Monkton Combe School
TDSi provide centralised Access Control on a multi-site campus.
The Overview
Monkton Combe school is an independent boarding and day school near Bath, England. The school provides children from the age of two with a rich education that combines academic excellence with a lively Christian ethos, outstanding facilities and exceptional pastoral care.
Before the project, all doors across the sites were locked by key. At the end of each day a member of staff would have to manually lock all external doors, which was time-consuming and left room for errors and the possibility that doors could inadvertently be left unlocked.
Multiple Sites
120 Doors
GARDiS PRO Software
The Requirement
Monkton Combe School wanted to update its access control solution to protect people and property, especially the boarding houses and the young people staying in the facilities. As well as preventing external threats, the school was also concerned about the security and whereabouts of boarder students out of school time.
A spokesperson for Monkton Combe School commented, “We have a very open site which has both cycle paths and foot paths going through the grounds. The campus is a mixture of buildings and open fields that covers an area of approximately 100 acres. Prior to the installation of the access control, we used a mobile foot patrol to secure the site at a given time. As both security and safeguarding has changed within the education world, we had to rethink our security policy. To do this we decided to install a networked access control system.”
The Solution
Monkton Combe School turned to expert installer FTL Secure Solutions to design and fit the right access control solution. Having examined the requirements and discussed the specific needs and criteria of the school, FTL Secure Solutions specified TDSi’s range of access control systems for the project.
FTL Secure Solutions specified TDSI’s powerful GARDiS PRO security management software to oversee the site and all its linked access points and doors. Each access door is linked to either a TDSi MICROgarde 1 (for a single door) or MICROgarde 2 (for two linked doors) access controller.
These deliver cost-effective networkable performance that is robust and reliable and can be easily connected to the IT network. Initially the project incorporated 30 doors on the senior school, but has now extended to the Prep, Pre-Prep and boarding houses, with 120 doors across all the sites.
The Result
By connecting all the secured doors to GARDiS PRO via the MICROgarde controllers, Monkton Combe School now has a centralised access control system that provides multiple levels of access for staff and students along with a centralised lockdown facility with safe areas. Three campuses can be controlled from a single location, removing the requirement for staff to spend hours each day physically locking doors.
As well as securing against external threats, the solution now also shows the security and teaching staff if students have entered or left secure areas, in case they need to be located.
Monkton Combe School has been impressed with the installation as the school’s spokesperson added, “ The school praises the flexibility of the TDSi solution, the GARDiS system is very flexible to our needs and well placed to manage these requirements.
MICROgarde I IP Controller
The MICROgarde I IP Controller is a cost-effective, entry-level networkable access controller unit that offers the advantages of central control and event reporting.
GARDiS PRO Software
Stepping up to provide the best solution to the latest security challenges, the GARDiS browser-based application provides the most cutting-edge software within the market.
MICROgarde II IP + PSU Controller
A cost-effective networkable two-door access control unit; providing reliable access control for up to 400 doors
