Choosing the right devices for a school or Multi-Academy Trust starts with understanding how they will be used in teaching and learning. Staff, pupils and different year groups often need different types of devices, and decisions should reflect curriculum requirements, software platforms and how devices will be used across the school day.
This guide outlines key considerations when selecting laptops, Chromebooks and tablets for schools. It explains which device types tend to work best in different contexts, from staff laptops and exam-ready devices to Chromebooks for cloud-based learning and tablets for younger pupils, SEND support and creative subjects.
The guide also provides starting points for device specifications, durability, battery life, security, management tools and Windows 11 readiness. It is designed to help schools plan device purchases that are practical to manage, reliable for daily use and aligned with longer-term refresh cycles and budgets.