Changes to one person, one device scheme 2019
- 1. Changes to the iPad Scheme for Current Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 Dear parent/carer, Ensuring that every child receives the very best teaching and learning is our daily purpose. Over the past few years the progress that most of our children make is truly remarkable. We account for some of this to our increased use of digital resources. Our iPads have been a valuable learning tool that has ensured students can access research, utilise G-Suite to self-organise and use apps to extend their learning From September 2019 we will transfer ownership of all iPad to the students and there will cease to be annual contributions to the scheme. Students will therefore own the devices outright. This means that we will no longer be repairing or replacing damaged devices and responsibility for this will fall to yourselves, as the parent, for ensuring students are able to use a device in lessons. This is a necessary step in ensuring the long term viability of the One Device Scheme here at Simon Balle All-through School. Financial arrangements In order to transfer ownership of the devices we do require that all parental contributions are up to date (to simplify the process and in line with previous policy) and as long as we have received 3 years worth of annual contributions, students will own their devices outright. If we haven’t received three years worth of contributions, we will be reminding parents to make any outstanding payments before we can give the devices to students. If you think this applies to you then you are able to make outstanding payments via Parent Pay on the payment item “iPad Scheme Contribution 2018/19”. We will also send you individual reminders. The annual contributions have been used to cover the cost of self-insuring, device software and administration of the scheme. The school has not made any money in running the scheme. From September, if you need to repair an iPad we have negotiated a discounted scheme with a company in Hoddesdon called iSmashedit. If you contact them directly they will arrange for collection and delivery from the school but you will need to pay them for the repairs. Alternative options Although we would hope that student iPads will be used for at least 5 years, we understand that some parents may wish to replace student iPads with better devices. To this end we will open up a new scheme for students to be able to purchase Asus Chromebooks from the school for a subsidised price. All of our new year 7’s will be using Chromebooks from September 2019 and we will expand the scheme to other year groups during the Autumn Term. We will send you more information on the scheme before October half term, this will include details of how to register for the scheme. Thank you for your continued support of the One Device Scheme. If you have any queries about the scheme then please email us at: admin@simonballe.herts.sch.uk Yours sincerely, Simon Balle All-through School Governing Body