Plain English · 27 terms
School broadband glossary
The words you’ll meet in supplier quotes, DfE standards and framework documents, explained briefly — with a link to the guide that goes further.
B
- Backup (resilient) connection
A second internet line of a different type, with automatic failover, so a single fault doesn’t cut the school off. Part of DfE’s broadband standard.
Read more: Backup broadband: keeping the school online when a line fails
- BYOD
Bring your own device: pupils’, staff or visitors’ own phones, tablets and laptops. DfE says these should be filtered, on a separate network.
Read more: Filtering and monitoring: your duties under KCSIE 2026
C
- C2k
Northern Ireland’s ICT service for grant-aided schools, overseen by the Education Authority, providing hardware, software, connectivity and support.
Read more: School broadband in Northern Ireland: C2k and the Education Authority
- Connect the Classroom
DfE funding to upgrade school wifi access points and network switches: £325 million for the 2025 to 2030 financial years. DfE contacts eligible schools.
Read more: Funding: Connect the Classroom and other programmes
- CTIRU
The Counter-Terrorism Internet Referral Unit. DfE says school filtering must apply its blocklist, and nobody should be able to override it.
Read more: Filtering and monitoring: your duties under KCSIE 2026
- Cyber Essentials
A government-backed cyber security certification. Colleges must hold it under their funding agreement; schools may choose to work towards it.
Read more: Cyber security for school networks
D
- DSL
Designated safeguarding lead — the member of staff who leads on safeguarding and online safety, including filtering and monitoring decisions.
Read more: Filtering and monitoring: your duties under KCSIE 2026
E
- EVAc
Openreach’s Emergency Voice and Access Continuity service. Lines not moved off copper by the switch-off may be put onto it, and it may not support all calling features.
F
- Firewall
Controls the traffic between the school network and the internet. It can be a device on site or an “edge” service run by the supplier. DfE’s broadband standard requires one.
Read more: Cyber security for school networks
- FTTP
Fibre to the premises: a full fibre connection into the building. With leased lines, it is one of the two connection types DfE’s broadband standard names.
Read more: The broadband internet standard: speeds, fibre and a backup line
G
- GCA
The Government Commercial Agency, formed on 1 April 2026 when Crown Commercial Service (CCS) was combined with Cabinet Office commercial teams. Existing CCS frameworks remain valid.
Read more: How to buy broadband for a school in England
- Get help buying for schools
DfE’s free procurement service for schools, listing DfE-approved buying options (frameworks) and offering help from buying experts.
Read more: How to buy broadband for a school in England
I
- IWF
The Internet Watch Foundation. DfE says school filtering must apply its list of child sexual abuse web addresses, and the provider should be an IWF member.
Read more: Filtering and monitoring: your duties under KCSIE 2026
K
- KCSIE
Keeping children safe in education: statutory safeguarding guidance for schools and colleges in England. The 2026 edition has been in force since 1 September 2026.
Read more: Filtering and monitoring: your duties under KCSIE 2026
L
- Leased line
A dedicated, uncontended fibre connection. One of the two full fibre options in DfE’s broadband standard.
Read more: The broadband internet standard: speeds, fibre and a backup line
- LEO satellite
Low Earth orbit satellite broadband. DfE gives it (with FTTP) as one example of a backup connection of a different type.
Read more: Backup broadband: keeping the school online when a line fails
P
- PDNS for Schools
The NCSC’s free Protective DNS service. Your DNS provider — a local authority, school internet provider or the trust itself — registers through MyNCSC.
Read more: Cyber security for school networks
- PSBA
Public Sector Broadband Aggregation: the Welsh public sector network, operated by the Welsh Government and delivered by BT. The Hwb standards say it should be schools’ default provider.
Read more: School broadband in Wales: Hwb standards and PSBA
- PSTN
The public switched telephone network — traditional analogue phone lines. Openreach says they go digital on 31 January 2027.
R
- RBC
Regional broadband consortium: groups set up from 2000 to pool schools’ broadband demand by region. They can connect schools to Jisc’s Janet network.
Read more: How to buy broadband for a school in England
- RPA
The DfE Risk Protection Arrangement, an alternative to commercial insurance for schools. Keeping a cyber response plan is a condition of its cover.
Read more: Cyber security for school networks
S
- SLT digital lead
The member of the senior leadership team responsible for digital technology. DfE says they don’t need to be a technical expert.
Read more: The DfE digital and technology standards, explained
- SWAN
The Scottish Wide Area Network, a public sector network that many Scottish councils use to connect their schools.
- Symmetrical, uncontended
The same upload and download speed, not shared with other users. The Hwb standards in Wales ask for this kind of fibre service.
Read more: School broadband in Wales: Hwb standards and PSBA
U
- UKSIC
The UK Safer Internet Centre, which publishes the “Appropriate Filtering” and “Appropriate Monitoring” guides that providers can self-certify against.
Read more: Filtering and monitoring: your duties under KCSIE 2026
W
- WebSafe
PSBA’s central web filtering service in Wales. It supports Hwb login and is accredited under the UK Safer Internet Centre filtering standards.
Read more: School broadband in Wales: Hwb standards and PSBA
- Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)
The wireless standard DfE’s wireless network standard asks schools to upgrade to when their wifi is underperforming or unsupported.