Stationery and BYOD

All students are required to have access to a device throughout the school day. In most cases this will be a student owned (BYOD) computer. We will have provision to support families with day loan devices for those who are temporarily unable to bring a computer so this does not pose a barrier to learning/ participation.

​

BYOD specifications

If your son already owns a device then it is likely we will be able to accommodate it.

However, not all devices are suitable and if you are at the stage of purchasing a device for your son then the following specifications will ensure that the device you buy can best support the intended learning outcomes and classroom use.

 

The school provides access to various learning applications which work best on a PC or Mac laptop. Most students also report that a laptop best suits the learning needs in lessons. The decision between the type of laptop to purchase or use involves considering weight and portability as well as functionality.

​

Recommendations

We do not specify one particular model as this means that there is a wider range of models and generally at a cheaper cost to parents. If you go into a store, use the following help to choose a device.

• Long life battery with the ability to work through the day without the need for repeated recharging

• Wifi capable

• Minimum 10 inch screen. Very Large screens, although attractive, are heavier and have a shorter battery life

• We would recommend a minimum of 4GB RAM & CORE i3 Processor or higher

• Bluetooth to allow connection to other devices provided by the school

• Camera to enable video recordings

 
Software Recommendations

One of the many benefits of BYOD is the fact that we can provide for free or for a subsidised cost software that would otherwise be too expensive for parents and students to purchase themselves outside of school.

 

By enrolling with the school your son will gain a license to Office 365 suite. This can be installed on up to 5 computers in the household, so the family also benefits. If, when purchasing a laptop a salesman offers you Office 365, please do not purchase it!

In term 4 we will email details on how to download software (including Office 365) along with details of how to start accessing school systems. This will mean that your son will arrive in with a better idea of how to use school systems.

​

We are proud to use Microsoft and Google Apps For Education for our dual platform for teaching and learning.
 
For further information please email Dr Eliot Attridge (Director of Innovative Learning & Head of Science).