Learning with ICT

Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten

iPad program

Our Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students have access to classroom shared iPads as part of their learning program.

Prep to Year 5

Prep to Year 2 use one-to-one classroom iPads. The program was extended to the Junior School with Year 3 students in 2021 and by 2023 all boys from Prep to Year 5 will have iPads. It is our belief that three years is the optimum cycle for devices so a new iPad in Prep and then one again in Year 3 will see the boys through to the end of Year 5. iPads are provided at the beginning of the school year and they will be stored in charging stations in the classroom. The iPads remain at school overnight and remain the property of the School.

iPad transition process for Years 3–5

Years 6–8

Commencing in 2022 the Middle School will begin a 1:1 School Owned Laptop Program using Microsoft Surface Laptop Go Devices. This new program has been planned based on feedback from staff, students and parents/carers. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go is a very versatile device that will give students the technological tools they need to support their learning.

Students in Years 6 and 7 students will be issued with their devices from the first day of Term 1 2022. Students in Year 8 will continue to use Chromebooks for 2022, any Year 8 student in need of a new Chromebook will be issued a loan device for the school year.

Middle School device transition

Please note

• The laptops are managed by and remain the property of the School. Whilst enrolled in the Middle School a student will have exclusive access to their assigned laptop.
• The device should be brought to school fully charged each day, classrooms are not equipped for charging.
• The laptops are provided with a protective case, it is a requirement that the protective case always remains on the device.
• Devices may be checked periodically by IT staff to ensure they are being kept in good condition.
• Laptops are covered by warranty while in use in the Middle School, any accidental damage repair costs will be the responsibility of the parent/carer, a flat $99 repair fee applies to the first three ‘out of warranty/accidental damage’ repairs.
• The school will maintain a fleet of ‘hot swappable’ spare devices to mitigate the disruption to student learning.
• Devices are filtered whilst on school internet, once at home filtering of the internet is the responsibility of parents/carers.

Years 9–12

BYOD program

The BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) program enables students to maintain control of their personal device to use seamlessly between home and school.

The part that online learning plays in our students’ lives to create, communicate and collaborate is explicitly addressed in teaching and learning at The Hutchins School. Students are shown how to manage and connect their own wireless-enabled devices securely to work on the School’s wireless network.

Device recommendations

Minimum specifications:

• Mac or Windows Operating System
• 128GB SSD (Solid State Drive)
• 8GB RAM
• Physical keyboard

Recommended specifications (students focussing on Computer Arts, Media and Graphics based subjects, especially TASC):

• Mac or Windows Operating System
• 256GB SSD (Solid State Drive) or greater
• 16GB RAM
• Dedicated graphics
• Physical keyboard

Please note

• The School provides access to Microsoft Office and Adobe applications to all students BYOD devices at no additional cost.
• The device should be brought to school fully charged each day, classrooms are not equipped for charging.
• Students entering Year 9 from the Middle School who wish to continue using their Chromebook are welcome to, as long as it is in good working condition. If purchasing a new device it will need to be a Windows or Mac based device.
• If choosing a tablet form factor please take into account the subjects chosen by your son and whether the device will be appropriate. A requirement of any tablet is that a physical keyboard is available for use when required.
• Devices are filtered whilst on school internet, once at home filtering of the internet is the responsibility of parents/carers.

The School’s IT Supplier the School Locker can sell devices directly to Parents at educational prices. A portal with a selection of devices with school pricing is available below.

Visit the School Locker portal

Download the School Locker device brochure

For any questions not answered here please contact our IT HelpDesk.