Technology

Student Devices

All Senior School students are required to have a device as part of their equipment. Devices are used both in School and at home. Each student must have a device which can operate a full suite of Microsoft Windows products.

For compatibility and full network integration it is preferable for devices to be PC Microsoft Windows based. If you are unsure of device compatibility, please contact IT Support: itsupport@altonschool.co.uk.

The following minimum specifications are recommended:

» PC / Microsoft Windows based (to allow full integration to network)

» Intel i5 (generation 11 or above) / AMD Ryzen 3 or 5 series / or the latest mobile high-end processor

» Minimum 8GB of on-board RAM

» Minimum 256GB GB of SSD storage

» Built-in webcam/ mic (allowing for video conferencing)

We strongly recommend that your child’s device is covered by Accidental Damage and Theft Insurance, which can be purchased at the point of buying the device. This is likely to include cover for liquid, fire or malicious damage. Alternatively, you may want to add the device to your own home insurance - please check with your insurer/ broker to ensure that the cover includes damage outside the home.

Student devices need to be set up for in-school use – this includes installation of software (including Impero for classroom monitoring, Trend Micro Antivirus and Malware protection, Microsoft Office 365 suite), configuration of Windows and additional administration tasks to ensure compatibility of the device with our existing network infrastructure. Please contact Mr Scott Mansell on sjmansell@ altonschool.co.uk to discuss the scope of the work required as well as agree the timescale involved.

Pupil mobile phones

We know pupils might need mobile phones for communication with parents and security getting to and from School. We do not accept responsibility for phones unless they are handed in for safe-keeping during the day.

While in School, all phones must be switched off and remain locked in lockers - not left in blazer pockets. Pupils can make calls home from the School Office for urgent matters.

Please do not expect your child to send or receive messages from you on a mobile during the school day. Please do not phone your child whilst they are at School. Mobile phones used during school hours will be confiscated and returned when the Headmaster or Deputy Head feels it is appropriate.

Phones may be taken into Prep club so you can make contact when you have arrived in the car park to avoid pupils having to wait outside in the winter months.

Other Equipment

Text Books, Stationery, and Art & Design materials

All pupils will be provided with the exercise books they need for class work, including an Art sketch book. They must have their own pencil case containing pens and pencils for general writing, a pencil sharpener, a rubber, scissors, a glue stick, and highlighters in several colours.

KS3 Art and Design - pupils will need: a black fineliner, 4B and 8B pencils, watercolour pencils, a 30 cm ruler, and paintbrushes (round size 6 or 8; flat size 14 or 16).

While textbooks are provided, all pupils must provide their own calculator. Spec: Casio scientific calculator, in particular one of the following models: fx-83GTX, fx85GTX, fx-83GT-CW, fx-85GT-CW, fx-991EX or fx-991CW. All of these are suitable for GCSE Maths, with the latter two also suitable for A level Maths.

Pupils wear a white lab coat for Science practicals, which are provided by the Science Department. For all KS3 and GCSE Music lessons, pupils are required to bring their own wired headphones with a 3.5mm jack for use with musical keyboards. Please note that wireless headphones cannot be used.

Social media and gaming

Please keep an eye on how much time is spent on mobile and gaming devices at home. TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram and other social networking sites can be a distraction and escalate emotional worries. They may be used to send and receive unpleasant messages and young people may think it is ‘cool’ to collect as many friends as possible. It may help your child if you set a phone curfew at a reasonable time in the evening and keep devices downstairs at bed time.

If your children have mobile devices, please monitor what information is being shared. Taking the stance that your child’s right to ‘privacy’ is more important than his or her safety is highly inadvisable. Social networking sites, emails and text messages can all put your child at risk. Please put your child’s safety before their privacy and keep checking what they are doing as they grow older.

We run regular sessions in school regarding internet safety and wellbeing. We also offer sessions for parents. Please look out for these in the calendar.

Please refer to the Wellbeing Hub for advice on mobile phone usage, gaming and social networking.