Dear Parent/Carer,
Important Update: New Chromebook Scheme for Year 7 Students joining in September 2025.
I am writing to inform you about an important update to our Chromebook scheme for students joining Strood Academy in Year 7 in September.
This update is part of Strood Academy’s and Leigh Academies Trust’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality digital access for all students while ensuring the scheme remains financially sustainable and educationally impactful.
What’s Changing and Why
From September, your child will be offered a brand-new Lenovo 500e Gen 3 Chromebook, with 8GB of memory, under a revised 1:1 Chromebook programme for three years. This enhanced device has been selected to support students throughout their studies in Key Stage 3, offering improved performance and reliability.
As part of this change, we are introducing a monthly parental contribution to cover the cost of repairs and warranty over the device’s 3-year lifespan. This ensures the Chromebook itself remains technically free, while the contribution guarantees access to a fully serviced and insured device throughout this period.
Unfortunately, without introducing a parental contribution, we would be unable to offer new devices due to the rising cost of technology and repairs. We have, however, committed to keep our costs at the lowest in the UK compared to other schools as well as offering reduced contribution rates to families eligible for pupil premium.
Parental Contribution:
- £5.99/month (or £3.99 for families eligible for Pupil Premium), covering:
- Repair and warranty service for 48 months
- Google Chrome licence and setup
- Safeguarding software and monitoring
Upon completing Year 9 students will be able to keep their device rather than returning it to the academy.
Next Steps
We will send you a personalised link to sign up for the scheme. This link will take you to a secure platform where you can choose your preferred device option and enter your payment details.
We understand that affordability is important for many families, which is why we’ve worked hard to keep this scheme among the most cost-effective in the country. For those who may struggle with payments, please contact Julie Tingley via julie.tingley@stroodacademy.org
During our Transition Day on Thursday 3rd July, Freedom Tech will be on hand to support any further queries and questions that you may have.
Should you have any immediate questions please can I ask that you email, julie.tingley@stroodacademy.org we will ensure your query is answered as quickly as possible.
Thank you for your continued support and your understanding of these changes.
Yours sincerely,
Mr Jon Richardson | Principal
