network management
• Security controls that prevent unauthorised access

The DfE is committed to narrowing the digital divide by 2030, and recommends Wi-Fi 7 as the minimum standard when replacing an underperforming or unsupported network. A well-designed solution, supported by suitable switches and cabling, can improve speed, capacity, coverage and reliability right across a school site.

Why the upgrade matters: Wi-Fi 7 benefits

For schools that qualify, the move to Wi-Fi 7 brings a number of practical benefits:

• Higher data rates for faster, more seamless connectivity
• Increased capacity to support more devices without slowdowns
• Lower latency, reducing lag for real-time applications
• More reliable connections, with stronger signal stability and fewer dropouts
• Optimised support for classroom technology, including interactive boards, laptops and PCs
• Stronger digital security, with WPA3 encryption
• Future-proofing for evolving digital and cloud needs

How the funding process works

Once a school has been contacted by the DfE, it can begin planning its fully funded wireless upgrade. The process runs in six stages:

1. Engagement — the DfE contacts eligible schools and requests a completed Network Asset Form detailing current Wi-Fi and cabling infrastructure.
2. Assessment — the DfE reviews the submission to confirm whether the school meets the minimum Wi-Fi standards. If eligible, a full site survey can be carried out to develop a custom solution.
3. Proposal — a tailored proposal and cost matrix is drawn up to meet the DfE’s funding criteria, ready for the school to review and share with its DfE advisor.
4. Procurement — the school selects a preferred supplier and submits the cost matrix to the DfE for final approval, at which point the DfE issues a funding agreement.
5. Delivery — the upgraded connectivity is planned, scheduled and installed to the agreed specification, with ongoing support and training.
6. Claim & Enjoy — the school submits an invoice to the DfE, which pays the responsible body, who in turn pays the supplier. The school can then enjoy its upgraded Wi-Fi 7 network.

Tel Group’s track record with Connect the Classroom

Since the DfE launched Connect the Classroom in 2021, Tel Group has secured £2.5 million in funding for more than 40 schools and trusts across England, spanning nurseries, primary and secondary schools, as well as multi-academy trusts of all sizes.

Many of these schools have gone on to become long-term partners, choosing Tel Group as their preferred supplier for a wider range of IT and connectivity services.

What schools are saying

“10 of the 18 schools in the LEARNERs’ Trust were eligible for the Connect the Classroom scheme. Having previously worked with Tel Group and spoken with other companies, we were confident that Tel was the right team for such a big task. From start to finish, communication was clear, and the Tel team provided excellent support.” — Tom Sheffield, Senior IT Support, The LEARNERs’ Trust

“Our partnership began through the DfE Connect the Classroom Scheme, where Tel completed a Wi-Fi upgrade at one of our eligible schools. Following their success, we confidently awarded them the Wi-Fi project for a second school and now partner with them on multiple ICT services.” — Sam Finch, Chief Finance and Operating Officer, Frank Field Education Trust

How Tel Group can help your school

If your school or trust has been contacted by the DfE about Connect the Classroom, Tel Group can support your funded upgrade end to end, from the free site survey and application through to a tailored proposal, delivery and aftercare. Our team specialises in wireless access points, network switches and supporting cabling designed to meet the DfE’s Wi-Fi 7 standards.

Get in touch to discuss your Connect the Classroom project!

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