Strengthening employee communication at Sandwich Technology School with BBPTT

Established in 1935, Sandwich Technology School has a long-standing tradition of educational excellence as a mixed secondary school catering to students aged 11 to 19. Recognised for its specialist technology college status, the school has a large campus that also supports a Sports and Leisure Centre, Tennis Courts, a floodlit Artificial Turf Pitch, and specialised studios and rooms for drama, science, and technology, alongside a construction centre.

Disconnected teams

Historically, communication among staff at Sandwich Technology School, especially those involved in behavioural management and security patrols, relied on analogue two-way radios, with no infrastructure. While functional, these radios had limited range across the whole estate leading to communication gaps, delayed responses and often broadcasted sensitive information publicly. This not only disrupted the learning environment but also compromised confidentiality. Additionally, the absence of features such as text messaging and private calling made it difficult for the staff to address sensitive or urgent matters efficiently, potentially escalating minor issues.

Smart and secure

To overcome these communication challenges, Sandwich Technology School opted for RugGear BBPTT smart devices, with Airsys.Cloud software from Radiocoms. They combine the benefits of radio push-to-talk with the flexibility of mobile technology by operating over mobile networks and/or Wi-Fi.

This decision effectively tackled the limitations of analogue handheld radios without requiring the school to allocate additional budget for infrastructure. Whilst the RugGear device may look like a cellular phone this device is built to IP68 to withstand drops and environmental conditions such as water. In addition, it offers user-defined customisation such as an emergency button, 4200 mAh battery to provide constant all-day power and the ability to support multiple apps, improving efficiencies and safeguarding measures.

Furthermore, the Airsys.Cloud A.Flex software app enhances the device’s functionality by offering priority and emergency calls, text and data messaging, and GPS tracking. This comprehensive communication approach ensures that staff can make informed decisions at all times with quick information exchanges therefore reducing response times.

Airsys.Cloud can easily scale to accommodate changes in communication requirements. Adding new users or making changes to the existing system is swift and takes minutes to apply via a cloud-based software.

Empowering staff with secure and dynamic communication

The implementation of GCaaS has brought about positive benefits to Sandwich Technology School, which has transformed their communication practices. A key benefit is the secure management of sensitive communications, which prevents accidental public broadcasts and allows staff to maintain discretion, especially in managing student behaviour or emergencies.

“ Our new communications system has made it much easier for our staff to collaborate, from heads of year to the patrol team. With the ability to make private calls and send secure text messages, we’re able to respond much faster and discretely, especially in urgent situations. Knowing we can add new features to these devices should we need too has given us the flexibility to adapt as our needs change. ”

Mark Mucklow, Network Services Manager

The user-friendly design and versatility of the RugGear devices have empowered their staff, encouraging more dynamic and proactive engagement in their roles, which enriches their working environment.