Schools Broadband

What Schools Broadband does

Schools Broadband is a privately held UK specialist ISP operating as a trading name of Talk Straight Limited, focused exclusively on the education sector. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Ilkley, West Yorkshire, the company serves more than 3,500 schools and 300 Multi Academy Trusts across the United Kingdom, protecting over 1.5 million students and staff. It is the only known UK provider purpose-built around education-specific compliance (Keeping Children Safe in Education, DfE Cyber Security Standards, Prevent Duty, IWF membership, Cyber Essentials Plus, ISO 27001, ISO 9001). The company has accumulated nine ISPA Awards since 2014, including six wins for Best Security.

Schools Broadband operates a cloud-hosted platform architecture rather than on-premise hardware. Its security stack is built on Fortinet's enterprise technology — primarily hosted FortiGate Next-Generation Firewalls with AI-driven threat detection, intrusion prevention, anti-virus, Layer 7 application control, and Data Leak Prevention — augmented by an internally developed AI categorisation engine for web filtering and WatchGuard-powered endpoint protection. Safeguarding is delivered through a real-time incident management platform and Smoothwall-based monitoring, with directory integrations into Azure AD, Google Workspace, Windows AD, LDAP, and RADIUS. Internet Watch Foundation block lists and image hash lists are applied across the filtering layer. Connectivity products span Superfast Plus, Ultrafast, Full Fibre (via partnerships with 100+ alternative network providers), Dedicated Leased Lines, and Failover Lines. VoIP, SIP, mobile, and MAT-wide telephony round out the bundled offering. Anti-DDoS protection is included as standard, with the company reporting roughly 2,000 attacks blocked and zero customers impacted since the service launched in 2019.

The business model is subscription-based and recurring, with quote-based pricing tied to school size, connectivity type, and service bundle, billed on an annual cadence. Revenue streams include connectivity services, safeguarding and security, cloud services (backup, WAN for MATs, MDM), and VoIP/SIP telephony, frequently sold bundled. Schools Broadband does not disclose prices publicly but emphasises removal of capex through cloud delivery. Go-to-market is primarily direct sales, organised regionally (e.g., South of England, Midlands), augmented by approved public-sector procurement frameworks (Crown Commercial Services, Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation, Everything ICT, enFrame ICT, Crescent Purchasing Consortium) and a Partner Programme for resellers and integrators. Customer segments are vertical-aligned within UK education: primary schools and SEN, secondary schools, Multi Academy Trusts, independent schools, and local authority schools. Awards history, NCSC-aligned practices, and a record-breaking ISPA trajectory position the company as the de facto specialist incumbent in UK education-focused connectivity and safeguarding.

Name

Schools Broadband

Legal name

Talk Straight Limited

Website

https://schoolsbroadband.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Schools Broadband is a UK-based specialist ISP, trading as Talk Straight Limited, delivering cloud-hosted broadband connectivity, web filtering, cybersecurity, and safeguarding services to over 3,500 schools and 300 Multi Academy Trusts across the United Kingdom.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Connectivity and Network Security Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Communications Services, Nec (4899), Services-Telephone Interconnect Systems (7385)

akta.pro primary industry

School IT Infrastructure & Cybersecurity for K–12 (Network, Identity, SSO) (EDAJAMAM)

Keywords

• School broadband services
• Education network security
• School web filtering
• Managed firewall schools
• VoIP telephony schools

Headquarters

HQ city

Leeds

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Connectivity Services: Recurring subscription revenue from providing broadband internet connectivity including Superfast Plus, Ultrafast, Full Fibre, and Dedicated Leased Lines. Prices vary by connection type, speed requirements, and school size. No end-to-end contention guaranteed.
2. Safeguarding and Security Services: Recurring revenue from web filtering, monitoring, network security, and endpoint protection services. Cloud-hosted with no expensive on-site equipment required, bundled with connectivity or sold separately.
3. Cloud Services: Revenue from cloud backup and recovery, Wide Area Networks (WAN) for MATs, and Mobile Device Management. WAN included free for many MAT customers.
4. VoIP Phone Services: My School Phone VoIP service providing free UK landline and mobile calls, no line rental required, with potential savings of up to 70% compared to traditional PSTN. Revenue from subscription plus potential handset sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Schools Broadband is a carrier-agnostic Internet Service Provider that delivers cloud-hosted broadband connectivity, web filtering, safeguarding, network security, endpoint protection, and VoIP telephony services to UK schools and Multi Academy Trusts. Its bundled portfolio spans Superfast Plus, Ultrafast, Full Fibre, and Dedicated Leased Lines for connectivity, alongside Fortinet-powered managed firewalls, AI-driven E-Safety filtering, Smoothwall monitoring, and education-specific compliance with KCSiE and DfE standards.

Product overview

Schools Broadband is a carrier-agnostic ISP specialising in cloud-hosted connectivity, safeguarding, security, analytics, and network services for UK education. The product portfolio spans five interconnected service areas: Connectivity (Superfast Plus Broadband, Ultrafast Broadband, Full Fibre Broadband, Dedicated Leased Lines, and Failover Lines) providing internet access from 80Mbps to 10Gbps; Safeguarding and Security (E-Safety Filtering with AI-driven dynamic categorisation, Safeguarding Management Platform, Network Security via Fortinet-hosted firewalls, WatchGuard Anti-Virus/Endpoint Protection, and Anti-DDoS Protection) providing layered protection; Analytics and Telemetry (Live Analytics & Reporting, Transparent Telemetry) for network visibility; Cloud Services (Cloud Backup & Recovery, Wide Area Networks, Mobile Device Management, Smoothwall Monitor) enabling centralised management; and Phone Services (My School Phone, SIP Trunks, Mobiles, VoIP for MATs) replacing traditional PSTN. All services are cloud-hosted in UK data centres, designed to meet DfE standards and KCSiE requirements without requiring on-premise hardware.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Superfast Plus Broadband FTTC-based broadband connectivity option for smaller schools delivering up to 80Mbps download and 20Mbps upload speeds.
• Ultrafast Broadband FTTP-based full fibre broadband connectivity providing higher speeds from 100Mbps up to 1000Mbps for primary and secondary schools.
• Full Fibre Broadband Full fibre connections delivered via alternative network providers, offering speeds from 100Mbps up to 10Gbps at competitive pricing for use as primary or backup connection.
• Dedicated Leased Lines Business-grade dedicated internet access with guaranteed symmetrical speeds from 100Mbps to 10Gbps, 99.95% SLA, uncontended and fully managed service.
• Failover Lines Automatic backup connectivity solution providing resilient internet continuity when primary connection fails, meeting DfE broadband standards requirements.
• E-Safety Filtering Education-specific web filtering solution that blocks harmful and inappropriate content, with AI-driven dynamic categorisation engine identifying new websites in real time.
• Safeguarding Management Safeguarding Incident Management and Monitoring Platform providing real-time alerts, incident reporting, and management tools for Designated Safeguarding Leads.
• Smoothwall Monitor Real-time monitoring solution that tracks user activity on devices without blocking access, generating reports and alerts for safeguarding concerns.
• Network Security Cloud-hosted security services powered by Fortinet enterprise security platform, providing hosted FortiGate Next-Generation Firewalls with unified threat management, AI-driven threat detection, and real-time intrusion prevention.
• WatchGuard Anti-Virus (Endpoint Protection) Advanced endpoint protection service with AI-driven threat detection and response at the device level, identifying unusual behaviour and blocking attacks in real time.
• Anti-DDoS Protection Proactive Distributed Denial of Service attack protection included as standard with every Schools Broadband connection, monitoring and mitigating malicious traffic at the network edge before it reaches schools.
• Live Analytics and Reporting Real-time reporting dashboard providing visibility into network usage, security events, and filtering activities across school or MAT-wide deployments.
• Transparent Telemetry Service level performance diagnostics and bandwidth planning tools for Multi Academy Trusts to manage and monitor connectivity across multiple sites.
• Cloud Backup and Recovery Secure cloud-based data backup and recovery solution protecting against ransomware, with data stored in UK-based data centres.
• Wide Area Networks Private, secure Wide Area Network connecting all schools within a Multi Academy Trust, enabling resource sharing and centralised IT management at no additional charge for many MATs.
• Mobile Device Management Centralised management solution for school mobile devices, enabling configuration, security policy enforcement, and monitoring across devices.
• My School Phone Complete VoIP telephony service for schools, featuring school-wide paging, security alerts, recorded messaging, student support lines, call recording, and free UK landline/mobile calls, with remote phone feature for homeworking.
• SIP Trunks Session Initiation Protocol trunking service enabling voice over IP connectivity for schools transitioning from traditional PSTN lines.
• Mobiles Mobile device and SIM services for schools, including filtered 4G connectivity for BYOD scenarios and mobile device management.
• VoIP for MATs Voice over IP telephony solution designed for Multi Academy Trusts, enabling unified communication across all trust schools.

Quantifiable outcome

• Schools Broadband has stopped nearly 2,000 DDoS attacks with zero customers impacted
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability7 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• FortinetcoreTechnology or IntegrationFortinet provides the enterprise-grade security platform underlying Schools Broadband's managed security services. The partnership delivers hosted FortiGate Next-Generation Firewalls with AI-driven threat detection, intrusion prevention, and data leak prevention. This is a foundational technology partnership enabling Schools Broadband's core security offering.
• AltNet ProviderscoreTechnology or IntegrationOver 100 alternative network providers building full fibre networks across the UK. Schools Broadband partners with these AltNets to provide lightning-fast connections from 100Mbps to 10Gbps at competitive prices. Enables the company to offer carrier-agnostic connectivity solutions.
• Internet Watch Foundation (IWF)coreTechnology or IntegrationIWF membership since 2013. Schools Broadband's filtering solution uses the IWF Block List and Image Hash List to identify and block child sexual abuse material. Mandatory compliance ensures filtering meets minimum standards.
• National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchools Broadband works closely with the NCSC to set best practices for education security. As a Cyber Essentials Plus accredited organisation, they align with NCSC guidance and recommend NCSC resources (Cyber Aware, 10 Steps to Cyber Security, Cyber Essentials) to customers.
• Talk Straight LimitedcoreOthersSchools Broadband is a trading name of Talk Straight Limited. The parent company operates the schools-focused ISP brand and holds multiple ISPA awards. All services, contracts, and operations are under the Talk Straight Limited entity.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Atomwide: Atomwide delivers managed broadband, networks and IT security services to UK schools, academies and MATs, making it a closely comparable connectivity + security peer to Schools Broadband.
• Smoothwall: Smoothwall is a UK-headquartered specialist in web filtering, monitoring and safeguarding for schools and MATs, directly competing with Schools Broadband in the same customer segments with overlapping filtering and safeguarding products.
• LGfL (London Grid for Learning): LGfL is a UK education-focused connectivity and safeguarding provider serving schools and MATs, a direct alternative to Schools Broadband for broadband, filtering and digital safeguarding services.
• Jisc: Jisc operates the Janet network and provides digital, data and cyber security services to UK education and research, including schools, comparable in connectivity and security services to Schools Broadband.
• Senso Technologies: Senso provides safeguarding, monitoring and network management software specifically for UK and international schools, overlapping with Schools Broadband's monitoring and safeguarding offering for the same K-12 customer base.
• RM plc (RM Technology): RM plc is a long-standing UK education technology provider offering broadband, network management, security and IT services to schools and MATs, serving the same customer base as Schools Broadband at a more enterprise scale.

Broad incumbents

• Virgin Media O2 Business: Virgin Media O2 Business provides connectivity, mobile and managed services to UK public sector and education customers, serving as a broader incumbent alternative to Schools Broadband in the K-12 connectivity market.
• Capita Education / Capita Public Service: Capita delivers IT managed services, connectivity and digital solutions to UK schools and public-sector customers, competing with Schools Broadband on managed networks and IT services across the same education vertical.
• BT Education (British Telecom): BT is a major UK telco with dedicated education sector connectivity, security and managed service offerings, competing for the same schools and MATs as Schools Broadband but at much greater scale and as part of a broad portfolio.

Emerging players

• Impero Software (Insight Partners): Impero provides classroom management, safeguarding and monitoring software used by UK and international schools, overlapping with Schools Broadband's safeguarding management and monitoring product lines.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/schoolbroadband
• Facebookfacebook.com/488808247844678
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/2898299

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Schools Broadband