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?

So what solution are you looking for? No one to have a laptop because then it’s fair? Or for everyone to get free ones, but only the expensive free ones? My son has a different iPad solution to everyone else because of his additional needs, and it’s been fine. So I don’t see what’s wrong with the free school laptop. Presumably it’s fit for purpose or there would be no point offering it? Yes in an ideal world everyone would get a flashy new one but I guess then the school couldn’t afford something else. I would probably ask the difference in spec on the free school one and ask that he can take it home for home work and just go with that ? I’d rather the children were allowed to use technology when they needed to, than everyone had to use pen and paper all the time.

I'm looking for an equitable solution. The deputy said but hasn't written that we'd have to dig out an old school one but it wouldn't be up to performance. They do not offer an alternative solution to be clear. They have now updated to say compulsory in written comms. They did say about the school laptops when I put them on the spot. But not written and any other written confirmation has now changed to compulsory. I do not agree that uI believe that any policy needs to be fully implemented. So yes funded fully or not moved over to screens in lessons. My kid two school years above doesn't have this. Essentially my conversations so far seem split between those who believe that education should be free to access at the point of service. Or those that think it's fine for parents to be asked to compulsory contribute. I don't believe you should implement a policy like this in state education. But I believe if you do it needs to be centralised and not a postcode lottery.

I don’t understand why they need a laptop at all. At my kids secondary only those who need a laptop for SEND type needs have them, the rest don’t. I’d be concerned about the creep of Ed tech as per the US, reliance on apps for teaching - also how are they going to ensure that year 7s are safeguarded from harmful content. Given the move towards smartphone free schools, having intent enabled devices at all times feels a step backwards.

I don’t understand why they need a laptop at all.

At DC's private school, parents are required to purchase a school specified touch screen laptop. Children carry them around to their classes so they're locked down and can't be used for most non-school related activities. No social media, no gaming, no streaming, only approved websites.

Teachers set assignments with due dates through the system. Yes, of course, children could keep track of assignments in a paper diary, but it's very useful for them to be able to pull up what homework is known to be due in each of the next few days. Students also upload their work, where appropriate, or just click to indicate that they've completed an assignment and will bring the paper to class.

Teachers put their presentation slides and class notes on the system. Yes, of course, children could copy these down during the lecture, but I'd rather DC was thinking about what was being presented rather than frantically transcribing a board. And having the materials (sort of) organized on a file system helps in case a student is absent on a day, eliminates the possibility that a child loses their notes, and makes it easier when it comes time to revise.

Students do some of their work during class time on the laptops. They may start an essays in English, or they may do some math worksheets, where a touch screen is quite useful, or they may put together a poster for History, etc. Here I have a criticism which is that, while the students compose most of their papers during the term on word processors, during exams they're back to pen and paper. However, my criticism is about the requirement to use pen and paper to compose essays in exams, both at the school and at GCSE or A Level. You may as well give points again for calligraphic penmanship, it's so unreflective of what they will face once they leave school!

And, of course, the children use the laptops for computer science. Yes, of course the children could use shared devices in a computer lab. But it's good that they can easily finish at home the programs they start in class.

None of these things are strictly necessary. After all, very few, if any, of the parents amongst us had them in our own educations. I mean, does anyone need Google Maps, when A-to-Z was available in six different sizes to fit in different types of pockets? But technology can have benefits. At DC's school, AFAIK, nearly all the actual teaching is still done in the traditional manner. The computers mostly reduce the burden of organization and increase the efficiency of the children's study time.

Yes - my DS briefly went to an indi before a place came up at our local state and we had to buy a specific device for use there - thankfully they hardly used it as i wasn't happy about them being on devices all day- experience says even if locked down they're pratting about and not really listening.

Both my DC need access to a device at home to check homework, look at some resource etc but this isn't something they need to have during the school day. Its another massive difference between indi and state but the state options around here have v short breaks and finish much earlier whereas the indis have lunch breaks long enough to run extra curricular clubs or do homework. Its why i don't really see why they 'need' it in school unless they're planning to reduce teaching and rely on crap like white rose worksheets.

It seems highly unreasonable that they are insisting on a particular device which they give to you. A laptop for secondary isn't unreasonable but you can get a laptop for £200 which functions perfectly well for what you need. Any device works with Google Classroom. I assume these schools are in partnership with particular companies who supply them with the laptops and there's been a deal there, and that is unreasonable and needs a good journalist to investigate. Leasing machines at a monthly cost is a scam and a half as a parent would be paying much much more than they need to. I specifically didn't apply for a school in Y7 for my DC that insisted on a £1000 Apple laptop. I suggest writing to your MP as it's a grey area it seems which needs more legislation.

Ofqual want GCSEs online from 2030, schools have no choice but to move the learning online and have no budget to buy the devices.

in my school, they did a load of fundraising pre-pandemic and ordered enough laptops for every student to be given one plus a stylus and carrying case. Sadly they didn’t arrive until October 2020 but we set work on Teams and then did live teaching over Teams in the 2nd lockdown.
The spec of the laptops wasn’t great and some of the more wealthy parents asked if they could pay for a better one. So newcomers now have a couple of choices: the lower spec machine for free, or pay monthly/outright for a better one. The better ones will be theirs once paid off so will simply have school stuff wiped before they go. FSM kids cannot be distinguished by their laptop.
In terms of teaching, I was quite sceptical at first but in Music it’s great. Each kid has access to free software which they use for composing. Outcomes are so much better than when they used manuscript paper. Key terms and information for GCSE & A level work are stored in OneNote so they can be accessed at any time. We still do lots of practical work but the laptops can be great.
Please don’t be like the awkward family we have whose offspring are not allowed to take the devices home due to them having “a device-free home” (other than mum & dad who both have smartphones!) Mum tried to insist that I rewrote the schemes of work to accommodate her kid. I will gladly and willingly adapt for any student with a medical or learning need. I CBA to change for her. Kids are permanently lost as they have no idea what is going on. Parents knew the score before applying to the school but still sent them…

wow!!! Never heard of this before! I don’t get free school meals but I’m lone parent and don’t earn a lot full time and receive UC top up. So I’d never be able to pay that monthly payments or not.

Dd's school did this with chromebooks. We already had one and I had an argument with the school to let her use the one we already had. Interestingly all of the chromebooks her friends had bought through the school's provider all started going wrong in about year 10. I suspect the whole batch had been sitting in a warehouse for some time before they were in use.