Independent guide for UK schools
Plain-English guides to managing iPads, Chromebooks and Windows laptops in UK schools — Apple School Manager, Google Admin, Intune for Education and the DfE standards — plus a guide to the classroom kit that keeps devices charged, safe and labelled.
Ten plain-English guides, each built from the official pages it lists at the end. Read them in order or jump to the one you need.
What MDM is, and why schools use itMobile device management in plain English: what it does for school iPads, Chromebooks and laptops, what the DfE…
Apple School Manager and MDM, explainedHow Apple School Manager, a device management service and Automated Device Enrolment fit together for school iPads and…Photo: Wesley Fryer, CC BY 2.0
Managing Chromebooks with the Google Admin consoleChromeOS Education Upgrade, enrolling before anyone signs in, forced re-enrolment, the 10-year Auto Update policy…Photo: Wesley Fryer, CC BY 2.0
Microsoft Intune for Education: an overviewWhat Intune for Education manages, the ways to enrol school PCs and iPads, remote actions, shared Windows PCs — and…Photo: David Hawgood, CC BY-SA 2.0
The DfE standards and KCSIE: what they say about devicesThe DfE digital and technology standards and Keeping children safe in education 2026, focused on what they mean for…Photo: Sebastiandoe5, CC BY-SA 4.0
Shared or 1:1 devices? How MDM handles eachClass sets on a trolley, or one device per pupil? What Apple, Google and Microsoft each offer for shared devices, and…Photo: Ekopodebrady, CC BY-SA 4.0
Asset registers, labels and locks: keeping track of school devicesWhat the DfE says an asset register should hold, how labels and MDM records work together, and the three kinds of…Photo: Bobulous, CC BY-SA 4.0
Retiring school devices safely: wiping, releasing and recyclingWhat the DfE expects when devices leave the school, how to release them from Apple, Google and Microsoft management…Photo: Tiia Monto, CC BY-SA 4.0
Charging trolleys and cabinets: what to checkCapacity with cases, mains or USB-C charging, power management, ventilation, locks and cable tidiness — plus what HSE…Photo: Wesley Fryer, CC BY 2.0
Paying for devices and MDM: buying routes and funding questionsHow schools can buy devices, licences and kit compliantly: planning first, DfE-approved frameworks, quotes and…Photo: Blogtrepreneur, CC BY 2.0
“Mobile and portable devices should have mobile device management to minimise safeguarding and security risks.”
The DfE standards are for schools and colleges in England. Schools elsewhere in the UK should check their own government’s guidance.
LocknCharge
10 or 15 devices (Carrier 10 / Carrier 15)
Works with: Chromebooks, tablets, laptops, iPad and MacBook, with or without cases
A steel wall- or counter-mounted charging station with carry baskets, so pupils can hand out and collect five devices at a time.
Details — LocknCharge Carrier 15 Charging Station Search Amazon for this — LocknCharge Carrier 15 Charging Station (opens Amazon.co.uk)
LocknCharge
30 or 40 devices (Joey 30 / Joey 40)
Works with: Chromebooks, tablets, laptops, iPad and MacBook, with or without cases
A top-loading mobile trolley with baskets of five devices, designed so several pupils can collect or return devices at once.
Details — LocknCharge Joey 30 Charging Trolley Search Amazon for this — LocknCharge Joey 30 Charging Trolley (opens Amazon.co.uk)
Logitech
Keyboard case with kickstand
Works with: iPad (10th generation and A16); iPad (7th, 8th and 9th generation)
A protective keyboard case for standard iPads that draws power from the iPad, so there are no keyboard batteries to charge.
Details — Logitech Rugged Folio for iPad Search Amazon for this — Logitech Rugged Folio for iPad (opens Amazon.co.uk)
Logitech
Charges by USB-C
Works with: iPad models from 2018 onwards
A chunky digital pencil built with Apple Pencil technology that works as soon as it is switched on.
Details — Logitech Crayon (USB-C) Search Amazon for this — Logitech Crayon (USB-C) (opens Amazon.co.uk)
Logitech
On-ear or over-ear; 3.5mm, USB-A or USB-C
Works with: Devices with a 3.5mm, USB-A or USB-C port (Lightning-only devices need an adapter)
A wired headset made for schools, with swappable ear pads and cables and a boom mic for speaking and reading apps.
Details — Logitech Zone Learn headset Search Amazon for this — Logitech Zone Learn headset (opens Amazon.co.uk)
Belkin
HDMI 1.4 (4K at 30Hz), 2x USB-A 3.0, USB-C PD pass-through up to 100W
Works with: USB-C laptops and tablets; Windows, Mac and ChromeOS
A small adapter that adds HDMI, two USB-A ports and pass-through charging to one USB-C port.
Details — Belkin USB-C 4-in-1 Multiport Adapter (AVC006) Search Amazon for this — Belkin USB-C 4-in-1 Multiport Adapter (AVC006) (opens Amazon.co.uk)
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No. School MDM is an independent guide. We don’t sell, set up or run device management, and we aren’t connected with Apple, Google, Microsoft, any MDM vendor or any business with a similar name. We explain how school device management works, using the vendors’ own documentation and DfE guidance, and we link to classroom kit on Amazon.co.uk.
Mobile device management: a service that lets IT support set up, configure, update and secure devices from one central console, and lock or wipe them remotely. See What MDM is, and why schools use it.
The DfE standard for laptops, desktops and tablets says devices should be centrally managed by IT support and that mobile and portable devices “should have mobile device management to minimise safeguarding and security risks”. The DfE standards describe its recommended approach. Separately, Keeping children safe in education is statutory guidance that schools in England must have regard to, and it expects appropriate filtering and monitoring on school devices — which MDM usually helps to deliver. See The DfE standards and KCSIE.
No. Apple describes Apple School Manager as a web portal that works with your external device management service. It handles device enrolment, Managed Apple Accounts and buying apps in volume; the MDM applies the settings. See Apple School Manager and MDM, explained.