Solution

MES Systems Ltd installed Net2 at Higham Lane School. Net2 is an advanced access control system that offers centralised administration and management of sites with up to 1,000 doors and 50,000 users. It is also designed to easily integrate with other security systems.

Richard Morgan, Managing Director at MES Systems Ltd, said: “We presented a range of possible solutions to the Facilities Management team at the school. Net2 was one that met all their requirements, with additional benefits of a five-year guarantee on the products and great free technical support from Paxton.”

Net2 Proximity MIFARE® Readers are installed across the campus, which allow staff and visitors to use the school’s existing ID cards to gain access through doors. The Facilities Management team can view entry and exit events in different areas of the school from the Net2 software, to ensure the campus’ safety. The team can also generate a roll call report in the event of an emergency so they can check that everyone on site is accounted for.

Paxton’s video door entry system, Entry, is installed at the school’s entrance gate. When visitors come to the gate, they can call the school’s Reception team via the Entry panel. Reception can then verify the visitor’s identity using Paxton’s video entry monitor and grant or deny access from their desk.

Richard and his team at MES Systems Ltd also integrated a few third-party systems into Net2, providing a more streamlined access control experience for Higham Lane School. These include Automatic Number Plate Recognition(ANPR) cameras at the entrance gate, a CCTV system, and a fire alarm integration that enables automatic door release in the event of a fire.

The integrated ANPR cameras offer easy access for staff. When they drive their registered vehicle to the gate, the gate will automatically open and an access event will be generated in the Net2 software.

Richard said: “The ability to view all events and generate reports is very important to the school. If any issues arise on campus, the full audit trail is invaluable.”

Result

The Facilities Management team at Higham Lane School finds the Net2 system easy to use for their safeguarding requirements and managing external users of the campus’ facilities.

Betty Dunne, Estates and Premises Manager at Higham Lane School, said: “We all find Net2 works really well for our school. I often have to make changes to the timezone set up for access management, for example for parents’ evenings and for when we hire out our sports hall and gym to local sports groups. I find Net2 very easy to use.”

Richard Morgan said: “Students, staff, and parents now have peace of mind knowing that unauthorised visitors cannot enter the site. The installation of a reliable security system also reduced the risk of theft and vandalism, ensuring the protection of valuable assets and property.”

In addition, available with the Net2 Pro Software, Net2Online’s web user interface and the Paxton Connect app allow Richard and his team to offer remote support to the Facilities Management team. Paxton Connect is a free mobile app that provides remote site management from a smart device, enabling Richard and his team to save travel time and react quickly when needed.