School assemblies bring pupils and staff together to celebrate achievements, share important messages and explore new ideas. The technology supporting them should help presenters deliver their message confidently, with straightforward access to their content and clear amplification of their voice.
For Stanborough School, Protech Solutions supplied and installed a new black PA25 presentation lectern, bringing a touchscreen monitor, the school’s existing PC, laptop connectivity and a gooseneck microphone into one presentation point. The installation was designed to simplify operation and support a smoother experience for both speakers and their audience.
The proposed brief was to create a practical, professional presentation point that would make the school’s existing AV equipment easier to use during assemblies and other hall activities.
Rather than leaving the PC in a separate AV cabinet, the installation would bring it into the lectern, placing access to presentation content directly in front of the speaker. Staff would also need the flexibility to connect a laptop without a complicated sequence of source changes.
A further priority was to provide a dedicated microphone and organise the connections between the lectern and the wider AV system. Together, these changes would help staff concentrate on delivering their assembly, with fewer technical steps to manage.
We also personalised the presentation lectern with Stanborough School’s logo, creating a smart, recognisable focal point for the hall. This finishing touch reinforces the school’s identity during assemblies, presentations and events.
At the centre of the installation is a black PA25 lectern, fitted with an almost flush-mounted 16-inch touchscreen monitor. This creates a dedicated place for presenters to view and interact with content while addressing the hall.
The school’s existing PC was relocated from the AV cabinet into the lectern. Reusing this equipment allowed the upgrade to improve access and usability without requiring a replacement computer as part of the installation.
For assemblies, this arrangement gives the presenter a convenient point from which to manage their material. Instead of needing to access a computer elsewhere, staff can remain at the lectern, helping maintain the flow of their presentation.
The integrated monitor also keeps the working surface organised, with the display built into the lectern rather than occupying space as a separate desktop screen.
While the installed PC provides the standard presentation source, staff and visiting speakers may prefer to use their own laptop. To accommodate this, the lectern includes an accessible HDMI input connected to an Atlona HDMI automatic switch.
The switch is configured to use the lectern PC by default. When a laptop is connected to the HDMI input, it automatically selects that device. Once the laptop is unplugged, the system returns to the PC.
This removes the need for presenters to select between those two sources manually. It also creates a straightforward handover when different people are presenting during the same assembly or event.
For example, a member of staff can deliver the main assembly using the PC, followed by a guest speaker connecting their laptop. The automatic switching is designed to make that transition easier, reducing interruptions while equipment is changed.
The presentation lectern also includes a Shure gooseneck microphone, providing a dedicated microphone position for the person addressing the audience.
Clear speech is an essential part of an effective assembly. Whether announcing pupil achievements, delivering notices or introducing a performance, presenters need their words to reach the audience.
A lectern-mounted microphone gives speakers a consistent place to present from, with the microphone available as part of the setup. This supports an organised approach to assemblies and reduces the equipment a presenter needs to manage separately.
To connect the lectern to the wider installation, Protech Solutions supplied an umbilical cord containing power, an XLR connection for the microphone and two Cat6 connections.
One Cat6 connection supports the HDMI signal path, while the other provides network connectivity. The output from the automatic HDMI switch feeds the HDMI connection on the umbilical.
Grouping these services into one connection arrangement helps keep the installation organised and provides a defined link between the presentation point and the hall’s supporting infrastructure.
The main benefit of this installation is the opportunity to make assemblies easier to deliver. With the PC, touchscreen, microphone and laptop input together, presenters have the key tools they need in one place.
Fewer manual source changes can mean less time spent managing equipment and more attention on the audience. Smoother transitions between speakers can also help maintain pupils’ attention and keep the assembly moving.
Technology alone cannot make an assembly engaging, but it can remove distractions that interrupt a well-prepared presentation. This presentation lectern gives Stanborough School a practical foundation for confident delivery, accessible content and more organised hall events.
Looking to simplify presentations in your school hall? Contact Protech Solutions to arrange a free site survey and discuss a presentation lectern suited to your existing AV system.
