Frequently Asked Questions
Devices for Education gives your school the devices it needs in an affordable and easy to manage way.
If you cannot find an answer to any question you may have on this page, call us on 0203 970 4994.
IT Equipment Leasing for Schools
What is IT equipment leasing for schools?
It is a cost-effective way for educational institutions to access necessary technology without large upfront purchases. Our IT leasing system allows schools to make fixed monthly payments over time, scale inventory as needed, and receive ongoing tech support.
Why should schools lease IT equipment?
IT leasing reduces the initial cost of equipment, allowing schools to avoid taking out loans or waiting to build up sufficient funds. At the end of every lease period, schools can add to or switch their devices to obtain the latest technologies.
We offer flexible payment options, affordable pricing, and inclusive insurance to cover the cost of stolen or accidentally damaged devices.
What are the best IT leasing options for schools?
Device for Education Teams offers two IT equipment leasing options for schools: the 1:1 Parental Scheme and the School DaaS Solution.
With the 1:1 Parental Scheme, parents select a device for their child from the school’s curated catalogue, pay its lease in small, monthly instalments, and have the option to purchase the device at the end of the lease.
Meanwhile, the School DaaS option enables schools to lease IT equipment and make monthly payments tailored to their budget, with the flexibility to switch devices as needed at the 12-month mark.
How does IT equipment leasing for schools work?
Our IT leasing process for schools follows five simple steps:
- A discovery meeting for personalised consultation and price quote.
- A solutions call to finalise device configuration preferences and deployment timelines.
- Parent presentation for independent schools to explain the IT leasing strategy and available support.
- The paperwork signing, which enables access to a parent order portal.
- Equipment delivery on or before the set deadline.
As part of our leasing service, we manage deployment, logistics, support, and protection.
Does IT leasing for schools cover mobile device management?
Yes, it does. We preconfigure IT devices with the settings, software, and specifications schools need to ensure devices are used for the correct purpose.
This includes a mobile device management solution that enables your IT technicians to remotely set up restrictions, manage permissions, and secure school devices from a centralised dashboard.
What kind of IT equipment can schools lease?
Device for Teams offers unlimited choices for educational devices. Schools can choose laptops, desktops, or tablets from various manufacturers, including Apple, Samsung, Microsoft, HP, and Dell.
Do you offer any training or onboarding for school staff?
Yes, we offer training for staff members to bring them up to speed on new technologies.
The training enables them to leverage technologies to create more engaging lessons, reduce their workload, and ensure that students can reach their full potential.
Windows Computers for Schools
Surface Pro is lightweight and versatile, functioning as both a laptop and tablet, catering to different learning styles. It can be managed centrally to reduce any risk to students, and its durability means that students can use them in several environments.
These are two very different operating systems for different Users. Chrome OS has a simple user interface offering users what they need and nothing more. Windows offers more features and the ability to run Microsoft apps natively.
Minecraft: Education Edition brings the hugely popular online game to the classroom with an engaging virtual spin on Maths, English, Geography, Science, and all other school subjects.
Mobile Device Management or MDM is software that allows IT administrators to control, secure and enforce policies on phones, tablets, and laptops. It means that all your devices can be managed from a single source.
iPad for Schools
iPads are easier to understand and use and much more portable than a laptop. They provide the freedom for students to effortlessly share their work with each other and the teacher and the touchscreen allows for the use of immersive writing, sketching and augmented reality applications.
The student progress feature can be enabled to get an overview of each student’s performance, see which apps they are using and tailor your lesson plans to meet the individual needs of the class.
Shepherd MDM is our in-house purpose-built mobile device management solution (MDM) for schools, and can be used deploy and manage Apple devices.
Yes. If two or more students use the same iPad, they can still make it their own with the use of the Shared iPad feature. With a personal login or easy to remember PIN, students can find their homework, apps and assignments exactly as they left them.
Student needs
1:1 computing, or 1:1 learning, is an approach to learning where each student owns their own mobile device such as a tablet or laptop, on which they conduct most of their learning tasks.
1:1 learning has been shown to enable greater autonomy for learners, unlocks hidden potential for those with communication difficulties and promotes practice that reaches beyond the school, into homes and the community.
Devices designed specifically for schools have been built with security in mind, from the hardware to the cloud services they use.
Technology offers students multiple ways to learn the same subject through video, 3D, illustrations or even games. Laptops and tablets can be used to ensure students learn in their own way and unlock potential that may have otherwise gone unnoticed.
Yes. Work can be continued offline at home and even if no internet connectivity is available. All files will sync to the school’s servers when the student returns.
Teacher needs
The educational versions of Windows and iPad OS offer schools are easier to get to grips with due to them being reduced, less complex versions of their fully-packed counterparts. There are many online training courses such the Tablet Academy, which can support teachers and support staff with a range of new laptop and tablet devices.
Laptops in the classroom will have a major impact on lesson plans as the use of technology opens many new avenues of delivering learning content. Students will also have greater autonomy when consuming content and completing tasks at their own pace.
Each laptop can be centrally managed with the use of a Mobile Device Management system such as Intune or Jamf School. This means that the status of all devices can be viewed and analysed from a single computer and any maintenance can be planned from there.
1:1 computing in schools has many benefits such as easier to monitor pupil progress, backed-up files, increased involvement of parents and other stakeholders, reduced costs, less paper and printing waste and greater learning autonomy.
School needs
The Surface Laptop SE is designed with security in mind, from the hardware, software and cloud-based systems. Any technology in schools is at risk of cyberattack and the SE is no different.
The digital storage of personal data is safer and more accessible than in paper-based systems. Automation software can also be used to delete records after a given period.
Not with HardSoft. All our fees are clearly defined at the point of purchase.
We have been leasing computer devices for over 40 years.
Yes. Our team of expert solutions engineers will be happy to offer you a bespoke solution to align with your school’s needs more closely.
Our SafeGuard Protection Cover covers theft, accidental damage, fire, flood, storm, vandalism, electrical disturbances, falling objects. You can claim for two incidents per device per year in terms of accidental damage with £29 excess per incident.
Our pre-deployment service means we can set up accounts and settings in the way you need them for each individual device and have them ready to use straight out the box.
Our Education Services
EduGuard Asset Protection
EduGuard keeps your school tech safe and learning on track — covering accidental damage and theft, with fast, hassle-free claims.
Fixed excess fees and a simple online portal make protection effortless, so you can focus on education, not admin.
1:1 Parent Leasing Solutions
Our 1:1 Parent Leasing makes tech affordable and hassle-free — flexible payments, top-brand devices, and full support included.
Parents choose what works best and pay monthly for devices directly to us, while students stay connected and ready to learn.
Free device training for teachers
Empower your staff with free, expert-led training that makes tech work for teaching.
Whether you’re leasing 30 or 300+ devices, our tailored sessions — delivered in-house or via TA Education — help educators boost outcomes, cut workload, and master classroom tech with confidence.
Apple School Manager
Apple School Manager makes classroom tech effortless — zero-touch setup, bulk app deployment, and full control over every iPad and Mac.
It syncs with your school’s MIS and MDM, automates Apple ID creation, and delivers a seamless, secure learning environment from day one.
Technology financing for education
Upgrade your school’s tech without the upfront cost.
Our flexible financing bundles devices, support, and services into one simple monthly payment — smart, scalable, and budget-friendly.
Our Education Services
