Hastings Girls’ High School

Gail Reid, Assistant Principal at HGHS, spoke to us about how GCT helps Hastings Girls’ High school and keep operations running.

Hastings Girls’ High School (HGHS) shapes the educational experiences of young Hawke’s Bay women; inspiring them to be kind, respectful, and to succeed in every endeavour. As the largest girls’ school in the wider Hastings district with over 700 students, it’s imperative that the ICT systems, hardware and networks that drive the school run smoothly, and are protected from threats. 

In the decade GCT has been working with HGHS, technology has come to play a bigger part in schools than ever before with apps, digital learning systems, devices and internet-based learning now common-place. When Gail started at HGHS 9 years ago, taking care of ICT was part of her role but she admits she didn’t know where to start. GCT had worked with the school previously, so she called on them to help.

They’re great to deal with — so helpful, very generous, good value and fun to be around. When we meet we’ll talk through issues, get things sorted, have a laugh and basically solve the problems of my world. I can guarantee I’ll come away with a smile; and know everything’s taken care of.

Gail Reid, Assistant Principal, Hastings Girls' High School

Expert ICT support for schools

GCT supports all the day-to-day functions of HGHS’ modern learning environment, from desktop PCs to managing the network to service desk support. Guided by GCT, HGHS recently transitioned to a hybrid back up service to improve the security and safety of the school’s data. HGHS now uses cloud storage as well as onsite servers to replicate, back up and store data securely. GCT were also the Ministry of Education-approved, certified experts behind the installation of a wireless network as part of the Wireless School Network Upgrade Project (WSNUP).

Safe internet access for students

HGHS envisages all students having their own devices with seamless connection to the wireless network installed by GCT. That connectivity brings risks around safe access, so HGHS recently called on GCT to design and develop improved, tailored firewall and access protection for the network. The solution arms the school with the insight and flexibility required to enable save learning in a digital environment.

See how GCT helps the education sector

The new firewall is amazing. We found students were using the school’s wi-fi limitlessly, causing distractions in class. The firewall has solved those issues. It proactively protects our network from new threats, and a monthly report alerts me to any issues.

Gail Reid, Assistant Principal, Hastings Girls' High School

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