Does PSTN switch-off 2027 affect UK schools?

Yes. Almost every UK school has PSTN-dependent services — reception phones, fire alarm signalling, lift emergency phones, payment terminals, building management. Audit and migrate before 31 January 2027.

Do classroom intercoms need to be kept after PSTN switch-off?

No specific regulation requires them. Many UK schools are using PSTN switch-off as the reason to remove classroom intercoms entirely in favour of mobile / Teams-based staff communication. Cleanly reduces PSTN dependency.

How much does PSTN migration cost for a typical UK secondary school?

Indicative: £5,000-25,000 one-off plus £400-800/month ongoing for typical secondary school. Often cost-positive versus existing consolidated PSTN setup once completed. Wide variance by school size, complexity, and existing infrastructure.

PSTN Switch-Off 2027 for UK Schools (2026 Guide): State, Academy, Independent

Last updated: April 2026

UK schools — primary, secondary, sixth-form, FE, MATs, independents — have multiple PSTN-dependent services. Reception switchboard, classroom intercoms, fire alarm signalling, lift phones, safeguarding helplines, payment terminals, building management. All need migration before 31 January 2027.

What's affected in a typical school

Front-of-house

Reception phone line(s) — usually rotary group with multiple lines
Bursar's office direct lines
Pupil contact line for parents
Out-of-hours / emergency safeguarding line
Reception fax (still used in some special-needs schools for medical correspondence)

Around the building

Classroom intercoms — often dial-out PSTN connections
Caretaker / site manager radio system base (some older systems use PSTN dial-back)
Fire alarm signalling — to monitoring company (independent and academy schools more often have this; state schools sometimes don't)
Intruder alarm signalling
Lift emergency phones (multi-storey buildings, legally required)
Boiler / building management — some plant rooms have dial-out alarm systems

IT / external

Older payment terminals (cashless catering systems, parent payment terminals)
Some legacy CCTV with dial-out alert capability
Classroom interactive whiteboard cellular backup (rare)

Boarding schools (additional)

House phones — if any houses use shared landlines
24-hour duty phones for housemasters/mistresses
Pupil pay-phones if still present (largely gone in 2026)

What to replace each with

Reception switchboard

Cloud VoIP system. UK schools with Microsoft 365 (most state and independent schools do) can use Teams Phone for reception, or a dedicated school VoIP platform. £200-500/month for a typical school.

Fire and intruder alarms

IP signalling via existing alarm monitoring company. BT Redcare IP, CSL DualCom IP, or specialist provider. Cost similar or slightly cheaper than existing PSTN monitoring.

Lift phones

GSM-based units installed during scheduled lift maintenance. £300-800 install + monthly monitoring.

Classroom intercoms

If still used, replace with IP-based intercom systems integrated with cloud VoIP. Many schools are removing classroom intercoms entirely in favour of mobile communication for staff.

Payment terminals

Most cashless catering and parent payment systems are now IP-based (ParentPay, sQuid, ParentMail, Caterer's Choice). Verify any older terminals with provider; replacement usually free.

State school / academy specific considerations

State and academy schools usually have:

Local Authority procurement frameworks for telecoms (LA-organised contracts)
Education Network suppliers (Janet network, regional broadband consortia like LGfL, Schools Broadband UK)
DfE guidance on procurement for systems

These bodies have been coordinating PSTN migration through their procurement programmes. If you're a state school or academy, check with:

Your LA / MAT IT department — they may have a centralised migration plan
Your broadband / internet provider — many are bundling VoIP migration
DfE-recommended frameworks for cloud telephony procurement

Don't try to migrate independently if your LA or MAT has a programme. Coordinate.

Independent school considerations

Independent schools usually have more autonomy and more complex PSTN footprints:

Larger campuses with multiple buildings — more lift phones, more alarm circuits
Boarding facilities — house phones, duty phones
Sports and PE facilities — pool emergency phones, sports hall lift phones
Catering — more complex commercial kitchen alarm systems
Music and arts facilities — venue-specific phones

Independent schools should run a comprehensive audit covering every building. See our Microsoft 365 for solicitors UK piece for the M365 + safeguarding angle that complements the PSTN migration.

Safeguarding and KCSIE implications

Schools must consider safeguarding implications of any communications change:

DSL must remain reachable — duty phone setup must be tested through migration
Pupil-facing emergency lines — boarding school 24/7 lines, dedicated safeguarding helplines
Designated reception hours coverage — parent ability to reach the school during school hours can't lapse during migration
Out-of-hours arrangements — calls to school out of hours must route correctly (often to duty manager mobile)

KCSIE doesn't mandate specific telecoms infrastructure, but all of the above must be resilient through the migration.

Timeline

Now (April-September 2026)

Whole-school audit of every PSTN line
Coordinate with LA / MAT / broadband provider
Get quotes from VoIP suppliers (UK education-specialist providers exist)
Budget approval through governors' meeting

October-December 2026

Migration of phone systems
Alarm and lift phone upgrades
Staff training
Parent communication

January 2027

Final cutover monitoring
Confirm all services post-31-Jan

Cost expectation for a typical secondary school

Cloud VoIP for reception + offices: £400-800/month for 50-100 extensions
Fire alarm IP migration: one-off £500-2,000
Lift phone GSM upgrades: £500-1,000 per lift + monitoring
Classroom intercom replacement (if needed): £2,000-10,000
Project coordination: dependent on complexity

Total: typically £5,000-25,000 one-off + £400-800/month ongoing. Often cost-positive vs existing PSTN setup once consolidated.

FAQs

Does PSTN switch-off affect my school?

Yes if you have any PSTN lines for reception, alarms, lifts, payment terminals, or building management. Almost every UK school has at least one PSTN-dependent service. Audit and migrate before 31 January 2027.

Will my Local Authority handle the migration for state schools?

Sometimes. Many LAs and MATs have central programmes for PSTN migration through their procurement frameworks. Check with your LA IT or MAT IT lead before going independent.

Are LGfL or Schools Broadband providers handling VoIP for member schools?

Most regional school broadband consortia have voice / VoIP offerings as part of their service. LGfL, KOM, NEN-PoP equivalents, and others. Check with your provider for migration plans.

Do I need to keep classroom intercoms?

No specific regulation requires them. Many UK schools are removing classroom intercoms entirely in favour of mobile / Teams-based communication for staff. Reduces PSTN dependency cleanly.

What about boarding house phones?

Boarding schools should treat house phones as front-of-house critical infrastructure. Migrate to VoIP via the main school system, with each house getting extensions. 24/7 duty phones can be VoIP softphone or dedicated mobile.

Getting a quote

Call 01743 598025 or request a quote. Free PSTN audit for UK schools — covers all dependencies, sequenced migration plan.

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