Senior School Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Overview in Senior School

In order to access and participate in our learning programme, all students are required to have immediate access to digital devices to support their learning. Details of these requirements, both at school and at home, are outlined below.

Our vision is to develop well rounded and balanced students who are proficient in both online and offline environments. The Senior School BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) program will allow for us to a provide a more personalised learning experience, that is tailored to the individual needs and abilities of each student. This decision has been driven by numerous educational benefits, some of which include:

• Greater student agency
• Expansion of our innovation and creativity programs
• Individualised learning and support
• On demand access to technology at the point learning requires it most
• Live feedback and reporting for parents and carers

We understand that technology is only one piece of the education puzzle and there is a need to ensure a balanced and rigorous curriculum that provides access to a range of learning tools. For that reason, we have developed a wide range of training programmes, policies and tools to enable students, parents and teachers to maintain a balanced and individualised technology experience.

Before your child’s first day of school, please ensure that you have read through and completed the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Acceptance Use Policy available on your checklist items of the Admissions portal:

Devices and Accessories

All Senior School students must bring the following to school everyday.

• Device fully charged, with a protective case (see below to find out which device is right for your child)
• Headphones (wired, or wireless)
• Students with an iPad must bring an Apple Pencil (or equivalent) and a keyboard case.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What device should I get?

Please visit this page to view the full list of approved devices. MacBooks can only be used by students in Years 9-13. Students in Years 9-13 have the choice of bringing either an iPad, or a MacBook. 

Please note that the entry model of any of the approved devices is sufficient for our BYOD programme. Through our partnership with Microsoft, our students have access to ample online storage, negating the need to purchase devices with large hard drives. Some iPad models support 4G - we do not recommend that you purchase this extra option and opt for the WiFi-only models. You may wish to purchase devices with large hard drives, but it is not a requirement. 

The Apple online store offers an excellent comparison tool for its devices.

• iPad comparison tool (Years 7-13)
• MacBook comparison tool (Years 9-13)
   

2. What accessories do I need to purchase?

Please purchase the following accessories for your child. They must bring them to school every day:

For students with an iPad

• Apple Pencil or equivalent (e.g. Logitech Crayon)
• Keyboard (some protective cases have a keyboard built-in)
• Headphones (wired or wireless)
• Protective case
• We recommend that a screen protector is fitted to the iPad, but this is optional.

For students with a MacBook

• Protective case
• Headphones
• We recommend that a screen protector is fitted to the MacBook, but this is optional.

3. Can I get a discount?

You can get a discount if you purchase your device through our Sales & Service Provider.

Please note that Apple Asia-Pacific cancelled their 'Apple Family Funded' programme in December 2020, which entitled school students with a discount.  

4. Where should I purchase my device?

You can purchase your device at any Apple Authorised Reseller.

However we strongly recommend that you purchase your new device with our Sales & Service Provider. Purchasing through our Sales & Service Provider offers many benefits, including a competitive discount, on-site support and the free loan of a device, should the device need to be repaired.

5. Should I buy an iPad or a MacBook?

Please note that laptops (Macbook) are only available for Students In Year 9 and above. Year 7 and 8 students must bring an iPad to school. Year 8 students going into Year 9 and above may decide to keep their Ipad. The iPad is an approved device from Year 7 to Year 13.

6. Should I get a device with a large screen?

Devices with a larger screen tend to be more comfortable to use over longer periods of time. They also allow students to multitask more effectively. On the other hand, larger models are heavier and more expensive. We do not recommend a specific screen size for the iPad. For MacBooks, the only approved devices have 13" screens, or larger.

Do not hesitate to contact Alison Woods with any question you may have regarding which device/model to purchase for your child.

7. Can my child in Year 7 or Year 8 bring a laptop?

No. The only approved device in Years 7 & 8 is the iPad. Our curriculum is tailored to the iPad, with the required accessories.

8. How can I setup parental controls?

1. - On the parent device go to Settings > Screen Time > Set Up Screen Time For Family
2. - Click on "Create a Child Account" and follow the prompts to setup restrictions and filtering
3. - On your child's account go to Settings > Apple Id.
4. - Add the new child account you created.
5. - You can now control the device, setup restriction and filter content from you own device.

More detailed help guides can be found at the following links:

• iPad: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201304
• Macbook: https://support.apple.com/en-sg/guide/mac-help/mchl4a732a3b/10.15/mac/10.15

9. Where can I get technical help?

You may get technical support: 

• at the Tech HelpDesk on the ground floor of the Performing Arts Centre (PAC), between 7:30am and 5:00pm on school days
• via email at [email protected]

You may contact Alison Woods with general questions regarding the BYOD programme.