DfE Laptop, Desktop and Tablet Standards
Laptops, Desktops and Tablets Standards
Devices must be secure, reliable and importantly fit for purpose throughout a school or college, supporting the curriculum, school administration and the schools digital strategy.
Schools and colleges must ensure that devices used by teachers, staff and pupils are safe and secure, capable and aligned with their wider digital strategy. Laptops, desktops and tablets should effectively support curriculum delivery, administrative processes and flexible access to digital systems throughout, while remaining secure, reliable and cost-effective.
Poor device selection can result in lost learning time, increased technical issues and much higher long-term costs.
Schools should regularly assess whether their current devices meet both educational and operational requirements. This includes compatibility with cloud platforms, curriculum software and safeguarding systems. Understanding who uses each device, how and where it is used, and whether it supports accessibility features and secure network access is essential.
Devices should meet or exceed the DfE’s minimum standards, including enterprise-grade operating systems, regular security patching and modern wireless connectivity.
All devices should be centrally managed to ensure consistent application of updates, filtering, monitoring and access controls.
Where mobile or remote use is required, device management solutions should support remote locking, data wiping and safeguarding. Devices must be recorded in an up-to-date asset register, and procurement decisions going forward, should be informed and based on an understanding of security, compliance and user needs.
Energy efficiency and sustainability should also be considered. Devices should be configured to reduce unnecessary energy consumption and disposed of in line with WEEE regulations and data protection requirements. Secure data sanitisation must be carried out when equipment is retired, with appropriate records maintained.
Reviewing device usage can often identify opportunities to repurpose equipment, helping schools and colleges to control costs and meet sustainability objectives.
What is the Apple Volume Purchase Program?
Apples, VPP provides educational institutions with complete ownership and control of content through mobile device management (MDM) solutions.
Users get quick and easy access to apps and books over the air at discounted prices.
iOS and Mac Apps
Buy apps in volume for both iOS and Mac through the VPP store. Free apps are also available, so you can provide students and teachers with all the tools they need to enhance learning.
Pricing for Education
Organisations such as Soltech IT can offer educational institutions special pricing on apps through VPP. Once educational pricing is enabled, institutions will receive a 50 per cent discount when purchasing in quantities of 20 or more.
Educational institutions can purchase apps and books in volume using purchase orders, credit cards and Click and Buy. Institutions using purchase orders can procure Volume Purchase Programme Credit (VPP Credit), which provides credit to administrators electronically for any amount through email.
01 Enrol.
Set up a Volume Purchase Programme account by providing basic information about your institution and who will manage the programme.
02 Setup.
After enrolment is complete, you then set up and manage your institution’s administrators for the purchasing and distribution of content.
03 Purchase.
In the VPP store, search for the content you need, enter the quantity and complete the transaction with VPP Credit or a credit card.
04 Distribute
Distribute content to individual users by providing them with redeemable codes on a per-app basis. Or streamline app distribution institution-wide by assigning content directly to users or groups using an MDM solution.
