Our Chromebook scheme was successfully launched in 2021, with the majority of our current Year 9 students participating. The impact of this change has been hugely positive this year and resulted in a dramatic shift in how we teach and support our students. 

We are asking that with effect from the Autumn Term 2022, all Year 8 students have their own Chromebook to use in school during lessons and at home for extended learning. 

What it involves

Ideally, we would like each student to have their own Chromebook ready to use for when they move up to Year 8 in September 2022.  However, the cost of such a device remains our primary concern in these challenging times. 

We have negotiated extensively with our Scheme Partner, Academia, who are able to provide an educational device at an affordable price with all the technology that your child will need. 

The device we have chosen, which we feel best fits our requirements, is the ASUS Chromebook CR11 as it is specifically tailored for educational use, and includes features such as anti-temper keyboard and a very robust shell.

The specification of the device is listed below:

• HD 1366X768 16:9 (Display)
• Non-Touch
• CELERON N4500 (Processor)
• 4GB (RAM)
• 32 GB Emmc (Memory)

The ASUS (educational device) is particularly robust, with a rugged shell as well as an anti-spill and anti-tamper keyboard that will help prolong durability. We anticipate that this device will last students until at least Year 11 and beyond. 

Testimonials:

Just a quick note to say how fantastic I think your Google Slides maths lessons are!  They are so cleverly put together and the links to the external websites are excellent. Thank you very much for making it possible for [my child] to continue learning...

- A parent of a child who was off sick with COVID-19.

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Cost

The cost to purchase this Chromebook, along with the necessary Chromebook Licence, is £342.09 +VAT

How to buy

To ensure there is enough time for orders to be made, financing to be put in place and devices delivered, the online Portal will be open in two separate windows.  If you are taking advantage of one of Academia’s payment plans, payments will commence once the Portal has closed. 

Once all orders have been placed and the Portal closed, Academia will be able to confirm a delivery date to us, which we in turn will communicate out. 

All orders will be delivered directly to school so that you do not incur any delivery costs.  This also allows us to register each device on our network before distributing to students.

To purchase a Chromebook please visit: Buckingham School Store - Academia

Insurance

In addition to the Chromebook and Chromebook Licence, should your budget allow, we would also strongly urge you to consider purchasing Accidental Damage and Theft Insurance: Academia are offering Accidental Damage Insurance for £106 + VAT, which will cover the device for 3 years. This will be seen in a drop-down option during purchasing. Please note that if you choose to take Academia’s Accidental Damage Insurance, the device must be protected by a case or bag and this protective cover must be one of their approved products. 

Purchasing options

There are a two purchasing options available, which are outlined below. These have been designed to ensure that all pupils, whatever the situation at home, can benefit from this Chromebook Scheme.  You have the choice to pay in one single payment with a Credit or Debit card or to spread the cost over 12, 24 or 36 months, via a consumer finance agreement provided by DEKO. You can read more details on payment plans here: https://connected.store.academia.co.uk/finance/, with questions answered here: FAQs (academia.co.uk)

• Option 1: To purchase just the device and Chromebook Licence.  It will come with the standard 3-Year Manufacturer’s Warranty. 

• Option 2: To purchase just the Chromebook Licence.  If you intend to purchase a device outside this Scheme (see below), you will need to select this option to purchase a Chromebook Licence in order for the device to be registered onto the school’s network.

Please let us know if you require any support by contacting the Finance Department finance@buckinghamschool.org

If your child is in receipt of Pupil Premium Funding and you would like to use some of this funding to assist with the cost of the Chromebook, please contact finance@buckinghamschool.org who will log your request and be in touch with further details.

Policy and single school profile

Please be aware that if you are thinking of purchasing your own device, only a Chromebook would be acceptable.  A Laptop, iPad/Tablet or other Windows device will not be permitted in school. 

The Chromebook Licence allows the device to be registered and used on our School network, however, this will require some security changes are made to the device.  This will result in a loss of data, so we strongly suggest that if there are any files, photos etc. on the device which you wish to keep, these are backed up prior to your child bringing the device into school.  You will also be required to provide written permission that you are happy for the school to make any such changes to your device and that you are aware of the impact such changes will have.

The Chromebook is locked to a single school profile and is managed by the school for safeguarding purposes. We will require a signature from a parent and the student to confirm you are aware of this.

The cost of the Chromebook, along with the necessary Chromebook Licence is likely to be in the region of £200 - £350.  Last year, our Scheme Partner was able to offer finance agreements allowing the cost to be spread over 1, 2 or 3 years.