Schools

An increasing number of schools are now installing Closed Circuit Television. As an independent consultancy, designing CCTV for a number of education authorities, we are able to offer, free of charge, a service of designing systems, supplying budget costs and drawing up specifications and plans.

Also see our dedicated section on Special Needs Schools.

Avoid Mistakes

Unfortunately schools often have no cohesive policy for CCTV installations. This often results in them installing a variety of systems, offering varying levels of service, quality and, most important, value. Unfortunately headteachers are not experts in security and sometimes find that they have spent a great deal of money on something that ends up being the wrong tool for the job. It is for this reason that we are often asked to visit schools, which are considering CCTV installation. Although price is an important consideration, it is just as important that a system supplies value for money, and is able to adequately fulfil the function for which it is designed.

Services for Schools

The CCTV Advisory Service is a specialist in the design of CCTV for the educational community and our advice is normally free of charge to schools, colleges and universities.

CCTV purchase can be problematic. Issues include identifying reputable companies, achieving an understanding of the requirement, being able to compare offerings based on different solutions and equipment, how the system should be operated to provide effective security, ensuring that the system meets current legislative requirements and produces pictures of evidential quality.

Even if CCTV companies have been required to quote for the same system it can be difficult to determine if the lowest quotation is offering best value or using inferior equipment to gain a price advantage.

The CCTV Advisory Service offers the following service: -

We will meet with a member of your management team, design a specification to meet your individual requirements and ensure that it meets the Home Office Recommendations for Police Evidence (80% of CCTV systems fail to achieve this). Once completed we will submit the specification complete with budget costs.

When you are satisfied with the specification we will arrange for three pre-qualified installation companies to tender for the work, arranging for them to send their quotations direct to you. By tendering systems we design to installation companies that we know perform to a high standard we also ensure that our clients obtain value for money. This aspect of our service has enabled some schools, colleges and universities to save up to 50% of the cost of a system.

As well as supplying the installation companies with the agreed specification we will also stipulate the specific equipment to be used. Installers do not have the freedom to change the specification or the equipment supplied.

When the quotations arrive the only difference will be the price.

To keep your new (or existing) CCTV system in optimum working order (a requirement under the Data Protection Act - which we can guide you through) The CCTV Advisory Service can also supply a unique maintenance contract that gives you the freedom to change the company maintaining your system within 45 days at no additional cost.

Can a free service to schools really be as good as we claim? The following are typical of the comment that we receive from our clients:-

"I thought that I should contact you to thank you for the consultancy advice provided for our new CCTV system. Your expert knowledge was invaluable when assessing the needs of the school and the types of cameras available to us. Also the company recommended to us are extremely professional and completed the installation quickly and efficiently." Geoff Jones, Bursar, The Charles Dickens School

"A very thorough service, saving the school time, effort and worry whilst ensuring quality installation of quality products in an agreed timescale." Ian Sheppard, Headteacher - Aycliffe School

"The CCTV Advisory Service has provided a service to us that has always been thorough, accurate and ensures a comprehensive solution to our changing needs. By using their services we have found that misunderstanding of requirements is eliminated and quotations from suppliers are on a like for like basis. We have found that the suppliers recommended are appropriate and value for money. We would not hesitate to recommend the CCTV Advisory Service to others." Andrew S. Adam, Bursar, Maplesden Noakes School.