Chromebooks
At Katherine Warington our aim is for all our students to have a Chromebook to support and enhance their learning.
Some of the ways we use Chromebooks are:
- To access our ‘online student planner’ (inc. GMail, Calendar, Arbor and homelearning notification and tasks), fostering independence and organisation skills for our students, enhanced by technology – such important future life skills.
- Utilising the suite of free Google applications (for word processing, spreadsheets and presentations).
- To access a wealth of online resources both in class and at home – including the best and most up to date textbooks, eBooks, an endless range of educational apps and so much more.
- For collaboration with their peers and wider communities through the shared learning environments of Google Sites, Google Classroom and all of the above applications.
Why Chromebooks?
- They are a true learning device – they are a laptop, not a tablet and therefore can do so much more than the touch screen of an iPad.
- They are quick to start up – going from sleep mode to active use in 1 second, from shutdown to active use in just 10 seconds.
- They have a great battery life – lasting over 8 hours, compared to the 3 to 4 hours of many other laptops.
- They are cost effective – we have secured a competitively priced, rugged model Chromebook, complete with full warranty and repair service for our students.
- They come with a Google License – so have a suite of applications that are constantly updated for free.
- The Google OS is inherently secure and reliable – there are no viruses, no data breaches and all data is stored in the cloud so if something should happened to the device, nothing is lost.
Purchasing Your Own Chromebook Independently
Parents who may choose to purchase their own Chromebook for their child, please ensure that you follow the below requirements:
- The device must meet or exceed the specifications of the Chromebook models advertised by our School for the current academic year (please see ‘Student Device Programme’ pdf below).
- A one-time payment of £30 for a Google Education licence is made via Arbor Parent Portal. This licence allows the School to manage the device, including rolling out updates and applications. Once the licence is purchased, the School’s IT Department will setup your child’s device.
Please note that this process will wipe any data on the device, returning it to factory settings.
Optional Extras (Strongly Recommended)
- Protective case for the device to ensure it is secured when not in use.
- Insurance against accidental damage, theft or loss.
The School cannot be held responsible for any damage, theft or loss that occurs to a device that was sourced independently. It is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to ensure the student has a Chromebook device for school.
