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OpsWise School Assurance

Clearer school IT, cyber and data protection assurance.

OpsWise School Assurance gives school leaders a practical, maintained library of reviews, checklists and reporting tools — helping teams evidence what is working, identify material gaps and follow action through.

Available to schools across the UK — no OpsWise managed-support contract is required.

Request founding-school access See what is included
£295 + VAT founding-school first year; £495 + VAT standard annual membership.
ASSURANCE VIEWMaintained membership

A working evidence trail.

School-ready Word and PDF resources, supported by a simple annual rhythm.

01Understandestablish the position
02Actprioritise and assign
03Assurereport and follow through
55 pages at launchAcross 10 core resources
Editable + polishedWord and PDF formats
Monthly focusResource, refresh or prompt
Termly briefingOne practical group session
Why schools use it

Guidance alone does not create assurance.

Schools need a usable way to connect expectations to evidence, action, ownership and leadership oversight. The membership provides that structure without asking the school to begin from a blank page.

01

See the position

Structured reviews reveal current evidence, material gaps and uncertainty.

02

Focus action

Serious residual risks stay visible, with owners, due dates and evidence.

03

Support oversight

Concise reporting helps SLT and governors ask the right strategic questions.

What members receive

A complete launch library — then a light rhythm that keeps it useful.

Every resource is written in plain English, designed around real school roles and supplied in editable Word and polished PDF formats.

  • ✓
    10 core launch resourcesReviews, checklists, staff guides and leadership records covering the school year.
  • ✓
    One focused update each monthA useful resource, proportionate refresh or implementation prompt — not another long newsletter.
  • ✓
    One group briefing each termA practical shared session focused on one current school assurance priority.
  • ✓
    Current versions and change notesKnow what changed and whether an earlier completed record needs attention.
  • ✓
    A simple first-30-day routeName the lead, establish a baseline, choose three actions and report the position.
Current member update · September 2026

Four changes, translated into school action.

Updated member resources and implementation checklists are available through each school’s controlled customer area. The free public guides remain available on the Resources page.

Statutory · 1 Sep

KCSIE 2026

Full Part One for all staff, stronger annual filtering checks and updated expectations for AI, deepfakes, mobile devices and information sharing.

DfE standard · current

AI and filtering

New AI products and embedded features should be checked for product safety, safeguarding, filtering, monitoring and data-use risk.

NCSC action · immediate

Internet exposure

Schools should review firewalls, VPNs, routers, CCTV, access control, building systems and supplier remote-access routes.

Data protection · current

Public task

Where public task is used, the school should identify its own legal function and record why the processing is necessary and proportionate.

Members: sign in for the dated change note, revised version 1.1 resources and action checklists.

Open customer portal
The core resource library

Ten working resources for real school decisions.

Use them to complete a check, prompt staff action, record a decision or build an evidence trail.

01
School IT, Cyber & Digital Assurance ReviewBaseline review across 65 school controls.
17 pages
02
Filtering & Monitoring Annual Review36 questions and evidence prompts.
15 pages
03
Governor and SLT Assurance ReportRAG view, residual risks, actions and decisions.
6 pages
04
Supplier and DPIA Assessment PackTriage, due diligence, risk and approval records.
7 pages
05
Joiner, Mover and Leaver ChecklistAccountable access through the staff lifecycle.
3 pages
06
Cyber Incident Response ChecklistFirst actions, escalation, evidence and recovery.
2 pages
07
Compromised Email Response PackStaff reporting and technical containment.
2 pages
08
Email Safety Guide for StaffWarning signs and reporting actions.
1 page
09
AI and Data Protection Guide for StaffPractical do’s, don’ts and escalation points.
1 page
10
Subject Access Request Quick GuideRecognise and route a possible SAR promptly.
1 page

Built to be used: the library is not a certificate folder. Each item supports a real check, staff action, decision or evidence trail.

Annual membership

Clear pricing, with no hidden consultancy promise.

The annual price is intentionally lower than a bespoke review because the membership is self-service and group-first.

Standard school

£495 + VAT

Per school for 12 months.

  • Complete launch library
  • Monthly focused update
  • Termly group briefing
  • Current versions and change notes
Founding school

£295 + VAT

First 12 months; £495 + VAT from renewal.

  • The same complete membership
  • Simple first-30-day route
  • Founding-school first-year price
  • No artificial deadline or reduced library
Managed support

Included

While an active OpsWise managed-support agreement applies.

  • No separate membership charge
  • Named school lead and deputy
  • Controlled library access
  • Updates and group briefings included

Prices are per school. Trust-wide access can be scoped separately.

The first 30 days

A light, repeatable assurance rhythm.

Start with the baseline, focus on the few actions that matter, then use the termly cycle to keep evidence and leadership oversight current.

01

Name the school lead

Choose one person to coordinate the library and keep the action trail moving.

02

Complete the baseline

Record evidence using the School IT, Cyber & Digital Assurance Review.

03

Choose three actions

Prioritise serious residual risk, failed critical controls and missing evidence.

04

Report and schedule

Use the leadership report and agree the next evidence and test dates.

Autumn

Refresh the baseline, confirm access controls, brief staff and set leadership priorities.

Spring

Review filtering, suppliers, DPIAs and incident readiness; follow through open actions.

Summer

Re-test evidence, report residual risks and agree next year’s priorities and owners.

Clear service boundary

Useful by design. Open-ended consultancy is separate.

The membership helps a school organise evidence and action. It does not replace the school’s accountable roles, provide certification or promise incident response.

Membership includes

  • Self-service templates, checklists and guidance
  • Current versions and change notes
  • Monthly update or implementation prompt
  • Termly group briefing
  • Administrative help with access and versions

Scoped separately

  • Completing reviews, DPIAs or reports for the school
  • Bespoke technical, DPO, safeguarding or legal advice
  • Unlimited individual questions or document review
  • Implementation, remediation or project work
  • Incident response, containment or investigation
Common questions

Know exactly what the membership does.

School-specific assessment, professional judgement and implementation can be scoped separately where needed.

What is OpsWise School Assurance?

A self-service membership of maintained school-ready reviews, checklists, guides and leadership records, supported by monthly focus updates and termly group briefings.

Who is it for?

OpsWise School Assurance is available to schools across the UK and does not require an OpsWise managed-support contract. Resources based on DfE and KCSIE guidance are written primarily for schools in England; schools elsewhere in the UK should use them alongside the requirements for their nation.

Will OpsWise complete the reviews for us?

No. The membership is self-service. Completing or independently reviewing a school assessment can be quoted separately.

Does membership confirm that our school is compliant?

No. It supports proportionate evidence, action and oversight; it is not certification, legal advice or an external audit.

Does it replace our DPO, DSL or IT provider?

No. It gives those roles a shared structure while leaving professional and statutory responsibilities in place.

Can we ask unlimited questions?

Membership covers access and version administration plus group briefings. Bespoke advice or repeated individual review is outside scope.

What if we have an incident?

Use the school’s established urgent IT, DSL, DPO and emergency routes. Incident response is a separate service unless already contracted.

How does the founding-school price work?

The first 12 months are £295 + VAT. The standard school rate of £495 + VAT applies from renewal.

Are managed-support customers charged?

No separate membership charge applies while the relevant OpsWise managed-support agreement remains active.

Can a multi-academy trust join?

Yes. The displayed price is per school; trust-wide access can be scoped separately.

Can member resources be shared with another school?

Public OpsWise guides may be shared by link. Editable member templates, maintained versions and change notes are licensed for internal use by the subscribing school or the trust scope expressly agreed with OpsWise. Another school needs its own membership or an agreed trust-wide licence.

Start with the evidence you already have

Request founding-school access.

OpsWise will confirm the school lead, annual membership record and controlled access to the launch library.

Request access Or call 0203 907 6865
School Assurance enquiry

Tell us about your school.

Use the form to request founding-school access, ask about the standard membership or confirm the route for an existing managed-support customer.

  • A focused membership discussion—not a technical sales call
  • Clear confirmation of price, scope and the first-30-day route
  • No pupil, staff, safeguarding or password information needed

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