In 2020 the College introduced the Managed Device Programme for all students in Years 9 to 12. In our endeavour to constantly improve and refine our programmes our IT department annually review the program to ensure it meets the needs of our students.
The Managed Device Programme is designed to alleviate financial pressures and guarantee students use an optimal device in line with their learning needs and that our IT department and teachers can support. The mandatory programme has had to be adapted due to curriculum requirements, supplier constraints and market availability; it will also be an integral component for student learning as St Philip’s progresses with the roll out of the Schoolbox learning platform.
What does this mean for you?
The Managed Device Programme means you’re not simply purchasing the device from the College, it is a complete device management and support programme.
You will receive:
- 4 year – device warranty – (the current program through The School Locker is only 3 years).
- 3 year - Accidental Damage Protection cover
- Hotswap Service* – students present a damaged device to the IT department and they will receive a replacement device (*conditions will apply)
- All required software licensing and updates
- Complete security protection suite (Malware & Antivirus)
- Safe and secure web browsing at school and at home
- Full IT support
Parents are notified about ordering and finance options in Term 4 each year so that the device is delivered in a timely fashion.
Questions and Answers about the Programme
1. What does the Managed Device Programme offer?
The Managed Device Programme means the College takes on the responsibility of procuring the hardware; picking the best-in-class device suited for the future of the students; deployment to each student in a seamless and intuitive manner; provide students with automatically installed applications typically not available when purchasing at a retail outlet. This includes: College purchased software like Adobe Indesign & Studio1, Office365 apps like Word, Excel, Outlook and enhanced Wi-Fi priority for a better and faster browsing experience.
A high level of protection and security is also included which allows the students to be safe and guarded from malicious attacks at home, not just at school.
Warranty and Accidental Damage cover, not typically offered on consumer laptops, is handled by the College’s IT department.
2. Is this a mandatory programme?
This is a mandatory requirement for all students in Year 9, 10, 11 and 12 . The College has not supported BYO devices since 2022, therefore it is mandatory for all students to be part of the Managed Device Programme. Different payment options are available and we recommend parents consider what best suit their needs.
3. Can the MDP Surface Laptops be used outside of the school and other schools in the future?
Absolutely, outside of the support and network of St Philip’s College the Surface Laptop is a fully functioning premium device, which far exceeds any minimum specification requirements. As you will eventually own the device it comes fully featured with Windows 10 ready to use anywhere for years to come.
4. Is there any spyware on these devices that the school installs to monitor the students?
Absolutely no spyware is deployed or installed on these devices from the school. We believe the security and protection of our students to be of the highest priority, and that’s where the applications we offer are internet protection and local antivirus only. At no point is there a reason to monitor cameras, view desktops etc, in fact most of that ability is only available in movies or with very expensive software generally outside of a school’s budget!
5. Is there a camera on the laptop and can it be used?
There is a front facing camera which is used for Online Learning, Teams meetings and logging on to the laptop using facial recognition, however we will not use this for remote access or viewing remotely. There are even security measures put in place in both Windows 10 and the firewall to prevent access to cameras.
6. Do the students have admin rights to their Surface device and can they install software at home?
Yes, all students will have admin rights to their laptop by default, this means they can install applications outside of the College’s recommended apps.
7. How does the laptop become ‘free’ from the school network once the student leaves or finishes, especially if it is purchased outright?
Once a student finishes school or leaves, their device is unenrolled by the IT department UPON REQUEST: that means that it exits our ‘managed’ environment and enters a normal out of the box environment, allowing the student to log in to the device like a normal everyday laptop. Any existing files and data would be downloaded and available to the student, however access to their SPC online OneDrive and Office365 account would be closed.
8. When the laptop is ‘unenrolled’ and exits the College’s ‘managed’ environment, does the software remain on the laptop?
Windows 10 will remain, and an account will be created on the device to allow the student to login locally. Office365 will remain as it’s subscription based. This means that if parents have a subscription you can enter your subscription details to reactivate it if you would like. All other software, antivirus and St Philip’s apps and online applications are removed.
9. What do I get in the Managed Device Programme package?
The package contains:
- Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 - 13.5", i5 CPU, 8GB RAM, 256GB M.2 SSD, Touch screen
- STM Dux hard case protection
- 65 watt fast charger with USB port
What is optional:
Available at the Uniform Shop is:
- A selection of STM laptop bags and sleeves
- Replacement 65W Surface chargers
- Replacement STM Dux hard cases
10. What happens if the student has a problem with their laptop? Where do they go and how can they fix it?
Each student is covered under a 4-year warranty and damage protection, meaning if there is a legitimate fault with the device or it received an accidental cracked screen, it will be replaced directly with a hot-swap device. Their account will be automatically migrated over, and all they need to do is bring it to the St Philip’s IT department and fill out a damage form. If the damage requires replacement under the Accidental Damage Protection cover then there is a possible excess of approximately $150 to be paid by the student or parent. Warranty cover is handled by the school at no cost. The Accidental Damage Protection cover, covers two claims for your device.
In the event the device is stolen we will work with the parents to provide a replacement to the student while investigating appropriate insurance cover.
11. How do we go about purchasing the laptop?
It is all done through the College - no parent purchasing is required. PLEASE do not purchase any device from a retail outlet or privately, this includes purchasing similar devices from a reseller. They will not work when brought to school.
A letter with payment options and details is sent to parents and guardians in Term 4 of each year to students who wil be going onto Year 9. This information is also provided to parents and guardians with students who are newly enrolled in Years 10, 11 and 12.
12. How and where do we collect it?
You will be notified of how and where to collect your device at the time of ordering.
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