Effective Cyber Security
We are able to support organisations, Trusts and schools to improve their cyber security posture through:
- Reviewing existing process and practices; highlighting specific areas which can be easily rectified to reduce risk from external threats
- Supporting Trusts to develop effective cyber security policies.
- Developing Business Continuity Plans and leading tabletop exercises to test those plans
Supporting Growth
We are able to support organisations and Trusts to effectively manage growth and ensure joining schools or Trusts can be effectively embedded into your systems by:
- Supporting Trusts to develop digital strategies before, during and after periods of growth
- Enabling Trusts to identify possible areas of friction and challenge prior to growth and how to minimise its impact
- Helping you to manage the digital integration of schools and Trusts into yours and managing expectations
Digital Strategies
We are able to support organisations, Trusts and schools to:
- Develop effective digital strategies which support your educational vision
- Build financially sustainability into your digital strategy
- Demonstrate how an effective digital strategy can lead to cost savings
- Develop a Trust wide digital strategy, and support its implementation and adapting it to meet needs of each school.
- Effectively Implement 1:1 strategies
Digital Data Governance
We are able to support organisations, Trusts and schools to improve their data governance and reduce the impact of potential breaches by:
- Reining in the “wild west” of digital apps and services through effective governance
- Thinking long term and how to maximise the benefits of the data being generated
- Workshopping data challenges with new technologies and developing an effective digital data governance strategy
- Planning for growth
Effective Technical Teams
We are able to support organisations, Trusts and schools in developing effective technical teams through:
- Working in conjunction with technical teams, to develop and apply technical standards to ensure consistent implementation of policies across all systems
- Supporting Trust leadership to develop processes to hold technical teams to account
- Supporting technical teams to effectively report upwards and gain leadership support
- Developing effective IT strategies
Biography
James is a highly experienced leader in digital education with a 30 year career spanning both educational, technical and cyber security leadership roles. He is a sought after international speaker covering areas from digital strategy and cyber security to digital inclusion and sustainability. He sits on a number of edtech advisory panels and is a judge for the Global EdTech Awards.
James spent over two decades working at United Learning, England’s largest Multi Academy Trust, where as Director of IT he created and implemented their Digital Strategy, oversaw the EdTech and IT teams, and developed a comprehensive Cyber Security Strategy. During this time he also led the Edtech Demonstrator Programme on behalf of England's Department for Education.
In January 2024 James set up his own technology consultancy and is now helping education organisations, both big and small, to enhance the security of their systems, establish effective IT support teams and develop long term financially sustainable digital strategies.
He is a founder member of The Digital Futures Group and has been a Chartered Fellow of the British Computer Society for over 15 years and is also a Fellow of the RSA. James is the chair of the board of Trustees of Apps for Good and a Trustee of Sheffield Theatres
About the Company
In January 2024 James M Garnett Consulting was established to provide advice and support to education organisations, both big and small, to meet the challenges of embedding digital technologies into vision and long term strategy
The support available ranges from high level strategic thinking and development of digital strategies for Trusts, through to unpicking challenges in individual schools and enabling settings to maximise the potential of technology.
We are also able to review the security of Trust and school IT systems, undertake infrastructure audits and readiness plans for 1:1 programmes, supporting the development of effective IT support teams, and develop long term financially sustainable digital strategies.
Previous Published Work
Review of the EdTech Demonstrator programme Phase 2 - Impact Evaluation Report
EdTech Demonstrator Programme Phase 2 - What schools need to know (schoolsweek)
Overcoming the digital divide with United Learning - Edurio
Teaching Professionals Supporting the EdTech Development of Other Teaching Professionals - Educational Technology Insights
eLearning in the Age of Digital Revolution - Educational Technology Insights
Speaking
James has spoken both on webinars and at conferences (education, public and private sector) on topics ranging from Digital Strategy and cyber security through to developing technical teams, the digital divide and data governance.
Past Events (2021-2024)
Digital Strategy Cyber Security Data Governance Leadership Digital Divide Procurement Developing Teams | BESA LearnED, MATPN, Bett Show, ArborFest, ISTE Make the Future Summit, EduTech Europe, EdTech Festival. MATPN, MAT Strategy Forum, GDPRIS Seminar, Bett Show, EdTech Summit. MATPN, GDPRIS Seminar. Bett Show, EdTech Summit, Governors for Schools. EduTech Europe, Bett Show, ResearchED, EdTech Festival. EdTech Summit, Schools Resource Management Conference. CIO Conference, Government ICT Summit. |
United Learning | Development of a set of Digital Standards Supporting the implementation of the NIST cyber security framework. Supporting ongoing strategic development |
RISE MAT | Supporting the development of an in-house IT service IT procurement support Development of a Digital Strategy |
TransforMATive | Working alongside TransforMATive as an Associate on a number of projects, including cyber security, project management and digital leadership |
Other Projects | Leading webinars on EdTech and Cyber Security, hosted dinners, conference speaker and moderator, and the Digital Futures Group |
