Educational institutions increasingly focus not on providing information, but on teaching students to select, interpret and use it in its many forms. Mobile technologies offer easy access to vast amounts of information and are essential tools for working with it

At Bishops, students learn in technology-rich classrooms with wireless access. Mobile devices connect to the Bishops network and academic intranet, giving students access to course materials, learning programmes, collaborative tools and educational software. For each subject, the intranet clearly sets out the content to be covered, how it should be investigated and how it will be assessed.

Teachers across all departments at Bishops enhance learning through purposeful use of technology. They create web-based, internet-integrated programmes that support teaching and enable learning experiences that were previously impossible. Teachers continue to lead classes and guide students, who use these programmes when appropriate. Teachers have found that effective technology use increases motivation and productivity.

Bishops believes learning is deeper and more meaningful when students actively participate. Laptops support ICT integration through interactive activities and collaborative group work. Well-structured learning programmes and delivery methods also create a different classroom experience that strengthens interaction between students and teachers.

In this way, Bishops students develop the technical, social and personal skills essential for success and adaptability in the technology-rich 21st century.

Procurement Process

Every student is required to bring one of the prescribed laptops to school each day. Each year, a committee of parent and school representatives selects the preferred supplier or suppliers and a limited range of approved models. Parents may not purchase an alternative brand or model from another supplier and are asked to respect this decision. The committee undertakes extensive work to identify durable, suitable models that the school can support. The approved laptops are sold and configured by independent suppliers selected by the parent committee, not by the school.

Parents are invited to volunteer for the committee and participate in the procurement process. Procurement details are shared before and throughout the committee’s work. Parents may choose from a prescribed range of Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac laptops.

Service and Support

The following measures enable the school to focus on delivering first-class education by making effective use of current technology and streamlining processes to keep costs as low as possible.

School policy requires every student to purchase a prescribed device from an approved supplier. Currently, prescribed Dell devices include a five-year international factory warranty, five years of accidental damage cover and an extended battery warranty. Prescribed Apple devices include a one-year international hardware warranty, a four-year local hardware warranty and an extended battery warranty, providing five years of cover in total.

Bishops' outsourced Help Desk provides walk-in support for school software on all devices; telephone support is unavailable. Students may visit before or after school or during breaks. The Help Desk offers a limited number of short-term loan devices to ensure students have a working laptop in class. However, it cannot resolve Apple hardware issues.

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FAQ's

When are laptops introduced?

Grade 7 parents purchase laptops before their sons begin Grade 8. Details are communicated annually, and parents are encouraged to participate in the procurement process. Parents should not buy a laptop until the school advises them to do so. Each student must purchase one of the prescribed models from an approved supplier, in line with the school's decision.

What do students need to have?

Each student must bring a fully functioning laptop, with the required warranty and purchased from an approved supplier, to every class so it is available when needed. All students and staff have a Microsoft 365 A5 licence and use single sign-on to access its applications and services.

The school coordinates a standard laptop configuration that gives students access to all required materials and cloud-based software. Each prescribed laptop comes preconfigured by the approved supplier.

If a subject requires specialist software, the cost will be charged through the standard billing process, as with textbooks.

Does the school or any staff member make money out of this deal?

No. Each year, the parent laptop committee ensures full transparency in decisions about suppliers and pricing. Any benefits from the bulk-purchase agreement are passed on to parents through pricing and service arrangements.

May I purchase a laptop overseas?

The only circumstance where a machine purchased from overseas would meet the criteria is:

• Proof of legal import into South Africa
• Warranties that match the prescribed machines

May I purchase the recommended machine via my own supplier?

No. Laptops must be prescribed models purchased from approved suppliers to keep management and support practical. The parent laptop committee negotiates favourable pricing and service levels.

Your support of school policy ensures the ability to secure a comprehensive service agreement from the bulk supplier.

May I purchase a non-recommended machine via my own supplier?

No. The Bishops College Council’s laptop procurement decision is communicated to all parents before they accept a place at Bishops. A laptop that does not meet the prescribed standard can disrupt an entire class and affect the teaching and learning experience. Exceptions may be considered only in exceptional circumstances and will be assessed case by case.

What are the advantages of the bulk order?

The bulk order allows the selected suppliers to benefit from the scale of the order size and therefore pass the savings on to parents. In addition, the advantages of scale allow the school to put pressure on a supplier should the need arise.