Lower School - Introduction

To Parents and Guardians of Wycliffe College New Year 9 - 11 pupils:

I write to you with exciting news regarding the future of digital learning at Wycliffe College. As you know, all pupils in Year 9 and above are expected to have a 1-to-1 device in the classroom for their learning. During the recent national lockdown Wycliffe College switched immediately from lessons taught in the classroom, to Blended/Hybrid Learning taught via Microsoft Teams & OneNote from our homes. Our senior school pupils, parents, and staff fed back that the enhanced use of technology with Office 365 including Teams & OneNote allowed a new level of interactivity and engagement with lessons, and we have been able to continue to develop this now we have returned to school to make more effective use of technology in the classroom. This also highlighted the importance of the ‘digital inking’ feature and the need for ‘consistency’ with the devices in the classroom for both pupils and teachers. It is with this in mind that we launched the next step in Wycliffe College’s whole school digital revolution, where we moved to a ‘classroom model of the future’ from September 2021, rolling out Surface Pro devices for all our teachers, starting with the Prep School and then the Senior School in 2022.

Therefore, from September 2022, as part of our ongoing Digital Strategy, our BYORD (Bring Your Own Recommended Device) plans for students in Year 9 and above has been amended and our recommended device is now a Microsoft Surface (Surface Go 3, Surface Pro 8 etc.) or any Windows device with a touch screen and stylus/pen with digital inking capability (key requirements). We firmly believe that students having consistent devices like our teachers, integrating seamlessly with our Office365-driven systems, will allow them to work seamlessly together in school or at home, focus on learning rather than solving technical issues, will put them in the driving seat in terms of adapting their learning and enabling them to face the future with confidence. The rapid move forward we have made over the last few months means we are in a secure position to move forward with our Digital Strategy, with our pupils firmly in the centre of all these plans.

You do not have to purchase your device from a particular supplier. However, we do recommend that you purchase from a retailer that offers good warranty and insurance packages and have someone available to speak to face-to-face regarding any claims or repairs. The Microsoft store offers discounts up to 10% for students and parents:

Microsoft Store: https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/store/b/student

The IT Support Team at Wycliffe College will endeavour to assist with internet and school system related queries, but devices with hardware and software faults will generally need to go back to the place of purchase. The IT team at school are always happy to assist where possible and advise, but cannot carry out repairs due to warranty conditions.

Examples of suitable devices that meet the minimum specification include:

  • Microsoft Surface Go 3
  • Microsoft Surface Pro 8
  • Lenovo Yoga range
  • Lenovo IdeaPad Flex series

You have the freedom to choose whatever Windows device fits your child’s needs, but it must meet the following as a minimum in terms of functionality:

  • Minimum 8 GB RAM
  • Minimum of 128 GB Hard Drive
  • Windows 10 / 11
  • Wireless Capability
  • A Camera for video and still image processing
  • Touch screen of 9.7" or greater
  • Keyboard / Keypad
  • Detachable or flip screen to enable writing on a flat surface using a stylus
  • Digital Pen / Stylus
  • Web browser for access to Firefly, Teams, and other online learning resources
  • The ability to install and access OneDrive, Teams, and other Office 365 applications
  • Have a battery life of greater than 6 hours
  • Have a protective case

FAQ

What setup is required on the devices ready for September?

BYORD IT setup for Year 9

There is no set up required on the Surface Go’s specifically for any academic subjects, other than ensuring that the device along with the digital pen works, and the key Office software's (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, OneDrive & Outlook) and antivirus software are installed/setup on the device. If you don't have a subscription to the Office software's, all pupils can get them as part of their school network account for as long as they are a student at Wycliffe.