Bromcom SMS

The NI rollout of the Bromcom School Management System (SMS) is now well underway in primary Schools. Before the end of term over 400 Primary schools will be live on Bromcom. For a full update on our progress, watch our latest EdIS News video below. 

Rollout to schools will continue in the 2026/27 academic year with further information being provided before the summer to the remaining primary schools, all post primary schools, special schools and EOTAS centres.

Ahead of continued rollout, all schools have been asked to complete tasks in preparation for their move to the new system and we are grateful to schools for their cooperation. 

• Primary school rollout expected to complete in Nov 2026.
• EOTAS, post primary and special schools expected to transition from Sept 2026 - Mar 2027.
• Nursery School rollout to begin later in 2027.

We commend our pilot primary schools for their enthusiastic participation and support to ensure smooth delivery of Bromcom to all NI schools. They share their experience as part of our Spotlight video series.

For more information, visit Bromcom School Management System (SMS).

Gen AI for Teaching and Learning

EdIS/C2k are delivering Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) capabilities to all teachers in NI, providing tools, training and guidance to support a reduction in teacher workload and improve wellbeing. This technology uses AI to generate new content such as text, image, audio or video by learning patterns from existing data.

The project launched at a series of GenAI Leadership Conferences for Principals this month. The conferences, in partnership with Microsoft, provided important strategic context, shared learning from the proof-of-concept pilots, outlined what the GenAI offer means for schools, and issued clarity on safeguards, training requirements and next steps.

Video presentations from the conference are available on the GenAI Leadership Conference page. With thanks to EAtv. 

EA Connect

EA’s Statutory Assessment process is now on EA Connect. Parents and carers are benefitting from improved communications as well as access to a visual timeline, which provides live status updates on the progress of their child’s request or referral.

Support materials for schools and parents can be accessed on the SEN website under Request for Statutory Assessment.

• Total processing time reduced from 26 weeks to 7 weeks in some cases
• 6 week decision point target met in 99.7% of cases representing a 50% improvement 

Additionally, for children who are identified as having a special transport need, parents can now view and track the status of their child’s transport request, and, once finalised, view journey arrangements through EA Connect.

Watch EA Connect EdIS News Update below.

Applications for Free School Meals/Uniform Grants and School Transport are currently open on EA Connect. Parents are encouraged to apply now to ensure support is in place for September.

ELMS - Enhancing School Libraries, Inspiring Readers

ELMS, our new education library management system, is reinvigorating how schools are engaging with books, literacy resources and libraries. With functionality to support both staff and pupils, the ELMS system brings significant improvements to accessing resources as well as comprehensive reporting capabilities and enabling innovative literacy support. For a full insight into how ELMS is transforming literacy in schools, watch St Patrick’s High School, Keady share their experience.

Get ELMS in your school – Register by completing the ELMS Registration of Interest Form.

Available to all school sectors with bespoke features according to age and ability.

ELMS Info and Demos

EA Education Library Service (ELS) staff and supplier representatives recently attended the GenAI for Principals Conferences and the First Time Principal Induction Programme to give attendees an opportunity to discuss their school’s library requirements and to view the software in action. Look out for their stand at future EA events which will provide similar opportunities.

Haven Collection - Now available to loan

The Haven Collection is a new selection of books designed to support readers with additional needs, provided by ELMS supplier, Softlink. 

The range is specially chosen to enable pupils across all school sectors to have access to appropriate reading materials they will find engaging. 

For more information and to view the full catalogue of books, visit ELMS Haven Collection.

Core Switch Upgrade

We are pleased to confirm that the project to replace and upgrade each school’s aging Huawei Core Switch with modern Cisco architecture was successfully completed in December 2025. 

As part of this work, nearly 400 Primary and Special schools also received additional switch‑port capacity enabling future hard‑wired connections to the Managed Network. 

Access/Edge Cisco Switch Upgrade

Building on this modernisation of the schools’ LAN network, EdIS is now commencing a new project to replace all remaining Huawei Edge/Access‑layer switches with Cisco which will further enhance network performance, strengthen security and ensure long‑term resilience across the estate.

This will be a phased implementation that will extend into 2027, with work commencing in June and continuing over the summer months. Additional comms outlining plans and timelines will be shared with schools imminently. 

Nursery Unit Connectivity

95% of nursery units now have C2k connectivity which links them back to their parent primary school, with work ongoing to connect those remaining.

This includes addressing the particular challenges faced by hard‑to‑reach locations and split‑site settings which need further investigation.

Feedback from these connected units has been consistently positive. Staff report that day‑to‑day tasks have become noticeably easier and more efficient, with smoother access to online learning resources and improved use of digital systems for administration and record‑keeping. In many cases, enhanced connectivity has also enabled more engaging and interactive learning experiences for children.

EdIS Exchange

The EdIS eXchange podcast brings together industry experts, education practitioners and key stakeholders to engage in discussion about innovations, best practices and the ever-changing digital landscape in the education sector. 

NOW AVAILABLE – our latest episodes discuss embedding digital technology in education with some of the 2025 winners of the School ICT Excellence Awards. 

• Episode 5 with Brenda Mullan, Clifton School, Bangor, and Professor Don Passey, discussing the use of technology within the special education sector. Passey to discuss use of technology within the special education sector. 
• Episode 6 features Principal, Cathy Humphrey, and ICT Coordinator, Evie Hunter from Groggan Primary School covering topics such as computational thinking, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and artificial intelligence. 
• Episode 7 invites teachers Michael Fegan and Anna Carr from St Colman’s College, Newry, to share their forward-thinking approach to digital learning - from long-term planning to empowering pupils through technology.

EdIS eXchange is available to stream on  Spotify, Amazon Music and Apple Podcasts. Videos can also be viewed under EdIS eXchange Podcast.

Academia Services for NI Schools

Apple Premium Education Partner, Academia, has been recently reappointed by EA to continue their support of NI schools with the supply of Apple technology, alongside a range of additional services designed to maximise the impact of digital investment in education such as conferences and training. Academia will use their extensive experience to provide Apple device deployment, lifecycle management, Apple Professional learning and technical support services.

Digital Skills: Back to School Summer Training Week

Join us for a week of hands-on sessions, expert insights, and practical tools designed to enhance your digital skills as we kick start the new academic year.

Taking place from 24th August - 26th August 2026, teachers will have the opportunity to learn alongside digital experts from Adobe, Just2Easy and Apple.

Secure your place today!

More information and booking available under EdIS Training.

Notebook LM

Following a successful pilot program, NotebookLM is now available to all post-primary students in Northern Ireland via their C2k accounts, seamlessly supporting both Microsoft and Google users.

Early feedback has been positive, with students highlighting the platform's ease of access as a key feature. Practice quizzes were rated as the most effective study tool by more than 50% of students in the pilot study, alongside highly valued flashcards, videos, and 'chat' features. Teachers echo this enthusiasm, praising the speed and ease of generating high-quality, diverse materials. Educators described multimedia tools such as slide decks and infographics as "game-changing," noting the platform's efficient design for accessibility and personalised learning.

Developing Literacy Conference

Teachers leading literacy initiatives shared their expertise at the Developing Literacy Event at W5, Belfast.

Catherine Weir from St Peter’s Primary School, Belfast; Jonny Mansfield from Priory Integrated College, Holywood; and Chris Mackle from St Mary’s Primary School, Banbridge, showcased practical resources and approaches they use to engage learners and bring reading and storytelling to life in the classroom.

The event provided by Academia and hosted in collaboration with EdIS/C2k also featured keynote presentations from Brian Gallagher, author with O’Brien Press, and representatives from Academia and Apple.

Thank you to all who contributed to a highly engaging and successful event focused on strengthening literacy practice across our schools.

Google for Education Research Partnership

A select group of teachers attended the launch of the Google for Education Research Partnership with EdIS/C2k. 

Building on our recent Gemini pilot with over 100 teachers, this next stage connects our educators directly with Google’s engineers and designers to: 

• Explore how AI can reduce teacher workload 
• Strengthen support for SEN students
• Shape the future of Google Classroom and Gemini

Thank you to Amanda Rosenburg and her colleagues from Google for Education for joining us in Northern Ireland to launch this project. Together with Google for Education, EdIS is ensuring our schools remain world-leading in meaningful, impactful technology integration.

Rowandale IPS - Google Reference School Event

EdIS/C2k colleagues attended a fantastic event at Rowandale Integrated Primary School in May which showcased the school’s status as a Google Reference Institution. 

Led by Principal, Frances Hughes, and ICT Coordinator, Rachel McCarragher, the event demonstrated how digital innovation and strong leadership are helping to enhance teaching and learning. 

The programme featured a series of practical and inspiring sessions exploring how AI and Google Workspace are supporting teaching and learning. 

Guests heard from a range of speakers including C2k eLearning Consultants, Chris Robinson and Chynel McCrink, Google Coach, Nicole Donnelly, from St Peter’s Primary School, Cloughreagh, and Luke Craig, Google’s Communities and Programmes Lead UK and Ireland.  

We look forward to seeing how these Google innovations continue to make a positive impact in classrooms.

Enhancing Education with Microsoft Tools

Throughout the school year, educators from across Northern Ireland have taken part in a series of hands-on professional learning days focused on getting the most from the Microsoft tools already available through My-School.

Delivered through a strong partnership between Sarah Gibbons from Microsoft Elevate and the EdIS/C2k eLearning team, the programme has supported teachers to enhance both classroom practice and everyday workflow.

The sessions focused on making better use of familiar tools such as Microsoft Teams, OneDrive, Learning Accelerators and built-in accessibility features. Educators explored practical, inclusive approaches aligned with Universal Design for Learning, helping to remove barriers and support all learners, while also considering how AI tools like Copilot can be used responsibly to support planning, differentiation and feedback.

Accessibility in Technology

Rory Goss, Alumni of Abbey Christian Brother’s School, Newry, and current Business Studies student at Ulster University, has been working with Apple to showcase the crucial role that technology can play in accessibility. 

Since suddenly losing 95% of his vision during his A-level studies, Rory has been a champion of Apple accessibility features and the potential they have to empower. Rory shared his story in a moving video that was launched by Apple at various international locations before culminating at a special event in Belfast.

Watch Rory’s story.