Looking for an Alternative to Oakford Technology?

School IT & ICT Support That Does More

If your school is currently using Oakford Technology and you're considering whether there is a better alternative, Soltech IT can help.

Perhaps you're frustrated with your current IT support, experiencing slow response times, looking for a more proactive IT partner, concerned about cyber security or simply questioning whether you're getting the right level of service and value for money.

Whatever has prompted you to consider changing, choosing a new school IT and ICT support provider is an important decision.

Your IT provider should do far more than fix computers when they break. They should understand education, support teaching and learning, help protect your school from cyber threats, advise you on technology investment and help you get the most from your IT budget.

That's where Soltech IT is different.

More Than an IT Support Company

Soltech IT provides comprehensive IT and ICT support for schools, academies and education organisations, combining technical expertise with cyber security, infrastructure, strategic planning and education-specific services.

We don't simply wait for something to go wrong.

Our team works with schools to identify potential problems before they become disruptive, plan future technology requirements, improve security, review ageing equipment and help schools make informed decisions about their IT and ICT investment.

From your helpdesk and onsite engineering through to cyber security, Microsoft 365, networks, wireless, servers, backups and classroom technology, we provide a complete technology partnership.

IT & ICT Support Designed Around Schools

Schools have very different technology requirements from ordinary businesses.

Your IT provider needs to understand the importance of teaching and learning, safeguarding, filtering and monitoring, data security, business continuity, budgets, curriculum technology and the pressures faced by teachers, Business Managers, Bursars and senior leaders.

Soltech IT provides:

Managed School IT & ICT Support
Responsive Helpdesk and Onsite Engineering
Cyber Security, Penetration Testing and Phishing Simulation Testing
Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus
Microsoft 365 Management and Security
Backup and Disaster Recovery
Network and Wi-Fi Infrastructure
Server and Device Management
Filtering and Monitoring Support
Filtered Broadband Solutions
IT Projects and Installations
Technology Planning and Asset Management
Classroom touchscreens, school hall electronic displays/sound systems, plus school wide digital signage.
Strategic IT Advice for Schools and MATs

Whether you need day-to-day technical support or are planning a major infrastructure upgrade, we can provide the expertise and practical support your school needs.

Supporting Schools With DfE Technology Standards

School technology is increasingly important to safeguarding, teaching and the day-to-day operation of a school.

The Department for Education's digital and technology standards set expectations around areas including IT support, cyber security, network infrastructure, wireless networks, filtering and monitoring, broadband and digital leadership and governance.

Your IT provider should therefore be helping you understand where your school currently stands, identify risks and develop a practical plan to improve your technology environment.

Soltech IT can help schools review their IT infrastructure, hardware, software, security, backups, wireless networks, network switching, patching and firmware, helping identify areas where investment or improvement may be required.

We don't just tell you that something needs replacing. We help you understand why, when it needs replacing, what the risks are and how to budget for it.

Stronger Cyber Security for Schools

Cyber security is no longer something that can sit in the background of your IT contract.

Schools are increasingly targeted by cyber criminals, and a serious incident can disrupt teaching, compromise sensitive information and create significant financial and operational consequences.

Soltech IT provides a comprehensive range of school cyber security services, including:

We can help your school move from simply reacting to security incidents to taking a proactive approach to reducing cyber risk.

Our approach also considers the wider requirements around safeguarding, filtering and monitoring, backup and recovery and cyber resilience.

Could Your School Save Money on IT?

Changing IT provider isn't only about getting better technical support.

For many schools, value for money is just as important as service quality.

That's why Soltech IT offers a dedicated School ICT Bursar and Business Manager Service.

Our team can, and will with a proven track history help schools review and reduce their current ICT expenditure, identify potential savings, improve procurement and develop longer-term technology plans.

We can undertake detailed ICT audits and help schools create five-year budgeting, procurement, development and grant-funding plans, giving Business Managers and school leaders a much clearer picture of their future technology requirements.

Instead of continually reacting to broken or obsolete equipment, your school can have a structured plan for what needs replacing, when it needs replacing and how it can be funded.

Helping Schools Find Grant Funding

School budgets are under enormous pressure, so finding additional funding can make a significant difference.

Soltech IT has helped schools secure more than £1m+ through grant funding sources since 2014.

We can help identify potential grant opportunities for eligible technology and ICT projects and provide advice on applications, helping schools maximise the funding available to them.

For schools considering a change of IT provider, this is another important difference.

We don't just help you spend your IT budget. We help you look for ways to make it go further.

Giving Back to Schools

We also believe that supporting education means giving something back.

Through our Giving Back to Schools programe, Soltech IT has donated more than £1 million of IT equipment, technology, IT support and educational resources to schools since 2013.

Our support has included laptops, interactive touchscreens, visitor management systems, STEM resources, IT equipment and free IT support.

In 2025 alone, Soltech IT donated more than £15,000 of Promethean ActivPanel touchscreens to schools and MATs, including free installation, configuration and training.

For eligible schools, our donations programe can provide another way to improve technology and support teaching and learning without placing additional pressure on already stretched budgets.

Supporting the Computing Curriculum

We believe school IT support should be about more than keeping computers running.

Technology should help teachers teach and pupils learn.

That's why schools with a Soltech IT curriculum support contract can benefit from free access to our Computing Curriculum and STEM resource loan programe.

Resources are available from Early Years through to Key Stage 3 and support the three key areas of the computing curriculum:

Computer Science | Digital Literacy | Information Technology

Schools can access a range of hands-on technology, software, games, gadgets and STEM equipment designed to bring computing and technology to life in the classroom.

Resources are supplied with instructions, lesson plans or projects, helping teachers make practical use of technology without having to spend valuable time researching and developing activities themselves.

We can also provide free onsite training to help teachers and support staff understand how to use the resources effectively.

Computing & ICT CPD for Teachers

Our support doesn't stop with the technology.

We also provide Computing Curriculum and ICT CPD for teaching staff, helping schools build confidence in using technology effectively within the classroom.

Training can cover areas including computing and technology in the classroom, e-safety, Apple and MDM and other areas of digital learning.

Sessions can be delivered as part of an INSET day or during staff meetings, giving schools practical professional development that supports their wider technology and curriculum objectives.

A Complete Education Technology Partnership

This is what makes Soltech IT different.

You're not simply choosing another company to fix your computers.

You're choosing an education-focused technology partner that can support your school with:

IT & ICT Support
Cyber Security
DfE Technology Standards
Safeguarding Technology
Microsoft 365
Networks & Infrastructure
Audi Visual
Visitor Sign In Solutions
Backup & Disaster Recovery
Technology Planning
Cost Reduction
ICT Procurement
Grant Funding
IT Equipment Donations
Computing Curriculum Support
STEM Resources
Teacher CPD

We support schools throughout Bristol, Dorset, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Cornwall, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, South Gloucestershire and the wider South West, providing a combination of local engineering support, specialist expertise and education-focused technology services.

Is It Time to Consider an Alternative to Oakford Technology?

If you're unhappy with your current IT or ICT support, you don't have to wait until your contract ends to start exploring your options.

Perhaps your school needs a more proactive IT provider.

Perhaps you need better cyber security.

Perhaps you're looking for more responsive support.

Perhaps your technology is ageing and you need a proper plan.

Perhaps you want to reduce your ICT costs. (Many schools are paying more than they should without realising)

Or perhaps you simply want an IT partner that understands schools, rather than treating education as just another customer sector.

Whatever the reason, Soltech IT can provide an independent, straightforward assessment of your current IT environment and show you what an alternative could look like.

No hard sell. No obligation. Just an honest conversation about your school's IT, ICT, security, technology and budget.

Ready for Better School IT Support?

If you're looking for an alternative to Oakford Technology, talk to Soltech IT.

Discover how a more proactive, education-focused IT and ICT partnership could give your school better IT, better security and better value.

Contact Soltech IT today.

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