1:1 Student Device Programmes

Free or funded support to assist schools looking to embed 1:1 student devices.

Tablet Academy provides consultancy to school leaders looking at embedding a sustainable 1:1 device strategy across their School or Trust.

We focus on the impact your strategy can have in four key areas: Student Achievement, Staff Efficiency, Accessibility, and Financial Savings.

Where possible, we will work closely with you and explore if we can secure industry funding to cover our fees. For example, we have the ‘Microsoft Refresh Programme’ which, if you are eligible, would cover our consultancy fees. Another example is, should you purchase 25 or more Windows 10 devices through our Personal Shopper Service, we would hope to secure sufficient funding to cover all your end-user training fees.

Please note: The same services mentioned above are also available to those institutions looking to deploy 1:1 Chromebooks or iPads, but unfortunately no industry funding is currently available to set off against our fees. However, we investigate on your behalf should Chromebooks or iPads be the route you are looking at.

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS

Academic outcomes, work-ready skills, performance data and individual progress at all ages

TEACHING & NON-TEACHING STAFF EFFICIENCY

Reduction of repetitive tasks, streamlining of processes, sharing best practice, increasing digital skills, and improving assessment in teaching

ACCESSIBILITY & SOCIAL MOBILITY

Overcoming barriers to learning, and increasing opportunities for all students, irrespective of age, ability, or social background

FINANCIAL SAVINGS

Reducing overall costs linked to hardware and software procurement, services such as printing, and minimising wasteful staff time.

'Up to 70% of our teaching is now facilitated using the cloud or student devices. This is saving time, allowing us to differentiate the learning plus we're noticing big savings on print costs alone.'

Linda Edge, Deputy Head, Vice Principal, St. John Fisher School.
Journey to the Cloud participating school.

Journey to the Cloud

Digital Transformation - A real-life case study of a ordinary primary school’s journey in adopting the cloud

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, TA began a research programme with a typical state primary school called ‘Journey to the Cloud’. The programme involved implementing a 1:1 Windows 10 device strategy in two, year 5 classes, and providing the school with support and training to enable staff to transform their teaching using Microsoft Teams, OneNote.

Before the pandemic forced a school closure in Spring of 2020, we were recording some fascinating findings. Including the amount of money saved on printing, which it was estimated would potentially cover the cost of the devices.

Our hope is to return to the programme to document progress made past Spring 2020, once COVID restrictions are lifted and the school returns to a level of normality.

Find Out More

Choosing your Device

Choosing the right device for your students is a difficult decision. To help you understand what you should be considering, we've selected two common devices chosen by schools and highlighted the pro's and con's for each deployment.

Accessing the Cloud (Entry Level Device)

TRAVELMATE B311-31

64GB STORAGE / 4GB RAM
11.6'' SCREEN / 12 HOUR BATTERY
HD WEBCAM / 180 DEGREE HINGE
SPILL RESISTANT / ROBUST DESIGN

GUIDE PRICE £185 (+VAT)

• If you are considering an entry level device with just 64GB storage you must be confident that your cloud environment and school infrastructure is suitable for students to save all work direct to the cloud. Internet access and speed is key.

• These devices are primarily designed to access the cloud and complete work within the browser, whether this be within Office 365 or Google G Suite. Although in theory you can install desktop applications it is not recommended.

• Your IT Team should be ready to deploy and manage these devices via the cloud using tools like AutoPilot and Microsoft Intune, traditional imaging is not possible with such limited storage. This also means you need the

Digital Transformation (The Ideal Device)

HP PROBOOK 360

128GB STORAGE / 8GB RAM
11.6'' TOUCH SCREEN / 12 HOUR BATTERY
360 DEGREE HINGE / ACTIVE DIGITAL PEN
HD WEBCAM + WORLD FACING CAMERA
SPILL RESISTANT / ROBUST DESIGN

GUIDE PRICE £300 (+VAT)

• Improved performance and functionality including touch screen, digital pen (optional) and world facing camera.

• Different modes such as Tablet Mode support different styles of learning.

• Combines the power of the cloud with a fully functioning Windows 10 device.

• With increased storage and processing speed the device can also handle desktop applications. Not just Microsoft Office but subject specific applications.

Choosing a better device increases the functionality available to students. A world facing camera allows the student to quickly capture a record of something in class and the digital pen opens up the possibilities in lessons such as Mathematics, Science and Design Tech. We would still recommend you ensure your cloud environment and infrastructure is in place before deploying any 1:1 device programme, but if you can afford it this type of device is ideal for a student device.

Personal Shopper Service

TA offer a free Personal Shopper Service for schools looking to purchase 25 or more Windows 10 devices. The service is designed to save you the hassle of collecting multiple quotes, but more importantly it helps you save money and identify additional funding available to cover your consultancy and training costs .

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Staff Adoption

At TA we are training over 25,000 teachers a year from more than 2,000 schools across the UK. Our training is delivered by qualified educators with classroom experience, and we make sure the focus of the content fully meets the needs of your staff.

Our consultants can work with you in identifying a training programme that combines INSET training, after-school workshops, virtual demonstrations, peer-to-peer coaching, online tutorials, training videos, co-teaching, and long-term training programmes funded by your apprenticeship levy.

For example pricing and support packages click here

'From the very first conversation I had with Mark at The Tablet Academy I felt like I was getting the support I really needed. The ambitions we had around digital transformation were exciting - but the technical, financial and cultural barriers to overcome were extreme. I needed to talk to the experts and to receive practical and impartial advice to guide our strategy. Those first conversations, and the follow up training and consultancy we have received, have put in place the stepping stones and ongoing support we need to translate our vision into reality. We have managed to secure a really good discount off of devices and to learn new ways of working our assets; and to secure a huge amount of free training from Microsoft experts to carry us forward. I look forward to our continued partnership with The Tablet Academy and to exploring the recommendations made to us in the Refresh reports they created. I couldn't have moved the digital transformation forward with such pace and clarity without their input. '

Natalie Sheppard, Thinking Schools Academy Trust

I just wanted to send an email to say a huge thank you to you for the training over the past two days. I am amazed at how well you managed all of the sessions and kept all the sessions to time, whilst remaining calm and unflustered despite the questions, range of skills, devices and knowledge of the trainees. The prior experience of the trainer as a teacher provided our staff not only with reassurance, but also the expert knowledge very much needed, at a time of fast track technological change in schools.

Rebecca Harris, Business Manager. Heathside School.

Can I say it again, a huge thank you. The flexibility and such great nature in the presenting today is amazing! I have been over the moon to find your company and work with such amazing people in yourself and Sam. We are meeting in coming weeks as a trust to keep mapping the way forward, so I envisage some further sessions and refreshers in the future

Andrew King, Deputy Headteacher,
Esher Church of England High School

Microsoft training dashboard captured in November 2020

Affordability

Should you introduce a 1:1 device programme, you must ensure it is sustainable. Using capital funds can often cause issues at the time it comes to replacing devices with more modern ones. To alleviate any future problems, we recommend leasing, or if appropriate, a parental contribution scheme.

LEASING

An operating lease can spread the overall cost over a 3-year period which also establishes a natural hardware refresh programme in-line with industry recommendations. As a child may be at your school for 5 years, you may wish to combine two 2.5 year leases.

PARENTAL CONTRIBUTION

Schools may consider requesting that parents make a monthly contribution towards the cost of their child's device. This can be as little as £2 a week and often helps promote device ownership and responsibility in the child.

Balancing the Costs

To demonstrate how your school may be able to start balancing the costs of a 1:1 programme, based on findings from the Journey to the Cloud programme, we have prepared an example budget.

PRIMARY EXAMPLE

Primary, 2-form entry (4 classes).
Key Stage 2 (Year 5 and 6).
120 x W10 devices (£200 each).
3-year lease agreement.
Presumed broadband and Wi-Fi is suitable for 1:1.
Estimated additional licensing.
Infrastructure saving = Server.
Staff training (IT staff & teachers).
Print saving £1,000 per class.
Staff saving based on 2 hours per class, per week at £20 per hour. 38 school weeks (76 hours).

Three-year cost -£9,440 (£3,146.67 per year)

Where to Start

Looking for advice?

Call us free on 01952 567450 or email [email protected] to schedule a free consultancy call.

Looking for devices?

Try our free Personal Shopper Service to secure best value and additional funding.

Looking for training?

Contact us to discuss your requirements or check out our Professional Development Services for current pricing and options.