Inaburra’s managed device program
As the school continually evaluates how best to support our students’ learning and wellbeing, Inaburra’s BYOT program is being phased out over a three-year period 2025-2027. We are transitioning from the BYOT model to school managed devices.
Students still using the BYOT program (Years 11 and 12 for 2026, and Year 12 2027) should read the BYOT Guidelines.
Please note that this program does not affect students in Kindergarten to Year 4.
Our Goal
Advances in technology have challenged the effectiveness of the BYOT program. The resulting transition to managed devices is part of our commitment to ensuring a focused, productive, and safe digital learning environment for all students.
Why Managed Devices?
We believe that managed devices provide several key benefits, including:
- Greater control over devices: Managed devices allow the school to control app installation and usage, ensuring students access only the tools they need for learning. This helps reduce distractions and keeps students focused on educational activities.
- Decreased screen time: A growing pool of research, such as Jonathan Haidt’s recent work on the relationship between screen time and mental health, and our experience, suggests that excessive screen time can negatively impact teenagers’ mental health. By regulating the use of these devices during school hours, we aim to help students establish healthier boundaries with technology.
- Improved security and safety: Managed devices prevent features like phone tethering or hot-spotting, ensuring that students use secure networks for internet access, which helps protect them from inappropriate content and distractions.
- Consistency across the classroom: Having all students on the same platform allows teachers to create more seamless, efficient lessons, as all students will have access to the same tools and updates without technical difficulties that often arise from a disparate BYOT model.
Chosen Device
The chosen device is a MacBook Air, 13″ screen, M4 CPU (10-Core CPU, 8-Core GPU, 16-Core Neural Engine), 16GB RAM, 256GB Storage. A protective case is included with the device.
What this means for existing families
To cover the cost of providing and maintaining the devices, there will be a technology levy, itemised in the semester school fees. The levy covers the cost of the device, accessories, and management software.
Due to the education and finance discounts that we can negotiate as a school, we believe the costs are commensurate with your own costs should you have purchased and maintained your child’s device independently.
We continue to expect students to handle their managed devices with the same responsibility and care as they did with their previous BYOT devices.
All students are expected to adhere to the Technology Use Agreement and the School’s ICT Guidelines regardless of which program they are on (BYOT or Managed Devices).
Timeline (see calendar below)
- 2025: Year 5 and Year 7 students will begin using managed devices.
- 2026: Extending managed devices to all other cohorts up to Year 10 in 2026. The Year 11 (2026) and Year 12 (2026) cohort will remain on the BYOT program.
- 2027: Year 12 2027 will remain on the BYOT program. All other cohorts (Year 5-Year 11) will be using managed devices.
- 2028: All cohorts from Year 5 – Year 12 will be using managed devices.
FAQs
How much is the technology levy and when will it be charged?
Technology Levy in 2026: The technology levy for Years 5, 7 and 9 (2 years remaining) is $365 per semester. The technology levy for Years 6 and 8 (1 year remaining) is $335 per semester. The technology levy for Year 10 (3 years remaining) is $290. The levy will be invoiced with school fees. Inaburra is only passing on the costs incurred by the suppliers (i.e. no profit margin).
Do I have to pay the technology levy if my child doesn't have a managed device?
Does the levy include AppleCare on the device?
All devices issued from 2026 onwards will have AppleCare included in the levy. AppleCare goes towards the cost of repairing physical damage to a device.
How often will students receive new devices?
Students paying the Technology Levy will receive a new device every 2 years under the current plan. The exception to this is Year 10 2026 who will keep their device for 3 years. The school may update this further down the track depending on the treatment of the devices over time.
Do students take the devices home each day?
Yes. Students take their managed device home each day for the purposes of Home Learning.
Can we migrate a recently purchased MacBook to a managed device?
Unfortunately, no. This option is not open to Inaburra due to Apple’s terms of agreement with the School.
What is the repairs process if my child's managed device incurs physical damage?
It is important that parents do not engage an external supplier to undertake repairs on a damaged managed device. This breaches Inaburra’s agreement with Apple. Students should hand their device into the ICT Office where they will be issued with a replacement managed device. ICT staff will contact parents with next steps regarding the repairs process.
Is the School able to provide a period of grace to families who recently purchased a device that can’t be be transitioned to a managed device?
Our goal is to transition each cohort together to gain the benefits of managed devices across the cohort in the classroom. The program roll-out is three years in order to minimise the financial impact to families. The cohorts selected for the 2025 roll-out fall into the least affected ‘bucket’ as most would not have purchased a device for 2025. The remaining students will have had a minimum of two years on their current BYOT device before changing over to the managed device program.
Any devices purchased previously may still be useful as another device at home for non-school related tasks (e.g. gaming).
How do I set-up screen time controls on my child's managed device?
Inaburra’s ICT team has prepared a short instructional video to assist parents in activating certain controls on your child’s device.
How does Inaburra control what students are accessing online through the managed device?
Inaburra has implemented several web-filtering programs on managed devices to help ensure students can only access websites appropriate for learning. These filters remain active even when a student is using their device at home.
Can I connect our home printer to my child's managed device?
Set up has been enabled for students to ‘Add a printer’ for their managed device, and load essential drivers (communication software). If more complex printer software is required, students can visit the ICT Office (Room 317) for assistance.
At the end of the lease cycle, who owns the laptop?
The devices are being leased by the school. The Technology Levy covers the leasing cost. At the end of the cycle, all devices and accessories (chargers and cables) must be returned to the School, and will then be handed back to the leasing company.
Who is responsible for repairs and damage to the managed device?
Normal ‘wear and tear’ is expected. However damage that impacts the operation of the device, such as broken or significant screen damage or physical damage to the device, will not be covered by the insurance policy included in the technology levy. Parents will be invoiced separately for the repair costs.
What if my student requires specific hardware/software for a subject they are studying? E.g. media/video editing.
The managed device is sufficient for students to use for most learning tasks at school. If there are exceptions, they’ll be managed on a case-by-case basis to ensure students have access to the technology and software required.
Will students be able to install other software on their managed device?
No. The managed device is a learning tool and as such, students will not be able to download any apps or software that is not approved by the school.
Will students be able to recharge their device during the day?
We are discouraging students from planning to recharge at school; power cords/chargers can be a Work, Health and Safety hazard and they add extra weight to school bags. For this reason, battery life is key in choosing technology. Students will need to cultivate the habit of charging their device overnight at home.
What about students in Years K-4?
Students in Kindergarten to Year 2 will continue to use iPads for learning and students in Years 2-4 will continue on the Chromebook program. These devices are provided by the school and stay at school (i.e. students do not take them home).