Award-winning school benefits from IDIS NDAA-compliant CCTV upgrade

Wade Deacon High School is the largest out of eight schools in the Wade Deacon Trust across Northwest England, with 1500+ pupils, and has won many awards including Outstanding by Ofsted in 2023. West Deacon wanted to overcome the shortcomings and problems of its existing, early-generation IP video system.

IDIS’ integration partner Apex Network Solutions was awarded the contract against the incumbent by keeping installation costs down and designing a seamless end-to-end IDIS DirectIP solution comprising: 3 × DR-6332PS-SA32-channel 4K recorders; 38 × 5MP IR dome cameras; 2 × 12MP domes; 24 × 12MP bullet cameras; and 22 × 12MP IR Fisheye cameras.

The school now has a robust and reliable, solution managed via the cost-free IDIS Center VMS, which provides flexibility and scalability for the schools changing needs. 

Background

Award-winning school needs updated CCTV infrastructure

Video surveillance is a key resource for senior management team with high ideals of care for students

Wade Deacon High School is the largest school in the Wade Deacon Trust, an academy trust of eight schools across the Liverpool City region committed to nurturing pupils and helping them achieve academic success. With 1500+ pupils on roll, Wade Deacon High has awards across many aspects of its work including being rated Outstanding by Ofsted in 2023. 

Video surveillance is a key resource for the senior management team, supporting their busy teaching staff in maintaining high standards of care for students. But with their old IP system reaching the end of its life, a better solution was needed.

Solution

IDIS end-to-end solution transforms video coverage and usability

Keeping installation costs down, Apex designed a seamless end-to-end IDIS DirectIP® solution comprising: 3 × DR-6332PS-SA 32-channel 4K recorders; 38 × 5MP IR dome cameras; 2 × 12MP domes; 24 × 12MP bullet cameras; and 22 × 12MP IR Fisheye cameras.

The system is designed for unobtrusive coverage of corridors, indoor communal areas, entrances, building perimeters, and high-value sporting facilities which are vulnerable to vandalism out-of-hours. Every IDIS camera has the advantage of a one-click plug-and-play set-up, which allowed the Apex engineers to complete the upgrade during term time without any disruption to learning. 

The existing IP cabling was easy to access via ceiling voids, and many of the existing camera locations were also re-used – only now, with much better coverage provided by the IDIS HD and ultra-HD cameras.

IDIS Center VMS management software

Intuitive interface makes it easier to retrieve footage allowing events rapidly reviewed whenever necessary

The dome and bullet cameras are equipped with true WDR and IR LED, guaranteeing crisp, clear images day and night as well as in challenging, variable lighting conditions.

The fisheye cameras provide affordable wide area coverage, with the exceptional de-warping right to the edge of every scene, effectively delivering the same visibility as three or four conventional models.

Powered by the cost-free IDIS Center VMS management software, the system is much simpler for the school staff to use, with role-based access rights easily configured. The intuitive interface makes it easier to retrieve recorded footage allowing events to be rapidly reviewed whenever necessary.

Challenges

Affordability and performance are top priorities, as IDIS partner Apex is awarded a contract against the incumbent

The trust wanted to overcome the shortcomings of the existing, early-generation IP video system, and problems including rising maintenance costs, poor usability, and variable image quality.

To promote the highest standards of personal behaviour, enhance pupil well-being, and protect the school’s facilities out-of-hours, the trust wanted improved visibility of priority locations, with more comprehensive area coverage of risk areas and better picture quality. They also wanted a system that would be easier to use and allow footage to be reviewed and retrieved more easily.

Budgets were tight and Apex, which had a proven track record delivering IT solutions for the trust, was invited to bid for the project against an incumbent integrator. They were challenged to deliver a solution that would offer the lowest cost of ownership (TCO), with a minimal ongoing operating burden, and easy adaptability to meet any future requirements. As an IDIS partner, Apex scored highly on every requirement.

Results and benefits

IDIS and Apex partnership delivers on the school’s priorities and ensures adaptability and value

The IDIS solution now allows incidents to be reviewed more quickly and reliably

The frustrations of the old system have been removed, and the IDIS solution now allows incidents to be reviewed more quickly and reliably – within minutes – to allow issues to be dealt with fairly and sensitively, preventing problems from escalating.

CCTV coverage of the school buildings and grounds – particularly the high-value 3G pitch – reduces the risk of vandalism and anti-social behaviour at weekends and during holidays.

IDIS Smart Failover technology

The solution is robust and reliable, with IDIS Smart Failover technology ensuring no loss of data in the event of an NVR-camera disconnect, or network instability. And it will be simple to maintain and expand with additional cameras easily added, futureproofing the solution to the school’s changing needs.

“We are very impressed with our IDIS solution installed by Apex – they listened to our requirements, and as promised they delivered on each one. We now have reliable, comprehensive CCTV coverage that safeguards our school community,“ said Jonathan Lowe, Director of ICT & Operations, Wade Deacon Trust.