Can my child use a second hand or existing laptop from home?
Yes you can if:
- It meets minimum requirements
- Other people who may use the laptop understand that data can be lost and software may be installed or uninstalled without notice.
If you use a second hand or existing device, you will need to take extra step such as ensuring you have the latest Windows 11 update, creating a school friendly environment on your child's login and unistalling software that may distract or conflict with your child at school.
These extra steps may require outside technical assistance, while we are happy to provide advice, we won't be able to perform these extra tasks for you.
If you are unsure if your laptop meets minimum requirements, please email BYODSupport@mitcheltonss.eq.edu.au
Do I need to buy Microsoft Office?
No, this is free as part of your child's Microsoft account
Do I need to buy Antivirus?
No. We also request that you uninstall the 3rd party antivirus that comes with your laptop as it will slow it down, cause compatiblity problems with the school network and will prompt your child to buy their subscription while they are working. The common antivirus that comes with your laptop will be Mcafee Antivirus and needs to be removed. If 3rd party antivirus is found on your child's laptop at school, it will be uninstalled unless the parent has notified the school previously.
Do I need an extended warranty?
A 3-year warranty, along with accidental damage protection and insurance against theft, offers a stress-free way to own a BYOD laptop. However, we encourage parents to conduct their own financial analysis to determine what is best for their individual circumstances.
What can I use to protect my students at home?
After you have completed the onboarding process, you can choose to set up Microsoft Family Safety. Click here for more information on setting up Microsoft Family Safety
Based on feedback from other schools, we have seen other families use Microsoft Family Safety without issues if set up after onboarding. We don't recommend you buy 3rd party software as they can often not be compatible with our network.
Your safety solution should be able to turn off automatically at school based on a schedule or be significantly turned down/disabled prior to coming to school.
The school can not assist with setting up safety software. Please notify the school if you are setting up a 3rd party solution as we need to test it at school first.
Is there a simple way to provide internet safety for my child at home?
Yes. You can choose to only enter the wifi password when you want them to use the internet and you can watch them, once this time has finished, go to the wifi connection screen, right click and then click “Forget”. Your child won’t be able to access the internet until next time. Lock the laptop away when you don’t want your child to use the device.
Can I charge my laptop at school?
Students are not able to charge their laptops at school as they use their computers at their desk. This means laptops that are purchased need to have 8 hours of advertised battery life or more. The advertised battery life on laptops is always lower then the real world battery life which is why 8 hours advertised is needed.
The school has a USB-C laptop power bank available for situations where a student runs low on battery unexpectedly. We recommend you buy a laptop with USB-C charging if you expect a battery issue could occur occasionally.
When should I buy a laptop?
Term 1 2026 starts on the 27th of January 2025.
You will need to find a few hours of time prior to the 27th of January for the onboarding process.
The best time to buy a laptop is when you want to start using the laptop so your warranty does not expire prematurely.
Can the laptop be stored at the school overnight?
Unfortunately insurance companies will not cover the device if the laptop is at school without your child which means we are unable to store the device overnight. The laptop will need to be taken home every day.
Will there be mandatory homework that needs to be completed on the laptop?
Students won't be required to use their laptops at home. Students that wish to do additional school work at home will have work avaliable, often in the form of online platforms such as Matific.