Harris Church of England Academy is embarking on a programme to enable access to technology for its students to enhance their learning experience and enable us to continue to provide the best levels of education. 

 

We are looking to utilise Chromebooks which will in the long term help pupils organise, communicate, learn and study when at home. We provide access to technology and resources within school, however we are looking to improve the use of technology outside of the classroom which will enable pupils to have access to the greatest source of information ever assembled and to study and research in their own innovative and personalised ways.

 

We need to make full and effective use of technology for learning. Pupils need to learn about safe, effective, and productive use of technology learning tools. We want to make the educational experience for pupils at Harris Church of England Academy as varied, dynamic and stimulating as possible.

 

Our long term aim is to provide  online information to support home learning, as we will be able  to set assignments, hold discussions, improve collaboration and integrate families further into the teaching and learning within the Academy. 

 

By utilising the Academy’s Microsoft Volume Licensing we are also able to provide students with access to the wider range applications that are required as part of the day to day learning at Harris Church of England Academy. 

 

WHY HAVE WE OPTED FOR CHROMEBOOKS?

• Less than 8 seconds to boot up
• Long battery life
• Simple technology that will just work
• Easy student-teacher workflow within a safe environment
• Large numbers of computers that can be managed centrally
• Excellent collaboration tools
• Works seamlessly with Google Apps for Education and other cloud-based applications
• Comprehensive insurance and warranty with zero excess
• Affordable monthly payments 

HOW CAN WE SUPPORT YOU? 

To support your child’s learning at home we are working with some of the largest and most experienced suppliers within the IT industry including BT. Harris Church of England Academy will offer families the ability to procure a Chromebook device for an affordable monthly direct debit payment. Using our buying power and working with these strategic partners the package will be significantly cheaper than the equivalent package available on the high street. 

 

As an Academy we want to support you by giving you access to IT technology for use in your home, which 

will support not just your child but potentially your whole family. 

 

Therefore you are being offered the opportunity to purchase IT equipment on a low monthly cost. 

 

WHAT'S INCLUDED?

In return for an affordable monthly payment, we will provide the following:

• Chromebook, that can be used at home, 
• Protective carry case, 
• Education specific accidental damage and theft insurance (with zero excess) 
• Extended warranty Software and support for the duration of the scheme 

 

By procuring a device through the programme we will provide all students with access to this Microsoft Office 365 suite which will enable them to use all of the packages used within school when studying independently at home.

 

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

Devices will be available for a cost of between £10 and £16 per month payable via Direct Debit for a period of up to 3 years. Payment terms and monthly costs may vary, as the term will match the amount of time the student has left at the Academy. 

 

CAN I BUY IT CHEAPER ON THE HIGH STREET?

For the whole package including Chromebook, Case, Extended Warranty, Accidental Damage and Theft Insurance, Software and Support then this package is significantly cheaper than buying from the high street. We have worked carefully with our partners to secure the best deal for parents and offer not only the most competitive price, but also a package that provides peace of mind and covers all eventualities in terms of device failure, damage or theft. 

 

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS TO THE ACADEMY?

The Academy do not get any financial benefits from this scheme and are providing the scheme purely for the benefit of the pupils and parents. We do recognise the educational benefits to pupils who have access to IT at home. We will be using Chromebooks and google apps for work in school and will be using it for homework in the future.

 

ARE THERE OTHER DEVICES AVAILABLE THROUGH THE PROGRAMME?

Yes. However, the Schools vision is based around the utilisation of Chrome and all of the benefits that come with this type of technology and software. As an Academy we have also invested in Chromebooks and becoming a Google School and the use of Google Apps for Education make up an integral part of the way that we deliver the curriculum. 

 

There will also be Windows based laptops available through the programme, but our recommendation is the Chromebook based on our use of this technology across subject areas and how this is then transitioned to independent and collaborative study outside of the Academy. 

 

WHAT ARE THE TIMESCALES? 

We will be looking to launch the online ordering portal over the next couple of weeks and will communicate out to parents how to place an order through the programme. The ordering window will be open until the end of October at which point all of the orders will be collated and shipments will be received to the Academy the first week in December, in time for Christmas. 

 

We will be in touch over the next couple of weeks as we will be going to launch on 10 October and we will have Freedom Tech on site on the evening of 11 October between 5 and 6 pm to show products and answer questions. You can also e-mail questions to donatetoeducate@freedomtech.co.uk