DS is due to move up to his next school to enter Yr9 in September, he's 13 y.o.
School are pushing the use of iPads through an external company scheme.
There are 3 possible options to choose from with the most expensive working out at £665 over 3 years for a 16gb capacity - currently there does not appear to be the choice of buying outright.
The scheme includes -
1/ 3 years warranty and insurance for theft or damage
2/ technician support
3/ e-safety device management
4/ full training on iPad use, e-safety, personal safety
5/ access to school intranet, email, school virtual learning environment
6/ internet access at school
7/ access to educational apps and digital books (many are free - whoopee!)
8/ ownership at the end of 36 months
Additional extras: case, stylus
The school stated that iPads don't need to be bought via the scheme and ones from home could be brought in.
If buying through Apple the model in the most expensive scheme costs£399 and includes 1 yr warranty and technical support for 3 months and free laser engraving of name
Extension of warranty for 2 years and tech support for additional 9 months costs approx £70
£20 a month on personal items on home insurance would cover theft or damage - depending on the level of excess you have to pay this may not even be worthwhile taking out especially as we know of a firm that can fix cracked screens etc at less than £100 and with a 3 day turn around (just had iPhone fixed - sent Monday back Wednesday)
We would have to pay for e-safety device management at £6 a year (total £18) - this gives school control over what the children can access in class
Now as the school have said iPads external to the scheme can be used items 4 to 8 should be a given to all children.
Therefore, if we used the scheme we would be pay £180 extra than buying outright (£60 a year) - which actually doesn't appear to be too excessive.
However, those of you with some experience of using iPads at school I would appreciate your thoughts and opinions on the purchasing, pros and cons of using in school, is 16gb enough capacity? Etc.
As this will be the introduction of the scheme school were a little airy fairy on how they were to be used so I'd loved to hear about others experiences about that as well, teachers as well as parents. Are there teachers who use iPads in school but hate them?
Sorry it is so long and thanks to those of you who have got through this far
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Experiences with School iPad Schemes
16 replies
treas · 05/07/2013 10:51
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