ANSecurity has successfully completed a significant wireless infrastructure upgrade at Sir William Perkins's School, marking one of the UK's first full campus Wi-Fi 7 deployments. The initiative supplies the acclaimed Surrey independent school with a robust, high-capacity wireless network to advance its digital learning strategies.
The school, which supports approximately 580 students and 142 staff, has fully integrated 1:1 iPad usage into its teaching framework. The existing older network infrastructure, however, struggled to manage the increasing density of devices, particularly when large cohorts were connected simultaneously through Apple Classroom.
Technical requirements
With an emphasis on secure authentication and compliance, ensuring consistent performance across hundreds of devices became a pressing issue. Many vendors were unable to satisfy the stringent technical specifications required by the school.
"We spoke to multiple providers, but none were able to implement the solution we envisioned. ANSecurity not only made it possible – they tested it, validated it, and delivered it flawlessly," remarked the school's IT Manager.
A structured, consultative approach
The deployment was carefully timed to align with school holidays, minimising disruption
ANSecurity, recommended by RUCKUS Networks, validated the school's design requirements and conducted extensive laboratory testing to ensure compatibility with Jamf School's certificate-based authentication system and existing network architecture. The deployment was carefully timed to align with school holidays, minimising disruption.
The introduction of RUCKUS Wi-Fi 7 access points allowed ANSecurity to configure Cloudpath effectively, facilitating the seamless certification of nearly 550 school-managed iPads—an achievement unmatched by other providers. Wi-Fi 7 brings enhanced throughput, reduced latency, and increased efficiency, providing quick and reliable connectivity in high-density environments such as classrooms.
ANSecurity's integration of RADIUS and API-driven workflows
ANSecurity further integrated RADIUS and API-driven processes to maintain precise user-to-IP correlation across both the Palo Alto Networks firewall and the ContentKeeper filtering solution. Additional networks catering to BYOD and guest access were established, using Opportunistic Wireless Encryption (OWE) to protect open network traffic.
Support efforts included reconfiguring sections of the network, implementing new VLANs, and updating firewall policies, ensuring that only authorised users and devices could access relevant resources securely. A thorough wireless site survey was conducted post-deployment to validate optimal signal strength and performance, both indoors and in key outdoor areas. "The difference in consultative support compared to other vendors was night and day," said the IT Manager.
A high-performance, future-ready outcome
Integration with current security solutions ensures all safeguarding and compliance needs are met
The completed network now offers reliable, fast, and secure Wi-Fi throughout the campus, accommodating nearly 800 devices with most operating on 5 GHz. It is prepared for future updates, including WPA3 and 6 GHz, pending Jamf School support.
Integration with current security solutions ensures all safeguarding and compliance needs are met. Network enhancements, including improved switching and segmentation, have significantly boosted performance and manageability.
Cyber Essentials Plus certification
Delivered on schedule, the project places Sir William Perkins's School at the forefront of digital education. With Wi-Fi 7, the school is poised to adopt new educational technologies, such as AR/VR learning and high-bandwidth cloud applications, positioning it well for the future.
Upcoming initiatives, such as pursuing Cyber Essentials Plus certification, expanding security controls, and implementing wired network access control, underscore the deepening relationship between the school and ANSecurity. This collaboration is rooted in trust, technical expertise, and a shared commitment to innovation.
ANSecurity, a pioneering specialist in network security and wireless solutions, has successfully delivered one of the UK education sector’s first campus-wide Wi-Fi 7 deployments at Sir William Perkins’s School, providing the Surrey-based independent school with a secure, high-capacity wireless infrastructure designed to support its growing digital learning ambitions.
Serving around 580 students and 142 staff, Sir William Perkins’s School has fully embedded 1:1 iPad usage into daily teaching. However, the school’s legacy wireless network struggled to cope with the rising density of devices, particularly when large groups connected simultaneously through Apple Classroom.
Technical requirements
Ensuring secure authentication, safeguarding compliance, and consistent performance across hundreds of devices became increasingly challenging – and other vendors were unable to meet the school’s strict technical requirements.
“We spoke to multiple providers, but none were able to implement the solution we envisioned. ANSecurity not only made it possible – they tested it, validated it, and delivered it flawlessly,” said the school’s IT Manager.
A structured, consultative approach
Introduced by RUCKUS Networks, ANSecurity began by validating the school’s design requirements and conducting extensive lab testing to confirm compatibility with Jamf School’s certificate-based authentication and the school’s existing network architecture. A collaborative deployment plan followed, with a tight three-month schedule carefully aligned to the school holidays to avoid disruption.
ANSecurity then deployed RUCKUS Wi-Fi 7 access points and configured Cloudpath to seamlessly issue certificates to nearly 550 school-managed iPads – a capability other vendors could not match.
Wi-Fi 7 provides dramatically higher throughput, lower latency, and improved efficiency thanks to technologies such as wider channels and multi-link operation, enabling fast, reliable connectivity even in dense device environments like classrooms.
ANSecurity integrated RADIUS and API-driven workflows
To support safeguarding and compliance, ANSecurity integrated RADIUS and API-driven workflows to ensure accurate user-to-IP mapping across both the Palo Alto Networks next-generation firewall and the ContentKeeper filtering service. Additional networks were created for BYOD and guest access, with Opportunistic Wireless Encryption (OWE) used to protect traffic on open networks.
ANSecurity also assisted in restructuring parts of the network, implementing new VLANs and applying updated firewall policies to ensure the right users and devices could securely access the right resources.
Following deployment, a detailed wireless site survey was carried out to confirm optimal signal strength, signal-to-noise ratio, and throughput across both indoor and key outdoor areas of the campus. “The difference in consultative support compared to other vendors was night and day,” said the IT Manager.
A high-performance, future-ready outcome
The school now benefits from fast, stable, and secure Wi-Fi coverage across the entire campus. The new network reliably supports nearly 800 devices, with the majority operating seamlessly on 5 GHz, and is fully prepared for future upgrades, including WPA3 and 6 GHz Wi-Fi once supported by Jamf School.
Integration with existing security solutions ensures all safeguarding, logging, and compliance requirements are met. Improvements to switching, segmentation, and overall network architecture have further enhanced performance and manageability.
Cyber Essentials Plus certification
Delivered within the agreed three-month window, the project positions Sir William Perkins’s School at the forefront of digital education. Wi-Fi 7 provides the performance headroom needed to support emerging educational technologies – from AR/VR learning to high-bandwidth cloud applications – ensuring the school remains ahead of future digital demands.
With upcoming initiatives including Cyber Essentials Plus certification, expanded security controls, and wired network access control, the relationship between the school and ANSecurity continues to deepen, built on trust, technical expertise, and a shared commitment to innovation.
