PRESS RELEASE: Primary school ends years of WiFi outages with DfE-funded upgrade – while cutting hardware costs by at least 40–50%
“We’ve seen a 100% improvement in WiFi reliability.”
Angela Garner, then Headteacher at Moorland Primary School and Nursery
Moorland Primary School reports a 100% improvement in WiFi reliability after Clarion helps secure Connect the Classroom funding and delivers a new school-wide network.
London, UK – 24th September 2026
Moorland Primary School and Nursery in Milton Keynes has transformed its connectivity after years of unreliable WiFi, with a Department for Education-funded upgrade eliminating outages and dead spots across its three-building site.
The school reports a 100% improvement in WiFi reliability, with no outages reported since the new network was installed.
The project also achieved another significant result: hardware costs were at least 40–50% lower than comparable enterprise networking alternatives, using centrally managed TP-Link Omada technology.
For Moorland, the transformation followed several years of connectivity problems.
WiFi failures could last for hours and sometimes several days.
Coverage gaps meant staff had to move between areas of the school to find a reliable signal. The impact extended beyond teaching and administration: when connectivity failed, even the school’s phone system could stop working, disrupting calls and communications with parents.
The school knew an upgrade was needed but did not have the budget to fund the project itself. Previous efforts to secure Department for Education support had also been unsuccessful.
Moorland’s experience reflects a wider challenge. The Department for Education’s latest Connect the Classroom evaluation found that 53% of post-survey respondents experienced challenges during the Connect the Classroom process.
“The survey and planning gave us complete confidence – we knew it was going to work.”
Angela Garner
From funding challenges to a school-wide WiFi transformation
Clarion Communication Management subsequently supported Moorland through the funding process before carrying out a comprehensive survey and heatmapping exercise across the site.
The resulting network was designed around Moorland’s three buildings, classrooms, offices and outdoor learning areas rather than simply replacing existing equipment on a like-for-like basis.
The installation included strategically positioned WiFi access points, supporting network infrastructure and centralised management, with the work completed without disruption to teaching.
The project has eliminated previous WiFi dead spots and removed the time staff had been spending troubleshooting connectivity or relocating to find a usable signal.
“Connectivity is now seamless across the whole school, inside and out.”
Angela Garner
A timely issue for hundreds of schools
The Moorland project comes as the Department for Education expands investment in school connectivity.
A total of £325 million has been allocated to improve school connectivity between 2025 and 2030, building on £215 million invested between 2021 and 2025.
Under Connect the Classroom, eligible schools can receive funding for improvements including wireless access points and network switches.
Schools are responsible for procuring their own supplier, with installations required to meet Department for Education specifications.
Clarion supported Moorland from initial network assessment and funding assistance through to design, installation and ongoing support.
The company continues to work positively with Moorland Primary School and its parent organisation, Campfire Education Trust.
Moorland’s experience has also been captured in a video case study, allowing other schools to hear directly about the connectivity problems it experienced, the funding process and the impact of the completed installation.
