UCTC CHROMEBOOKS FOR LEARNING SCHEME 2015 Dear Parent, I am delighted to announce that we have launched a Chromebooks for Learning Scheme for UCTC students, with almost all parents in years 8,9 and 10 (scheme is not open to year 11) choosing to opt into the scheme. We are very excited about the impact this development is already having on the learning of our students and sincerely hope you will share in that excitement as we step together into the future of teaching and learning at UCTC. It is not future technology; it is the present. Our students embrace mobile phones, internet and personalised technology. It will be their future working and learning experience. Chromebooks will help pupils organise, communicate, learn and study at home and in school. Individual access to technology is not something that should happen in a few rooms in a school. It should be for everyone, everywhere, anytime; Chromebooks enable that. Students are used to having access to the internet at all times, in all places – school should not be the exception. We want our students to have access to the greatest source of information ever assembled and to study in their own innovative and personalised ways. We need to make full and effective use of technology for learning. Students need to learn about safe, effective, and productive use of technology learning tools. We want to make the educational experience for pupils at UCTC as varied, dynamic and stimulating as possible. To get a good feel for how Chromebooks will enhance your child’s education please refer to the Chromebooks section of our website under the parent tab and read the “A day in the life” article. I hope that all the information you need about our scheme is within this parent pack, but if not there is a comprehensive Chromebook FAQ document on our website and you can contact us anytime via the Chromebooks for Learning Scheme e-mail address: [email protected] Yours faithfully

Hugh Hennebry

Why have we opted for Chromebooks? *Less than 8 seconds to boot up *Long battery life *Simple technology that will just work *Easy student-teacher workflow *Large numbers of computers that can be managed centrally *Excellent collaboration tools *Works seamlessly with Google Apps for Education and other cloudbased applications which all of our students and teachers already use extensively *Multiple users can set up accounts on the device so can be used by family members. To provide you with the best value for money in terms of both robustness of device and price, we have been through a rigourous and competitive tendering process and I am sure you will agree that what we are now able to offer you represents a super package. In this parent pack we present precise details of the Chromebook package we have put together for you and we explain how and why the Chromebooks will be used at UCTC. You can pay for your Chromebook package directly through ParentPay, or if you intend to pay monthly then please use the payment form included in this pack. First payment must be received prior to a Chromebook being allocated to your child at the beginning of November.

Our Choice of Chromebook?

Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 11e Multimode Chromebook What’s in the Package? Chromebook Model Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 11e Multimode Chromebook Chromebook Case TABi Bubble hardcase sleeve Warranty 1 Year Manufacturer Warranty Maintenance and Repairs 3 Years on-site fixing * Physical Security Locker Padlock Optional Extra Opt in: home content filtering via UCTC content filters

How much will it cost? We are over the moon to be able to present you with our Chromebook Package; offering you OUTSTANDING value for money and a chromebook model that is far more rugged and robust than any other on the market. We know you will be as delighted as we are.

Our Chromebook package costs £299 if paid for via ParentPay with a one off payment. Over 12 months via standing order the cost will be £25.92 per month which includes the cost of the Chromebook package plus a monthly £1 standing order processing fee. If you have concerns about meeting this payment commitment please contact our Finance Team on: 01825 764844 EXT: 1253 Email: [email protected]

Buying the same Chromebook model and case independently (WITHOUT 3 years on-site fixing and padlock) would cost you around £359!

*Subject to fair excess for parts* Details on separate sheet* PLEASE INSURE FOR LOSS /THEFT ON YOUR HOME CONTENTS INSURANCE

Se

Timetable for the introduction of Chromebooks September 2015

Year 7 Parents make payment via Parent pay or set up standing order payments

Wk beginning 2nd Nov 2015

Year 7 students alloacted Chromebooks during their Computing lessons

Nov - Dec 2015

Year 7 Opt in Parent Chromebook learning classes

What will Chromebooks be used for by students?

The following are examples of what students will do at UCTC:

• Create, share and collaborate using Google Apps for Education. • Organise their homework and classwork through Google Classroom. • Use excellent learning resources from our subscribed service partners including Discovery Education UK, MyMaths, Kerboodle and Hodder Computing. • Use digital tools to support their research and writing. For example academic bibliography and citation tools, read aloud and voice recognition tools; promoting independent learning. • Think and behave creatively across their subjects using cloud apps for design, planning, animation, mind-mapping, image editing, sound editing, video recording etc. • Use UCTC e-library facilities. Students have access to the whole of East Sussex’s library of fiction and non-fiction ebooks. They also have full and free access to Britannica encyclopedia, a range of Oxford references as well as newspaper archives. • Use Moodle courses for revisiting lessons and extending their learning further. • Use the camera/video function to record projects, experiments and presentations. • Use subject related apps in the classroom and at home.

About the Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 11e Multimode

RUGGED A rubber bumper around the top cover absorbs the force of side bumps. The corners are 50 percent stronger, to reduce damage when dropped at an angle. The bezel is thicker, to protect the LCD panel, and a stronger rear cover reduces accidental LCD damage. The hinges and brackets have been strengthened, to last 50,000 cycles and to withstand more force to the cover. Reinforced ports and a reduced gap between anchored keys help prevent accidental damage. This is one tough machine.

MULTIMODE VERSATILITY Easily change between four modes – Laptop, Stand, Tablet, and Tent – for whatever you choose to do. This device’s unique design and touchscreen display allow the screen to flip 360 degrees, so you can select the mode that best matches your needs at the time.

DRAGONTRAIL GLASS MULTI-TOUCH DISPLAY Scratch and crack resistant Dragontrail glass is far tougher than typical soda-lime glass. Six times stronger than conventional glass, a 1.1-millimetre sample can withstand 60 kg (132 lbs) of weight! But it’s still sensitive enough to read your multitouch commands with greater precision and faster response times.

MIL-SPEC TESTED Military-specification testing validates the ruggedness, durability, and quality of ThinkPad products by testing against eight parameters: high pressure, humidity, vibration, high temperature, temperature shock, low pressure (15,000 ft), low temperature, and dust.

FASTER DATA TRANSFER Fast data transfer. Move data between the 11e and other devices quickly with USB 3.0 — it’s up to 10 times faster than previous USB technologies and backward-compatible with USB 2.0.

INTEGRATED HD WEBCAM Integrated HD Webcam. The low-light-sensitive, 720p HD webcam with face-tracking, plus dual digital-array microphones.

SPECS Processor: Intel® Celeron N2930 up to 2.0 GHz, 4MB L3

WIMAX / WIFI ThinkPad® 2 x 2 ABGN + Bluetooth® 4.0 combo Intel® 7260 2 x 2 AC + Bluetooth® 4.0 combo

Operating System: Google Chrome Weight 1.4 kg (3.1 lbs) with 4-cell battery Graphics: Intel® HD Webcam

720p HD webcam

Storage

16GB eMMC

Memory 4GB max DDR3L 1600 MHz Display 11.6” HD LED Anti-Glare (1366 x 768) 11.6” HD LED IPS touch (1366 x 768) Dimensions (W x D x H) 11.81” x 8.5” x 0.87” (300 mm x 216 mm x 22.3 mm)

Battery Up to 8 hrs

For Parents

We will hold opt in Chromebook parent learning sessions in November. These sessions will be for parents who want to get hands on with their child’s new Chromebook and will be held in the early evenings/

You will receive a booking form shortly.

Repairs

Content Filtering

We are providing an on-site repair service for the Chromebooks purchased as part of the UCTC Chromebook Scheme. This service will continue for three years after your child receives their Chromebook.

We are able to offer you content filtering on the Chromebook for home use at a cost of £7 for the three year term.

If the Chromebook is still under warranty we will arrange repairs/replacement as necessary.

This is an opt-in service for those who need the support to ensure their child is protected from inappropriate content and prevented from using some social networking services including Facebook and Twitter. The content filter offers security and virus protection and it will block 100% of illegal material identified by the Internet Watch Foundation and at least 90% of inappropriate internet content in the following categories: • Adult/Pornography • Violence • Race hate • Illegal drugs • Criminal skill/activity • Gambling For further details, please contact: [email protected]

For three years from date of allocation we will diagnose problems and carry out necessary repairs as long as the Chromebook is fixable. The screens on this model are very expensive to replace but they are very robust. In the unlikely event of a screen breakage an excess of £50 will be charged. Replacement parts will be charged as follows: Screens/Motherboard/Water damage: £50 All other parts: £10

Support If you are concerned that you are unable to meet the payment commitment financial assistance is possible: email us: [email protected] For general questions about the scheme please see the Chromebook FAQ document on our website or email us: [email protected]

SUMMARY OF KEY INFORMATION How much and how to pay?

The Scheme is voluntary to opt into and if you decide to opt in then you can pay: • Via ParentPay (in full) a payment of £299.00. Just login to ParentPay and pay online. Once you have recieved your login details. • Via Standing Order over 12 months a paymentof £25.92 per month (this includes a £1 admin cost). From September set up via online/telephone banking. Maintenance and repairs are included in the Package (subject to fair excess for parts), but this does not cover loss and theft. Some of our parents have chosen to take out their own gadget insurance or have been able insure the Chromebook for loss/theft on existing home contents insurance policies. NB: If you want to opt in but have concerns about meeting the payments, or if you have more than one student at UCTC currently in years 7 - 10 and you would like financial assistance, please contact our Finance Team, in confidence, on extension 1253.

When do I get my Chromebook? Once a payment has been received, either in full or the first standing order payment, Chromebooks will be allocated to students as follows: Year 7- Week beginning November 2nd 2015

Contacts For financial enquiries:

Tel: 01825 764844 ext 1253 Email: [email protected]

For technical support and other general enquiries:

Email: [email protected]