Computeam unveils Compass platform to help UK schools track DfE digital standards

9 Mar

UK education IT provider introduces platform designed to help schools and multi-academy trusts review infrastructure, cybersecurity, and digital governance against national technology benchmarks.

UK education IT provider Computeam has launched Computeam Compass, a new management system designed to help schools and multi-academy trusts assess their progress against the Digital and Technology Standards set by the Department for Education.

Compass operates as a SaaS platform, allowing schools and trusts to access benchmarking tools, assign actions, and track progress against the standards through a single online dashboard.

The platform provides school leaders with a structured way to review digital infrastructure, identify gaps, and track progress across areas such as networks, cybersecurity, and filtering and monitoring. The launch comes as schools across England work toward meeting the government’s baseline expectations for technology provision.

What the DfE digital standards require

The Department for Education introduced the Digital and Technology Standards to define what a reliable, secure school IT environment should look like. The guidance sets out expectations for areas including broadband connectivity, wireless network coverage, servers and storage, cybersecurity protections, device management, and safeguarding systems such as filtering and monitoring.

The standards are intended to help schools build resilient digital infrastructure while protecting student data and supporting online learning.

The government expects schools to make progress toward meeting the core standards by 2030, placing increasing attention on how leadership teams oversee technology, security, and long-term digital planning.

Many schools still fall short of infrastructure benchmarks

Despite the national framework, many schools are reportedly still working toward meeting the standards. According to figures referenced by Computeam, only one in five schools reports meeting all infrastructure requirements. Within that group, 21 percent are primary schools and 18 percent are secondary schools.

Computeam Compass breaks the standards down into simplified guidance and suggested actions. Schools can record their current position, assign responsibilities, and track improvements over time.

The system can also be used across multi-academy trusts to create a consolidated view of digital infrastructure across multiple schools.

Mandi Jackson, Director of Education at Computeam, says: “The DfE’s digital and technology standards are an important step forward, but for many schools the challenge isn’t willingness - it’s understanding and organising. School and trust leaders tell us the same thing time and again: the digital expectations on them are growing, but the time and clarity they need to meet those expectations aren’t.”

She adds: “This isn’t another dashboard. It’s a practical guide for confident collaborative digital decision-making, built to reduce workload and give leaders the confidence that their organisation is moving in the right direction.”