Managed 
Device Program

Managed Device Program: at a glance

  • Safety first: international research shows that unfiltered or unmanaged device use can result in serious impacts on children, including anxiety, poor sleep, cyberbullying, social isolation, and exposure to harmful content. The BYOD model makes these risks much harder to manage.
  • Teacher-led learning: at SCEA, our teachers – not screens – lead learning. Students learn best when teachers are front and centre in the classroom, not competing with devices or taking a back seat to technology.
  • Optimal devices: high-quality Apple devices will be supplied to students that are configured for education only, safeguarded against unsafe apps, social media, games, and other distractions.
  • Simple and fair: every student in a class uses the same education-ready device with strong protections and full support from our ICT team.

Bottom line: We’re moving from BYOD to SCEA-managed devices so that technology is a safe and reliable learning tool: always teacher-controlled, both at school and at home.

From the CEO

What's on this page

Why are we moving away from BYOD?

The Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program required families at most SCEA schools to supply their own personal devices from Year 5 or Year 7 onwards. While this gave flexibility, it also created big challenges. Aside from the safety risks associated with BYOD, we have heard directly from parents and teachers about other frustrations including:

  • High upfront purchase costs for parents.
  • A wide variety of devices and operating systems in classrooms, making teaching harder.
  • Time lost to troubleshooting different models, chargers, and software.
  • Students distracted by gaming, social media, and unfiltered apps.
  • Limited ability for teachers to guide and monitor device use in the classroom in real time.

Why BYOD puts
students at risk

A substantial and growing body of international research now points to the very real risks facing young people from unfiltered or unmanaged device use. These risks are not theoretical. Studies consistently link unrestricted access to:

  • Heightened anxiety and stress.
  • Disrupted sleep patterns from late night device use.
  • Cyberbullying and online harassment.
  • Increased social isolation despite being “always connected”.
  • Increased risks of self-harm and serious mental health concerns.

 

While findings differ across studies, the message is clear: when devices are unsupervised, always on, and focused on entertainment or social media, children’s wellbeing and learning are at risk.

Introducing our Managed Device Program

We believe optimal learning is relational and occurs when a teacher is actively front and centre with his or her students, not taking a back seat to devices. The Managed Device Program is designed to support teachers, not replace them.  Face-to-face teaching, personal interaction, and strong relationships remain at the heart of SCEA classrooms.

SCEA’s Managed Device Program ensures that all devices are set up for education only and safeguarded against harmful content. In practice, this means fewer distractions, no unsafe apps, and a learning focused environment free from games and social media.

Devices will be configured to be educational tools that can enhance research, creativity, and collaboration, but they will never drive the lesson. Teachers remain firmly in control of when and how technology is used. By locking down devices for learning purposes only, the Program creates what we call a Focused Learning Environment: a safe, distraction-free space where technology is used purposefully.  With tools like Apple Classroom, teachers can guide, monitor, and redirect device use in real time, keeping students engaged and lessons productive.

Our moral responsibility

As Christian educators, we cannot ignore the evidence that uncontrolled device use can harm students. We have a moral duty to protect children from what is harmful, while also recognising that technology, when used wisely, is a powerful tool for learning and growth.

While we cannot eliminate every digital risk in a rapidly changing online world (including AI tools), we are taking deliberate steps to create the safest and most productive learning environment possible.

Our goal is simple: technology should serve children’s learning and wellbeing, not control their lives or create unhealthy habits.

That is why SCEA is moving to a Managed Device Program where students will use the same high-quality Apple devices, set up for educational purposes only, and fully supported by our ICT team. These education-ready devices will be locked down for learning, free from unsafe apps, and managed consistently at school and at home.

Why Apple devices?

After thorough research and evaluation, SCEA has chosen Apple as the platform for our Managed Device Program. Apple devices offer:

  • Safety and management: Apple devices integrate seamlessly with SCEA’s Mobile Device Management system, allowing us to lock down settings, block unsafe apps, and create a Focused Learning Environment.
  • Classroom control: tools like Apple Classroom allow teachers to view student screens, keep students on task, and guide learning in real time.
  • Reliability and durability: Apple devices are built to last, with strong design, hardware quality, and long battery life, reducing disruptions and costs over time.
  • High-quality, world-class tools: Apple devices are globally recognised as premium, education-ready technology that support creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking at the highest level.
  • Fast support and replacement: backed by AppleCare+ warranty and our partner Winthrop Australia, devices can be repaired or replaced quickly to minimise disruption to learning.
  • Consistency across the system: every student and teacher is working with the same platform, ensuring smoother collaboration, easier troubleshooting, and fair access to the best tools for learning.

Supporting student wellbeing

At SCEA, we believe technology should help children flourish in learning and life. That means more than teaching digital skills – it’s about shaping character, habits, and wisdom in how devices are used each day. The Managed Device Program is not just about providing technology; it’s about guiding students to use it safely, ethically, and responsibly. Alongside digital literacy, we will explicitly teach digital citizenship, reflecting our vision for education centred on student flourishing and enabling students to practise positive habits whenever they use their devices.

Using technology wisely, even when peers and others may misuse it.

Listening, learning, and showing empathy in our digital interactions.

Recognising technology as a gift to be used for good rather than being misused for endless scrolling, excessive gaming, or unhealthy social media.

Treating others with kindness and courtesy online and offline, and always demonstrating positive digital etiquette.

Being truthful and trustworthy in our digital communication and academic works, doing the right thing even when no one is watching.

Setting healthy limits, resisting distractions, and finding balance between screen time, learning, rest, and relationships.

Cost to Families

One of the biggest frustrations with BYOD has been the large upfront cost of purchasing devices and the unpredictability of ongoing repairs, replacements, and accessories. SCEA’s new Managed Device Program addresses this by replacing those costs with a simple annual Technology Fee (Primary) or Lease Fee (Secondary), spreading costs over time and removing the large purchase price faced under BYOD. 

Optional theft and loss insurance is available for families on the Managed Device Program as a single charge for the lease duration. Further cost and coverage info is available under the FAQs tab, under Warranty and Support. 

Rollout Timeline

Detailed device rollout timeline is availabe here. For any further questions about Northshore Christian Grammar School’s rollout, please contact the Principal, Mr Stuart Chisholm.

Click Here

Participating in the Managed Device Program

For students entering the Program at Year 7 or Year 10, families are required to complete the Parent Agreement for SCEA-Leased Devices in the SCEA Managed Device Program, available through Parent Lounge / Orbit App, under the Events & Payments tab. This Agreement outlines the responsibilities of parents/guardians, students, and SCEA, and provides details about repairs, insurance, ownership, and conditions of use. Parents continue to acknowldge the Student Use of ICT, Internet, Mobile Phones and Social Media Policy signed at enrolment. 

Primary students: do not require a Parent Agreement, as iPads remain classroom-based devices that do not go home.

Secondary students: once the Parent Agreement has been completed, your child will be issued their device at the designated start-of-year collection date for their School. Families will receive instructions directly from their School regarding device collection times and rollout arrangements.

After you sign the Agreement, your child’s annual lease fee for the Managed Device Program will be added to your tuition fees and included in your normal school billing cycle.

Parent information session recording

The following video contains the information presented during the parent-student sessions at Ellenbrook’s Deployment Day in January 2026. 

Transitional Hardship Pathway (2026–2028 only)

For students entering the Program in Year 7 or Year 10, we recognise that some families may face genuine financial hardship. Families wishing to access the Transitional Hardship Pathway for 2026 must notify SCEA Head Office by 31 October 2025.

What device will my child receive?

2026 Year 7 Students

Device type: 11″ iPad A16 128GB storage

Includes keyboard case with trackpad and stylus holder, 3-years of AppleCare+, Apple Pen USB-C (engraved), Apple Classroom software, device management software, security software, technical support, and access to a loan device when a student’s device is not working or under repair.


Payment: Leased through annual device levy.
Return: Device to be returned at the end of Year 9.

Devices will be distributed to students on their school’s designated Orientation Day prior to the start of Term 1, 2026.

2026 Year 10 Students

Device type: 13.6″ MacBook Air M4 16GB RAM 256 GB storage

Includes protective case, 3-years of AppleCare+, Apple Classroom software, device management software, security software, technical support, and access to a loan device when a student’s device is not working or under repair.


Payment: Leased through annual device levy.
Return: Device kept by students after Year 12 (post-Graduation, subject to full payment of school fees).

Devices will be distributed to students on their school’s designated Orientation Day prior to the start of Term 1, 2026. 

Our partnership with parents

Helping students develop safe, balanced, and healthy digital habits requires parents and schools to work together. We see this as a partnership between parents and schools. By combining consistent expectations at school with supportive guidance at home, we can help our children develop healthy and balanced approaches to technology. Practical tips include:

  • Keep devices out of bedrooms overnight: to encourage better sleep and reduce temptation to stay online late.
  • Set family agreements for technology use: agree on times, places, and boundaries that work for your household.
  • Encourage balance: ensure daily routines include physical activity, outdoor time, reading, and rest alongside screen use.
  • Talk openly about online experiences:encourage your child to share what they’re doing online, including challenges they may face.
  • Model healthy habits: children learn from what they see. Demonstrate balance and self-control in your own technology use.

These simple steps, combined with our Managed Device Program, will create the safest and most productive learning environment possible for your child.

FAQs