Bring Your Own Device in Year 12
Please can you provide a laptop or a Chromebook for your son/daughter to use in their lessons in Key Stage 5. Sixth form students find laptops invaluable, particularly in certain subjects. The increased demands of the curriculum in the sixth form and more complex tasks often involving extended writing and coursework are best supported by a laptop or Chromebook rather than a tablet or other smaller, smart device. Students who already have a device that meets our minimum requirements (see below) are welcome to bring that to school to work on. The school strongly recommends that all devices are kept in an appropriate protective case and parents/carers have insurance in place for all personal devices brought on site.
Devices should:
- Be capable of connecting to the internet through WiFi
- Have a keyboard
- Have good battery life
- We recommend a screen 9” or larger
For most subjects, this will be sufficient but if your son/daughter is taking Photography, then a PC (not Chromebook) with the ability to download and run Photoshop and Lightroom is recommended. Apple MacBooks are also ideally suitable. However, at the time of writing, Chromebooks do not have the capability to support the Photoshop programme.
Students studying a Modern Foreign Language will require headphones compatible with their device.
Students studying A level Product Design will require a Mac or PC (but not a chrome book), and will need Microsoft Office or equivalent.
We have a small number of nearly new Chromebooks that are available to purchase if required. Please email our IT Department (helpdesk@presdales.herts.sch.uk) if you are interested in purchasing one of these. Students who are in receipt of the 16-19 Bursary will have a Chromebook provided for them, please contact IT on the email address above if this applies to your son/daughter.