News: Connect-IP helps historic school move into the 21st century

A historic West Yorkshire school has continued its transformation into a 21st century facility thanks to the IT expertise of Connect-IP in Rotherham.

The Brooksbank School Sports College in Elland, whose history stretches as far back as 1712, worked during the summer to improve its access control systems to prevent unauthorised entry into the campus for the start of the new school term.

More than 1,600 students attend Brooksbank, along with 110 teaching staff and a further 100 support staff. The new system, by the Wales Bar company, includes eight new access controls to the outer entrances of the large campus.

It is the first school building project for Connect-IP, which is looking at the education market to showcase their expertise in IT cabling infrastructure and surveillance equipment.

Mark Richardson, director at Connect-IP, said: "Every school must assess the usefulness of its security systems, whether it is a new build or an old one. Brooksbank was suffering real frustration with their existing access control system it was too rigid and inflexible.

"Administrating it had become difficult and inconvenient. Our new control system is networked to enable it to be managed from anywhere in the school with the appropriate permission. It is more efficient and will be adaptable to new technologies and future developments, improving the longevity of the system."

Jane Blackburn, school administrator at Brooksbank School, added: "As with all large scale public buildings controlling access is the upmost importance and through the support of Connect-IP, we now have the technology to provide a modern facility to both students and teachers.

"Having the new system in place will now mean that the only entrance for visitors into the school is through reception where they can be properly registered and accounted for. It can be used both in and out of school hours and will be controlled by the administration and premises team."

Staff and sixth formers will be provided with access swipe cards which double up as identity badges to allow them entry to any area of the school.

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