Education Technology Case Study · Inner West Sydney

Leichhardt Public School — Q-SYS PA & Bell System Redevelopment

Masters Voice Technology redeveloped Leichhardt Public School's campus communication system around Q-SYS processing and control, automated bell scheduling, targeted paging, Dante networked audio and priority communication.

Q-SYS Control Dante Audio Automated Bells Campus Paging Education
Explore the project ↓ Education AV systems →
Project requirement

Replacing failed legacy PA infrastructure with a complete campus communication platform

Leichhardt Public School required more than a repair to an ageing bell timer. The existing PA infrastructure could no longer provide dependable school-wide communication for scheduled bells, daily paging and urgent announcements.

The redevelopment needed to restore clear audio across classrooms, corridors, administration spaces and outdoor areas while making normal operation straightforward for administration staff.

It also required a technical platform capable of bringing bell schedules, paging zones, audio routing and priority functions together while allowing the system to grow as campus requirements changed.

  • Replace unreliable legacy PA infrastructure
  • Restore dependable automated bell scheduling
  • Improve speech clarity throughout the campus
  • Create practical, understandable paging zones
  • Provide priority communication over routine audio
  • Establish a scalable networked platform
Leichhardt Public School PA and bell system redevelopment
Campus communication workflow

From timetable scheduling to campus-wide priority communication

The system brings school bell scheduling, selected-zone paging, priority communication and distributed audio into one coordinated operating workflow.

Managing automated bell schedules for a school PA system
01

Manage Bell Schedules

Authorised administration staff can manage normal daily schedules, lesson changes, special events, timetable exceptions and holiday periods through a structured control interface.

Targeted school paging and announcement controls
02

Make Targeted Announcements

Staff can direct live or recorded announcements toward nominated buildings, selected paging zones or the complete school rather than broadcasting every routine message everywhere.

Priority communication overriding routine school bell audio
03

Prioritise Important Messages

Programmed priority logic allows approved urgent communication to take precedence over routine bells, music and normal paging according to the school's configured communication workflow.

Distributed audio coverage throughout a school campus
04

Distribute Clear Audio

Dante networked audio, commercial amplification and appropriately distributed loudspeakers provide consistent communication across classrooms, corridors, administration and required outdoor areas.

Read the School Bell System Guide →
Integrated technology

Q-SYS control, Dante networking and distributed school audio

Rather than replacing individual failed components with another collection of isolated devices, the redevelopment centred the system around an integrated audio and control architecture.

Q-SYS networked PA and bell system control
Central platform

Q-SYS Processing & Control

Q-SYS provides the central processing and control environment for bell scheduling, paging, audio routing, priority behaviour and staff control functions.

Explore Q-SYS integration →
Dante digital audio networking used for school audio distribution
Network audio

Dante Audio Networking

Dante provides digital audio transport between system components, creating flexible routing and a more scalable alternative to relying solely on long analogue audio pathways.

Explore Dante audio networking →
TOA distributed loudspeakers for school PA coverage
Distributed audio

Lab Gruppen & TOA

Dante-capable Lab Gruppen amplification supports the distributed speaker zones, while TOA loudspeakers provide practical coverage across classrooms, corridors, administration spaces and shared areas.

Design · Install · Commission

Redeveloping the communication system around how the school actually operates

A reliable school PA redevelopment starts with operational requirements: where people need to hear announcements, who needs to make them, how bell schedules change and which messages need priority.

01

Assess

Review the failed legacy infrastructure, existing speaker areas, administration requirements and campus communication needs.

02

Design

Develop the paging zones, audio routing, schedules, control workflow, priority logic and networked audio architecture.

03

Integrate

Bring Q-SYS control, Dante distribution, commercial amplification and loudspeaker infrastructure into one coordinated platform.

04

Commission

Verify schedules, paging behaviour, audio distribution, staff controls and priority communication before operational handover.

Project outcomes

Reliable whole-campus communication restored

The completed redevelopment replaced unreliable legacy equipment with a modern communication platform designed around clarity, straightforward staff operation and future expansion.

Reliable daily operation Scheduled bells and routine paging restored
Improved speech clarity More consistent communication across required school areas
Simpler administration control Staff workflows built around school operations rather than AV hardware
Networked infrastructure Q-SYS and Dante provide a foundation for future expansion

Delivered benefits

  • School paging and bell functionality restored
  • Reliable automated bell schedules
  • Clearer spoken announcements
  • Targeted building and campus paging
  • Priority communication over routine audio
  • Simplified staff control
  • Dante networked audio distribution
  • Reduced reliance on obsolete legacy hardware
  • Expandable platform for future zones and controls
Why this project matters

A school bell system is part of the campus communication infrastructure

Schools rely on the same communication infrastructure for routine timetable changes, administration announcements, staff coordination and approved priority communication.

When ageing PA infrastructure becomes unreliable, the problem extends beyond a missed bell. Poor speech clarity, undocumented zones and inconsistent operation can make everyday communication harder to manage.

The Leichhardt redevelopment demonstrates the value of treating scheduling, paging, processing, amplification, loudspeaker coverage and control as one coordinated system.

Client feedback

Easier administration and clearer school-wide communication

Feedback following delivery highlighted the rapid response to the school's critical communication issue, straightforward bell-schedule management for administration staff and a substantial improvement in audio quality throughout the campus.

Leichhardt project questions

School PA & Bell System FAQs

Practical information about the Leichhardt Public School redevelopment and modern networked campus communication systems.

Why was the Leichhardt Public School PA system replaced?

The existing legacy infrastructure had become unreliable and could no longer provide dependable school-wide bells, paging and clear communication. The project therefore required a complete redevelopment rather than a minor equipment repair.

What platform was used for the new school PA and bell system?

Q-SYS was used as the central audio processing and control platform, bringing bell scheduling, paging zones, audio routing, priority functions and staff controls into one coordinated environment.

How is audio distributed around the school?

Dante networked audio is used as part of the digital audio distribution architecture, supported by commercial amplification and distributed loudspeakers across the required campus areas.

Can administration staff change school bell schedules?

Yes. The system is designed so authorised administration staff can manage normal schedules and timetable changes through a practical user interface rather than relying on fixed legacy timer hardware.

Can announcements be sent to selected areas of the school?

Yes. The paging architecture allows announcements to be directed toward selected buildings, defined zone groups or the complete school, depending on the configured operational requirements.

Can priority messages override normal school bells?

Approved priority communication can be configured to take precedence over routine bells and normal paging. The exact priority workflow should be designed and commissioned around the school's approved communication procedures.

Is a school PA system the same as a certified emergency warning system?

No. A general PA and bell system should not automatically be described as a certified fire alarm, occupant warning or EWIS. Where statutory emergency-warning requirements apply, system classification and certification must be confirmed separately with the appropriate consultants and certifiers.

Can the system be expanded later?

Yes. The networked Q-SYS and Dante architecture provides a more flexible foundation for future changes such as additional zones, loudspeakers, control functions or connected buildings, subject to the available infrastructure and system capacity.

Education AV & communications

Planning a PA, bell or campus communication upgrade?

Masters Voice Technology can assess existing PA infrastructure, bell scheduling, paging zones, loudspeaker coverage, audio networking, electrical requirements and communications cabling before developing an appropriate upgrade strategy.

Discuss your school project → Explore Education AV View more case studies