ICT
At the Edinburgh Academy we believe in an approach to the use of technology that promotes flexible and accessible learning for all. We aim to provide pupils with the opportunity to access and utilise learning resources anywhere and anytime through cloud-based platforms and mobile devices so that learning is not constrained by the classroom or timetable. Teachers provide a wide range of learning opportunities for children using technology in a variety of ways.
We have a robust and secure school WiFi network and monitor all school accounts and traffic closely. Our aim is to ensure a safe and secure environment to allow digital technologies to be used in innovative ways to support learning throughout the school.
Below we will outline our approach to school devices and the main platforms that we use for learning and to communicate with parents. If you need any ICT related help or have any questions, you can use the dedicated parent ICT email address: parents.ict@edinburghacademy.org.uk
Devices
We believe that our pupils have the right to interact with technology in an age-appropriate way from Nursery right through to 7ths.
Junior School
In the nursery, P1 & P2, we have a range of technologies available for pupils to use in school. In P3 we start our 1:1 iPad programme, with each pupil being allocated a school-owned device for use in the classroom. This allows us to introduce the iPad with the support of the class teacher, and set a great foundation for appropriate use as the pupils move through the school. In P4 we begin our full, home-school, 1:1 iPad programme. Currently, parents may choose to provide their own iPad (8th Gen or later) but we strongly recommend joining the school leasing scheme. From August 2025 this leasing scheme will become mandatory from P4–3rds. In P4–P6 pupils are allocated a device which is for use in the classroom and at home. Parents are charged a small technology supplement which provides these devices and includes the use of the Jamf parent app which can set up restrictions and limits for use of the device at home.
Senior School
When pupils start their Geits experience, we continue to use an iPad as the device of choice. We believe that the familiarity of this device makes it easier for pupils to adapt to different ways of working that are in place at the Senior School. Again we recommend participating in the leasing scheme, but students are now using the Microsoft suite of tools and learning more about productivity.
From 4ths upwards, we currently have a ‘Bring Your Own Device’ policy. This allows pupils to bring a laptop or tablet of their choice to school for use in the classroom. We can offer limited support to the vast range of devices pupils bring in, but we endeavour to ensure all pupils can connect to the WiFi network and access all necessary school resources. We now offer a laptop purchase directly through the school. You can find more information on this here.
iPads Primary 4 to 3rds
iPad Leasing Scheme
At the Edinburgh Academy we believe in an approach to the use of technology that promotes flexible and accessible learning for all. We aim to provide pupils with the opportunity to access and utilise learning resources anywhere and anytime through cloud-based platforms and mobile devices so that learning is not constrained by the classroom or timetable. Teachers provide a wide range of learning opportunities for children and are free to interact with pupils through their use of mobile devices in the classroom.
Our aim is to ensure a safe and secure environment to allow digital technologies to be used in innovative ways to support learning throughout the school.
The school’s leasing scheme has been a success since its launch in 2021 and from August 2025 will be mandatory for pupils from P4–3rds.
Our iPad leasing scheme is designed to make the process as easy as possible for parents, offering a financially beneficial solution, whilst facilitating the best possible conditions for learning.
iPad Leasing Scheme: An Overview
From 2025 every pupil entering P4–3rds will be issued with a leased iPad and a technology supplement applied to the school fees. We strongly recommend those joining the school in the 2024–25 academic year from P4–3rds opt for a school leased iPad. This request can be made directly to parents.ict@edinburghacademy.org.uk
What’s the cost?
Current charges can be found on the Fees page.
What happens at the end of the lease term?
At the end of the lease term, devices are returned to the supplier, and a new device will be issued to the year groups P4–3rds. The device will be restored through an iCloud backup.
Note that at the end of 3rds, we currently operate a ‘Bring Your Own Device’ scheme, at which point students can opt to continue to work with their own iPad or choose to bring in an alternative device. We recommend a Windows laptop and have the option of these being purchased through the school.
Why is the Leasing Scheme Beneficial?
There are a number of benefits to the school iPad scheme, most of which are designed to reduce stress for parents and pupils alike. We take care of everything for you.
iCloud Storage
With a free Apple iCloud account, you can only access 5GB of storage for free which is often not enough to back up the device. We have the ability to create special educational iCloud accounts for pupils which have 200GB of storage for free. This means that all Apple software can be backed up to this space, and a full backup of all of the iPad settings and some of the app content can be saved here too. If the iPad is damaged, lost or stolen we can set up a new device quickly with an iCloud backup which means there is minimal interruption to learning.
Warranty
We have partnered with an Apple Solutions Expert, Sync, to supply the iPads and accessories. As we are an educational establishment, they are offering us an extended warranty on the devices for the entire term of the lease. If the iPad fails at any time during the lease term, it will be replaced.
Device Setup
As an educational establishment we have access to a platform called Apple School Manager. This is a simple, web-based portal that helps us to set up the iPads for school use before they have even been taken out of the box. This means that all pupils need to do when they receive the device is go through a minimal number of setup screens and enter their school account and password.
Jamf Parent App
Parents have the ability to set controls outwith school time using the Jamf Parent App. This app is designed to give parents peace of mind by empowering them with visibility and controls for their child’s school-owned iPad. The app allows parents to restrict and manage their child’s device in a variety of ways such as restricting games, apps and social media or set up rules that restrict social media use to certain periods of time throughout the day. Documentation and guides on this can be found here.
EA App Store
Instead of the Apple app store being available to pupils, school iPads instead have the EA App Portal. This means that only apps that are appropriate for the age of the pupil or are used for learning will be accessible here. We will also include popular streaming services such as BBC iPlayer and Netflix, and apps can be requested by contacting parents.ict@edinburghacademy.org.uk We are keen to offer as many appropriate apps as possible to avoid parents feeling the need for a ‘home’ iPad in addition to this ‘school’ iPad.
Repairs and damages
In order to meet the requirements of the lease agreement, all repairs must go through the school and the leasing partner, Sync. Any unauthorised repairs will both invalidate the warranty and will incur additional charges to the parent at the end of the lease term.
Any repairs will be charged directly to parents through the fee billing cycles.
You must inform the school of any damages to the iPad as soon as possible. This can be done by contacting parents.ict@edinburghacademy.org.uk
Signing Up
In order to sign up to the leasing scheme, you just need to email parents.ict@edinburghacademy.org.uk. This scheme will be mandatory for all pupils in P4–3rds from August 2025.
FAQ
My child already has a device which we bought for school, can this continue to be used?
Yes. The leasing scheme is simply an option at this stage, but from August 2025 will be mandatory. However, we appreciate that families who have recently purchased a device will want to continue to use this whilst it is still in good working order. We will continue to support these devices by connecting them to school WiFi and setting up school accounts, but many of the additional benefits of the scheme will not be available to pupil-owned devices.
Are accessories included in the leasing package?
The leasing package for new parents in 2024–25 academic year includes and iPad and case. Other accessories can be purchased by the parent.
Pupils don’t currently need a stylus, is this now mandatory?
No, but if you would like to purchase one and bring it to school, this is fine. We would recommend labelling with the pupil's name. There are many third party styluses on the market that are much more affordable than the Apple Pencil range.
Do we need to sign up to this leasing scheme now, or will it be available throughout the school year?
The leasing scheme can only be accessed now to be distributed at the start of the school year. There is no option to join the leasing scheme once the new school year has begun, but occasionally if a pupil has left we may be able to facilitate a transfer of device.
What if my child leaves the school part way through a lease agreement?
Any pupils leaving the school will request that the device is returned and the parent will be charged for the final term as part of the final fee billing.
What happens after 3rds?
Please note that we only support iPads for pupil use up to the end of 3rds. This allows staff to tailor classroom experiences towards the use of this consistent device. Laptops, phones and other tablets should not be brought to school for use in class from P4 to 3rds. From 4ths upwards we will continue with a Bring your Own Device Policy. We recommend a Windows laptop which can be purchased through the school.
Will different apps be available when the children are at home / school?
Yes. When the iPad is being used at school, only the applications that we permit will be accessible.The regular app store will not be available on these devices, however requests can be made for non-school apps to be made available for download from the EA App Store. We strongly recommend the use of the Jamf Parent app to set restrictions outwith school hours.
Can I use Family Sharing to monitor use of these devices?
No. These devices cannot be added to Family Sharing. However the Jamf Parent app provides most of the features associated with Family Sharing.
What happens if my child’s iPad is damaged during the lease period?
If something happens to your child’s device during the leasing period, you should contact the school’s ICT department as soon as possible – parents.ict@edinburghacademy.org.uk
The ICT team will advise you on next steps. Please note if the damages are largely cosmetic and not impacting the functionality of the device, it may not be replaced.
What happens if the charging cable or plug are damaged?
These are not covered by the leasing repair scheme and a replacement would need to be purchased independently.
Please note that these do not need to be returned with the iPad at the end of the lease arrangement but should be Apple Certified for safety.
How do I get additional information on this?
Please contact the ICT Support Team on this dedicated parent email address parents.ict@edinburghacademy.org.uk
Please see below for charges which may be incurred if a device is returned with damages.
Appendix I – Apple Damage Matrix
End of Lease – Missing, Wrong or Damaged Costs per device:
| Condition | Percentage of Device Cost |
|---|---|
| Equipment is “like new” condition; NO visible damages and free of functional defects. | 0% |
| Equipment contains light wear and tear; light surface scratches, scuffs, nicks, but does not contain dents on top, bottom or side of case or damage to ports; Equipment contains no functional defects. | 0% |
| Equipment has visible cosmetic damages, including minor dents (under 1/4” in depth), scratches, multiple surface scratches; Screen is functional and does not contain cracks, shadowing or LCD issues; if applicable, no missing keys, rubber feet or bent, broken or non-functioning ports; battery holds charge that is at a reasonable duration subject to the Equipment’s age. | 10% |
| Equipment has severe and visible cosmetic damages but is still functional; includes major dents, heavy wear markings, heavy scratches; Dents may be on top, bottom and side casing; Screen is functional, and does not contain cracks, shadowing or LCD issues; if applicable, no missing keys, rubber feet or bent, broken or non-functioning ports; battery holds charge for at least one hour. | 20% |
| While Equipment may power on, Equipment is non-functional; cracked or non-functional screen, broken and non-functional ports, battery fails to hold an adequate charge for at least an hour; if applicable, missing keys. | 30% |
All grades require the devices to have no evidence of liquid damage, only contain genuine parts, are not locked through ABM/ASM or Find My [Device] and can be data wiped.
Laptops 4ths to 7ths
As pupils reach the exam phase of their school careers, we believe it is beneficial to be working on a larger screen with a more robust device. For this reason, we recommend laptops for pupils in 4ths and above. The suite of Microsoft tools is the foundation of our technical deployment, therefore we suggest that a Windows laptop is the most appropriate choice.
We are pleased to announce that we can now offer two variations of a laptop suitable for school use. Current charges can be found on the Fees page.
Please note this is not a mandatory scheme: the option to continue using an iPad or provide your own device will still exist. This is not a leasing scheme and the device is purchased directly from the school at full cost.
Please read the FAQs below carefully and if you wish to place an order then please complete the form at https://forms.office.com/e/rDmi9CYQk8 .
It is intended these devices will be distributed to pupils by the end of June with purchase costs added to August fees.
If you have any further questions about laptop purchasing, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the Parents ICT Helpdesk – parents.ict@edinburghacademy.org.uk
Student Laptop Purchase FAQ
Q. Why are you offering to let me buy a laptop via the school when I can just get one from another retailer?
A. You certainly can continue to purchase your own device from somewhere else. This is not a mandatory scheme. ‘What laptop should I get?’ is a question we are asked multiple times every year; by offering a standard laptop it is hoped this will clarify what is required. Doing it this way also means the IT team will be better placed to help with technical issues rather than trying to be familiar with a huge array of devices and specifications.
Q. Will the laptops be leased in the same way iPads currently are for younger pupils?
A. These laptops will be offered for outright purchase via the school. This is not a leasing scheme. The purchase price will be added onto August fees.
Q. Can I order a laptop via the school at any time throughout the school year?
A. Unfortunately not, the ordering window is limited to May. It is intended that all laptops will be in the hands of pupils by the end of June.
Q. Will any accessories such as laptop cases be offered for purchase?
A. No. We would advise at minimum purchasing a 14” laptop sleeve case from an online or high street retailer.
Q What are the differences between the two models?
A. Both options are based upon the same HP Elitebook 640. One has increased memory and storage; apart from that they are exactly the same.
Q. So which one should I get?
A. The standard 8GB/256GB model should suffice for most uses. If your child is taking a creative subject, or there is a need to work with large files (either now or after EA) then the 16GB/512GB model would be a better choice.
Q. If the laptop has a hardware fault will you fix it?
A. While we will of course assist where possible, any actual hardware repair or replacement will be facilitated via the HP warranty which will be supplied with the device. The warranty will be directly between HP and you as the end customer. The warranty length will be for 4 years from the date of purchase and cover Mon–Fri, between the hours of 9.00am–5.00pm with a next business day response time.
Q. Will the warranty cover accidental damage and will you supply a loan if the laptop has to be sent away for repairs?
A. Any repairs will be at the discretion of HP, it is unlikely they will authorise any which are required to repair damage which has clearly occurred either accidentally or as a result of deliberate misuse. While there may be a small amount of temporary loan units available, unfortunately we cannot guarantee one will be available at all times.
Q. Will pupils be able to install their own software on the device?
A. To do this would require full admin rights to the device. This is not something we wish to do for two primary reasons – It is an increased security risk. Day to day experience has shown that where pupils have rights to install software there is an increased risk that malware, browser hijacks or other unwanted software will be installed onto the device. If software is required then it can be requested and we will look into making it available for self-service install through a portal app which will be installed on every device.
Q. So the laptop will be managed in a similar way to those on the iPad leasing scheme?
A. It is our intention to enrol the device into our MDM (Mobile Device Management) platform but keep any management to a minimum, with the primary aim being not to enforce restrictions to any great extent but to facilitate and automate the initial deployment of devices and applications along with subsequent updates.
Q. Will I need to order an Office 365 licence to get access to Microsoft Office applications?
A. No, this will be provided under the school’s licensing agreement. MS Office applications will be installed as part of the setup process.
Q. Will you setup the laptop for me?
A. We can assist if required but this shouldn’t be necessary. The process is almost completely automated and intended to be carried out by end users using a simple guide which will be provided.
Q. Will the laptop be able to play games?
A. The hardware specification is more geared towards general productivity than gaming but this is possible.
Q. What happens when my child leaves EA?
A. The device will be released from our management platform and then require a partial reset. Details will be provided on how to do this. After both steps the device will be completely unmanaged and free to be used for any other purpose.
Q. Will there be any ability to have parental controls and activity monitoring on the laptops.
A. Not initially. If there is sufficient demand then options to accomplish this may be looked into but will likely involve extra future costs.
Q. I have a question which isn’t covered.
A. Please email parents.ict@edinburghacademy.org.uk with your question.
Platforms and Processes
Like every modern school, we have multiple platforms that are used for various purposes throughout the school. This page provides an overview of these, but information on each one will be sent out as you need to use it.
Showbie
Showbie is a classroom workflow app that allows teachers to share content and instructions for lessons with pupils. It is used at the Junior School in various ways, and pupils are added to the necessary Showbie ‘classes’ at the start of each year. Some Showbie content is also accessible to parents, including ‘groups’ which are used to share an insight to classroom activities and special 'homework; classes for some year groups. Details regarding how to access these groups will be shared at the start of term.
Microsoft Office 365
The Microsoft Suite of tools that are available to all pupils across the school are used in various ways. They are all accessed through the pupil’s school email address and password which will be issued to them when needed by class teachers or ICT staff. Most of these tools are used more often in the Senior School, but are available to all pupils at EA.
Outlook Email
All pupils can access school emails on any device, anytime by logging in through www.office.com. All school 1:1 iPads are pre-configured to ensure email is set up, but otherwise this email can be accessed on any personal phone, tablet, laptop or desktop.
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams allows us to make video calls and send messages to others within the school. At the Junior School this is restricted so that only staff may set up or start a call with pupils. At the Senior School, Teams is also a place for pupil collaboration, the sharing of documents and files and a way to access some OneNote Class Notebooks. Assignments can also be set and this is how classwork and homework is distributed to Senior School pupils.
OneNote Class Notebook
This service is like a virtual ring binder where teachers can share content with pupils, and pupils can save, organise and submit their work and notes. This is primarily used at the Senior School and is usually linked to a Microsoft Team for the class.
OneDrive
OneDrive is a cloud storage space that can be used to save pupils files, documents and other content. Work should be named appropriately and saved in a logical manner. Pupils are encouraged to use this from P6 upwards and will be given support at the start of each year to set up folders for each school subject.
Data Protection, GDPR & Internet Security
At EA we take the safety of our digital data very seriously. We have rigorous systems in place to block inappropriate content in school, and to prevent phishing and ransomware attacks. All apps used by pupils are checked for GDPR compliance by our Data Protection Team. More details of this can be found in our Parents and Pupils Data Protection Policy.
SOCS
SOCS is our Sports Communication platform and can be accessed at www.edinburghacademysports.org.uk.
This is where you can find all of the information about sports fixtures in the school. The Games staff will give further details on this platform to pupils. SOCS is also used to administer and schedule 1:1 music tuition.
School Cloud Parents Evenings
We now have an online system which allows parents to book their Parent Evening appointments, whether these are taking place face to face or virtually. Book a Parent Evening appointment on School Cloud.
