A York school, which is one of the oldest in Britain, is now equipped with one of the world’s most modern wireless networks.

In a £40,000 project Yorkshire based systems integrator, Express Data, has installed a top-of-the-range Meru wireless system at St Peter’s School, which allows any number of staff and pupils to use their laptops anywhere in the school, at any time, without the system failing.

Flexible multi-access is becoming key in schools and other learning environments, as a steady rise in e-learning has seen online research, educational delivery and storage and communications all becoming more common.

It makes St Peter’s, founded by St Paulinus, the first bishop of York in 627 AD, one of the most technologically modern in the country.

The project saw a restructuring of the existing wireless system, so that advanced new software could be installed. Crucially, the extensive work was completed in only a week, with no disruption for the school as it prepared for the new academic year.

The wireless solution is fully future proofed, so that any emerging refinements, breakthrough technologies, new security protocols and enhanced performance requirements can be readily incorporated without a disruptive reinstallation.

They will be integrated by Express Data, as part of its ongoing maintenance programme, to keep the system at the forefront of capabilities.

Paul Hynard, IT manager at St Peter’s said: “To ensure that both the pupils of today and tomorrow get the most from what e-learning has to offer, we needed a wireless network that would allow problem-free access for everyone at the school and would stay at the technological forefront as St Peter’s and its requirements grew and evolved.”

Express Data, which has a turnover of £1.4 million and employs 112 staff, has a client list which includes Morrisons, West Yorkshire Police and Yorkshire Building Society. As a specialist in the education sector, the firm has also worked with Leeds City College, Leeds College of Building and Barnsley College.