Paul Sumner
IT Director · Systems Integration & Cyber Security · AI-powered builder
- Guildford, Surrey
- paulsum1985@hotmail.com
- LinkedIn ↗
Profile
Technology leader with 20+ years in IT, the last 14 as the senior IT lead at Feltonfleet School in Cobham. I run the whole estate — Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, identity, devices, networks and cyber security — and I am part of the team integrating IT for the school’s merger into a multi-school charitable trust.
I am also a highly capable AI power-user. I design, build and ship production software with AI as my pair-programmer, and in the past year I have delivered six tools that replaced paid products, spreadsheets and manual processes. Calm under pressure, clear with non-technical people, and at my best when something that used to be painful simply works.
Experience
Director of Support IT, Systems Integration & Cyber Security (IT Director)
Joined as Network Manager; the role has grown in scope and seniority over 14 years.
- Senior IT lead for the school: strategy, c.£245k of annual budgets (ICT, photocopying and telephony), suppliers and contracts, and line management of the IT Technician.
- Part of the IT integration work for the school’s merger into a multi-school charitable trust: MIS consolidation, Microsoft 365 and identity, cyber security, data governance, IT due diligence, platform evaluation and advice to the Board on the future IT operating model.
- Took 1:1 iPads from pilot to full deployment (c.650 devices), covering procurement, staff training and safeguarding / acceptable-use policy.
- Delivered a full wireless network rebuild and extended secure connectivity to new buildings, including a theatre and classroom block.
- Migrated core infrastructure from on-premise servers to a cloud/serverless model and decommissioned the legacy server estate.
- Cyber security: Conditional Access design, Proofpoint email security, Microsoft Purview investigations supporting safeguarding cases, incident response and ISI inspection readiness.
- Member of the AI & Digital Strategy group behind a three-year whole-school AI strategy; led the Gemini / Copilot rollout, contributed to the AI policy and designed staff AI workshops.
- Hosted a cross-school computing meeting (Feb 2025), presenting AI for Teaching & Learning to staff from around seven schools.
- Earlier wins: email migration to Office 365, Chromebook deployment, cloud backup, web filtering, leased line and a 22-MacBook computing suite.
Senior IT Technician
- Front-line support for staff and students across the network, hardware and software; maintained the school website; installs, rollouts and troubleshooting.
IT Support (work placement)
- Service desk support and troubleshooting at a major TV production company.
Built with AI
- IT Support DeskReplaced Freshdesk. Email-to-ticket via Microsoft Graph, Google sign-in, gamified queue.
- Termly Reports SystemReplaced MIS + spreadsheet report writing; feeds automated parent PDF letters.
- IT Operations WallLive service health, tasks, reminders and SNMP printer monitoring.
- Face Blur ToolAutomatic face blurring so school video can be shared safely.
- Catering & Allergies PortalReplaced a spreadsheet for pupils’ dietary needs.
- Little Doves websiteStorybook-style site and application journey for the school nursery.