Bring Your Own Device
Sandringham School operates a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy where all students from Years 7 – 11 are required to have a tablet device in school for use in lessons and at home. Sixth Form students require a laptop dependent on their subject choices.
For Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9) and Key Stage 4 (Years 10 & 11) and tablet is a compulsory equipment for all students, as per school policy.
For Sixth Form, we are recommending a laptop or Chromebook device.
For Sixth Form, a laptop/Chromebook is required for certain subjects. See the list of subjects below for which a device that is brought to school for lessons will be required.
A ‘smartphone’ is not a suitable learning device for this programme. Screen sizes are simply too small to be able to use eBooks, conduct research, write presentations or essays, etc. It is a fallacy promoted by IT vendors that one device can satisfy every possible educational use. You wouldn’t use a laptop to record a competitor on the sports field, likewise you probably wouldn’t type an A Level essay on an iPad!
We propose a model showing that for longer duration or higher complexity tasks, you need more powerful and probably less portable equipment.
- Low duration/complexity : web research, photo or video capture, blogging/tweeting, scanning QR codes, reading ebooks, quizzes, surveys etc.
- Longer duration/complexity : word processing, programming, movie editing etc.
Furthermore, we require access to the Internet to be via our filtered WiFi and require devices with 3G/4G connections to have them switched off for the safety of our students and staff. The ‘no phones in lessons’ rule makes this much easier to monitor.
Sixth Form subjects – Laptop/Chromebook required
Laptop/Chromebook Compulsory
- Art – Fine
- Art – Photography
- Art – Textiles
- Biology
- Business
- BTEC Business Level 3
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Dance
- Drama and Theatre Studies
- Economics
- English Literature
- English Language
- Extended Project Qualification
- Geography
- Media Studies
- Philosophy and Ethics
- Physical Education
- Physics
- Product Design
- Psychology
Laptop not required
- Certificate in Financial Studies
- French
- Further Maths
- Government and Politics
- History
- Mathematics
- Mathematical Studies
- Music
- Sociology
- Spanish