A school has caused controversy by asking parents to pay over £300 for a laptop for pupils starting in September. Parents of children joining Thorpe St Andrew School in Norwich have been informed that they need to purchase a specific Chromebook through the academy, even if they already own one privately. The new ASUS Chromebook, which the school claims is “integral” to the curriculum and has yet to be released, will cost £309 per child.
This move has angered parents who argue that the scheme “encourages a system of debt to attain education”. Michelle, a 46-year-old single mother whose 11-year-old son has just been accepted into the school, expressed her frustration, stating, “I can’t believe the expense they expect of parents. As a working, disabled, single parent, I have no disposable income, let alone for this unexpected cost. This is around half of my monthly mortgage cost.”
For parents unable to afford the £309 one-off payment, they have the option to pay 36 monthly instalments of £11.50, totalling £105 more in the end. In a booklet provided to parents about the scheme, the school stated, “It will be an expectation for every student attending Thorpe St Andrew School and Sixth Form to own a Chromebook.”
Thorpe St Andrew School, managed by the Broad Horizons Education Trust, clarified that the mandatory charge comes amid an “extremely volatile school funding climate”, but it will not make any profit from it.
A spokesperson for the trust explained, “We have operated a successful Chromebook scheme since 2021, and they undoubtedly contributed to our best GCSE results yet, which were achieved last year. To ensure the longevity of the scheme, we have sought support from an external company, and we will work with all families on a case-by-case basis, regardless of their circumstances, to provide school support to ensure that all students can access it.”