School laptop costs

[RjMuk]

DS is going into year 7. His school has sent out comms saying it is compulsory to purchase a school laptop. £618 up front or spread over monthly payments with interest. We have been told that we have to purchase this, though those eligible for free schools meals will be provided for. I am greatly concerned about access to education and adding in a financial barrier to accessing class/in person education. I have been told that my son will not get same education if we don't purchase it. Has anyone else had this? Does anyone else want to set up a campaign asking the government to properly fund schools digital policy, provide policy on what schools are allowed to do, and ensure access to education remains without a financial barrier?

Nope. Has to be that device and through the school.

This is really helpful. I hadn't realised the difference between state and academy. They've answered it all tbh saying it is compulsory, anyone who can't afford it will be covered. But that everyone else has to buy one. Not sure yet what happens if you don't. Deputy said verbally last night it will affect my kids education as he won't have a top end device with a touchscreen. Headteacher was more helpful. But I don't think I can change them and I have since found out lots of schools (not all) do this. So feels like it's a policy argument, as nothing I can do about this school. Plus no one else is raising it as an issue. Whereas I am dumbfounded that my kids are being charged to be educated.

This is a quote from the Ofsted head about it
“You cannot and must not expect, as a headteacher, to ask for additional resource of parents to buy something to deliver the state’s free education system.
“And that is guidance that all headteachers are well aware of… schools have a duty to make sure that’s entirely accessible.”

And this seems pretty cut and dry as well from the department for education.
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-07-10/66641/

I don’t see how the head can think the rules don’t apply to them. Can you ask them what is the specific basis for their belief that it’s fine for them to do this?

Where have you found these ‘lots of schools’ that are doing the same? I genuinely don’t know of any.

Definitely a few next to us, at least 2 with similar price and saying it's compulsory. A few that have not gone for highest spec machines and aren't passing on cost of software. I've asked Council for a list of schools that are doing it, but not got it back yet. And then some when it is lower cost and actually voluntary. And then lots that aren't. The deputy said your child won't get same out of class if you are the only one that doesn't do it.

Also my brothers a headteacher and he says they have the same thing. They don't go as far to say it's compulsory but if they don't make it essential parents won't pay and they can't afford it. I asked why make a policy if it isn't funded and he says it's essential for teaching kids correctly....

"Survey reveals four in 10 pupils are required by their school to have a laptop or tablet"
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-demanding-parents-fund-laptops-leave-ofsted-chief-really-shocked/

Not all of those pupils are required to have a specific school laptop or tablet, but many schools are moving in that direction.

• Students are expected to bring the devices to school and carry them to all classes so schools want to install software locking the devices down to limit access to things like messaging, social media, gaming, and many websites.
• Schools want to manage the updates and antivirus and to deploy common software setups on the devices to make them interchangeable so that, when some inevitably crash and need to be rebuilt, the school can give "loaners" to minimize the disruption.
• Schools may negotiate volume discounts from manufacturers conditional on a certain number of purchases.
• Touch screen laptops are more expensive but are beneficial if students are to submit, for example, math homework online; it is much more difficult to draw diagrams or write out equations without a touch screen.

But the real issue is that schools want to incorporate these devices in their curricula without using funds from their budgets. If I understand correctly, OP's school may be on sound legal ground. They have a provision for students eligible for FSM and if an ineligible parent doesn't want to pay for the designated laptop, the school will allocate them a cheaper, lower-spec, probably older, laptop which, presumably, will still be managed by the school and will be deemed "adequate" for the purpose.

I imagine that the school will be able to cope if only a few parents decline to pay but I wonder what they would do if there was a mass revolt and only a few parents agreed to pay?

Our secondary had this with IPads, the deal was that you could provide your own but it had to have certain capabilities or we could lease one through a company called Freedom Tech. If I remember correctly, we paid £13 per month for it, no or very negligent interest rate, fully insured (which we used twice for cracked screen) and then you own it at the end.

I remember being against it at the time but went with it and I think it was quite a good deal in the end. My oldest son who's 19 so finished secondary a good few years ago still use his. My youngest who is 17, is still using his for 6 form.

I also think it's quite common here in London for secondary schools, I know neighbouring schools also specify Ipads/tablets for Y7 starters

It’s not just those families on fsm who may not be able to afford it particularly if they have several children at the same school. Probably another reason why there is a generation of school leavers unable to produce legible handwriting or think for themselves.

My school where I teach did this about four years ago,

it was a shit show to be honest.

some MATs (multi academy trusts) are going down this line. They can’t make you.

but homework etc may be online - do you have a computer of any kind (not phone) at home?

Well, it’s illegal, isn’t it? To be honest, I’d be moving schools. Cannot cope with this kind of tin pot dictator head, thinking they can break the rules. I bet the school is similarly strict on uniform violations and forgetting a purple pen. All that is wrong with education in one fell swoop… They should be welcoming families and encouraging learning, not making kids feel inferior because their parents can’t afford £600+ for a laptop they don’t even want!

Our school has a similar requirement but only need you to buy a Chromebook which is much cheaper (under £200). Those on free school meals get them paid for by the school but everyone else has to buy one. It’s made very clear that it is not optional.

Of course it’s optional - not all families can afford £200 but their DC’s have an equal right to the same education as the rest of the class.

What laptop is it? You can get the new Apple Neo for £699! My dad used to be a school governor and I can imagine his reaction if the school tried to introduce that. Having said that, it was in the dark ages when me & DB were at school!

It's a £415 laptop plus all the software and things. They chose a high spec and then make us pay! I meat with chair of governors and they are happy with it. I just don't understand it.

Of course, but until a parent mounts a legal challenge the school will continue maintaining that it is compulsory. Secondary schools can get away with all sorts of nonsense because very often parents have no choice of school, and also parents don’t really get together and discuss school issues in the same way that they do with primary schools.

I think the cost of it shocked me into trying to solve it. Not that it's worked so far. We have two family laptops that kids do homework on. They dont know passwords. So any cost to access education is an issue to me. But something so expensive is shocking. Even for those that can afford it will find it hard for their disposal income.

I wonder what the school would do if pupils turned up without the specific laptop - refuse them an education?

There are some appalling schools around! No wonder the standards in education are dropping.

Deputy head said on Tuesday we'd give him one our school Chromebooks but they aren't touchscreen and it wouldnt be his so it will affect his education. I just cannot believe that access to education in the state classroom is being given a financial barrier.

If you don’t have your Chromebook you get an afterschool detention. Same as forgetting homework, uniform issues, forgetting pens, calculator etc.

Wow - so much for inclusion education - penalise those children whose families can’t afford unnecessary tech.

This is shocking OP.
I would suggest contacting the Secretary of State for Education (currently Bridget Phillipson) and seeing if you can gain any traction that way.

Well, as I say children who are on FSMs get a free one, but that is only a handful of pupils in the whole school (52 out of 890 according to the OFSTED page for the school) so yes the vast majority of parents just cough up.

Both schools we visited had this arrangement. The school we ended up with charges £495 (or monthly payment plan) for a specific Chromebook. The school control the settings and parental controls and we can't supply or use our own.

But haven’t school offered a solution? They said if you don’t meet the financial help criteria, they will give him a school laptop (presumably to use for free) so surely that solves the issue? Just take the free school laptop?

Not give him. Lend him for lessons and they say it doesn't perform to how other kids will be taught. But also that isn't official. So it is something but I disagree it is a solution to an equitable education. Yes to a two tier education which I had not contemplated would be acceptable in our society. Along with paying to access education. Since then they have now said it is compulsory so I don't know what they'd do in reality.