If you work in a school, you’ve probably heard mention of the DfE’s digital and technology standards. But what exactly are they, who do they apply to, and what do you actually need to do? In this guide, we’ll walk through all seven standards in plain language and help you understand where your school stands.

What Are the DfE Digital & Technology Standards?

The Department for Education (DfE) published a set of digital and technology standards to help schools make good technology decisions. They’re designed to ensure that every school has a safe, reliable, and well-managed IT environment — one that supports teaching, learning, and safeguarding.

These standards apply to all state-funded schools in England, including academies, free schools, and maintained schools. While they’re framed as guidance rather than legislation, they set clear expectations — and Ofsted inspectors are increasingly aware of them.

The 7 Standards Explained

1. Broadband

Your school’s internet connection needs to be fast enough and reliable enough to support everyday use — video calls, cloud platforms, online assessments, and more. The DfE recommends a minimum bandwidth based on pupil numbers and expects schools to have a connection that can handle peak demand without grinding to a halt.

What to do: Check your current broadband speed and compare it to the DfE’s recommended thresholds. If you’re on an older contract, it may be worth reviewing what’s available in your area.

2. Filtering and Monitoring

This is one of the most scrutinised areas. Schools must have appropriate filtering to block harmful content and monitoring to flag concerning online behaviour. These are separate requirements — you need both.

What to do: Ensure your filtering solution meets the DfE’s standards and that your monitoring system provides actionable alerts to your Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). Review your setup at least annually.

3. Cyber Security

Schools hold a great deal of sensitive data — pupil records, medical information, safeguarding files. The DfE expects schools to take cyber security seriously, with measures like firewalls, antivirus software, regular patching, and staff awareness training.

What to do: Consider working towards Cyber Essentials certification. It’s a practical framework that aligns well with what the DfE expects.

4. Servers and Cloud

The DfE encourages schools to move away from ageing on-site servers towards cloud-based solutions where appropriate. Cloud platforms like Microsoft 365 offer better resilience, easier management, and built-in security features.

What to do: Audit your current server infrastructure. If you’re running critical services on old hardware, start planning a migration path to the cloud.

5. Network Switches

Your network switches are the backbone of your school’s wired connections. Outdated or unmanaged switches can cause slow speeds, security vulnerabilities, and reliability issues. The DfE expects schools to have modern, managed switches that support your network needs.

What to do: Check the age and capability of your network switches. If they’re more than seven or eight years old, they’re likely due for replacement.

6. Devices

Schools need a device strategy — enough devices for staff and pupils, kept up to date, and properly managed. The DfE’s guidance covers everything from procurement to lifecycle management.

What to do: Create a device register if you don’t have one. Know what you have, how old it is, and when it’s due for replacement. Use a device management platform (like Microsoft Intune) to keep everything patched and secure.

7. Leadership and Governance

Technology decisions shouldn’t sit solely with the IT technician. The DfE expects school leaders and governors to be actively involved in technology strategy, budgeting, and oversight. Someone at leadership level should own the school’s digital strategy.

What to do: Ensure your governing body includes technology on its agenda at least termly. Appoint a named governor or senior leader with responsibility for IT.

Why These Standards Matter

Meeting these standards isn’t just about ticking boxes. Schools that align with the DfE’s expectations tend to have fewer IT disruptions, stronger safeguarding, and better outcomes from their technology investment. They’re also better prepared for Ofsted’s increasing interest in how technology supports safeguarding.

Where to Start

If this feels overwhelming, don’t worry — you don’t have to do everything at once. Start with a gap analysis: compare where you are now against each standard and prioritise the areas with the biggest risks. Filtering and monitoring, cyber security, and broadband are usually the best places to begin.

We’ve put together a detailed breakdown of the DfE standards and how we help schools meet them on our DfE Standards page. If you’d like a no-obligation conversation about where your school stands, we’re always happy to help.

Getting your technology foundations right makes everything else easier — from safeguarding to classroom teaching. These standards are a solid framework to guide you there.

What Are the DfE Digital & Technology Standards? A Guide for Schools