NEW AFFORDABLE LAPTOP LEASING SCHEME LAUNCHED
Every pupil and student in the UK offered a laptop for little more than the price of a packet of crisps per day
PC World Education, the UK’s leading provider of IT products and services to schools, has announced the launch of HomeWorks, an innovative new programme that enables every pupil in the UK to have access to a personal laptop for 50p per day.
The launch follows the results of PC World Education's recent schools survey which found that many teachers are reluctant to set computer-based homework for fear that not all pupils will have equal ICT access outside of school hours.
HomeWorks has been set up in partnership with Syscap, the UK's leading independent IT finance provider, which is registered as an Equity Campaign Partner with the e-Learning Foundation. Under the scheme, every pupil can have their own personal laptop for the duration of their school career for as little as 50p per day including fully comprehensive insurance and regular upgrades.
While schools have responsibility for instigating their own programme and specifying the products, the beauty of this scheme is that it relieves the school of any administrative burden. It is typically run as a family contribution-based scheme with parents dealing directly with Syscap over the provision of laptops for their own children.
Security has been carefully considered – the contract price includes zero excess, fully comprehensive insurance meaning that if a laptop is damaged, lost or stolen it will be replaced at no cost to the school, parent or pupil.
And in a new move which is set to be very popular with children and teenagers, HP has announced that it will be making laptops with specially designed skins available through the scheme. The school can choose their own design, for example incorporating school branding, enabling easy identification. Schools can also request their computers be imaged with their own preferred software.
HomeWorks offers a wide range of choice of products with 20 laptop models to choose from, all internet ready and each carefully selected for speed and efficiency, economy and ease of use by schoolchildren.
Jon Laing, head of public sector sales at PC World Education said, "This scheme is affordable and simple and will give kids the opportunity to kick start their digital education. Being able to go online and do homework anytime, anywhere is just one of the benefits of access to a personal laptop. Pupils will be able to study at school or at home at a pace which suits them, and with everything they need at their fingertips. This ties in strongly with the Government's e-strategy for schools and focus on personal learning announced by the education minister Alan Johnson last week."
He added: "A laptop for the same price as a daily crisp habit is a great deal. It means that when it comes to the crunch, many kids can now opt to join the digital education revolution."
PC World Education's HomeWorks team also offers advice on project managing ICT and selecting the best funding programme available. In addition to the HomeWorks parental contribution scheme, there are three fulfilment schemes which enable schools to take advantage of the extra £50 million the DfES has provided for capital purchases.
- Computers for Pupils – a Government-funded programme for schools to use capital grants to address the digital divide. Schools can buy computing equipment through PC World Education so economically disadvantaged pupils in English state schools can have a computer at home.
- Equity 1 – Schools can apply for e-Learning Foundation grants which supplement parental donations and can then be used to lease or purchase equipment from PC World Education.
- Equity 2 – Funding is provided in the same way as Equity 1 but the school administers the programme through its own registered charity enabling it to benefit fully from the 28p in the pound 'cash-back' from Gift Aid.
Bitterne Manor Primary is the first school in the country to take advantage of one of these schemes. PC World Education’s HomeWorks team was instrumental in accessing the school’s requirements and recommended the appropriate solution to meet the ICT needs of its students. The scheme will be providing personal laptops to all 210 of its pupils.
For more information, contact PC World Education's HomeWorks team on 08701 664670 or homeworks@pcwb.com
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Notes to editors:
The e-Learning Foundation links with schools to create pools of portable computing which can be loaned and used from classroom to classroom, but most importantly, taken home for use in the evenings, weekends and holidays. DSG international’s funding is being used to provide prime funding for around 30 local schools and communities, speeding up the process of delivering technology into the hands of those who need it most.
PC World Education is one of the UK’s largest specialist providers of IT products and consultancy for schools, colleges and universities. One of only three value added resellers with Catalist Prime Contractor status, the independent reseller offers an unrivalled range of more than 100,000 IT products and services through its Definitive Public Sector Buyers’ Guide catalogue and website (www.pcwb.com).
Offering comprehensive IT support through its 1,000 dedicated technology advisors, 250 nationwide field engineers and helpdesk function, PC World Education works with educational organisations to manage, maintain and upgrade their IT systems.
PC World Education media contacts:
Holly McEnaney or Joshua Van Raalte
Brazil
Tel: 01865 725 269 / 07743 800639
holly@agencybrazil.com |