Computer Managed Device Program
St Philip’s College is proud to be recognised as a Microsoft Surface Gold School—a prestigious distinction awarded to a select group of Australian schools leading the way in educational innovation. As part of this exclusive community, we leverage Microsoft Surface devices to enhance teaching and learning through cutting-edge technology, creativity, and collaboration.
What does this mean for you?
The Managed Device Program means you’re not simply purchasing the device from the College; it is a complete device management and support program.
You will receive:
- A 3 year device warranty, with 3 years of Accidental Damage Protection included.
- Hot Swap Service* – students present a damaged device to the IT department and they will receive a replacement device same day (*conditions may apply).
- All required software licensing and updates.
- Complete security protection suite (Malware & Antivirus).
- Safe and secure web browsing at school and at home.
- Full IT support.
Parents are notified about ordering and finance options in Term 4 of each school year so that the device is delivered in a timely fashion.
Questions and Answers about the Program
1. What does the Managed Device Program offer?
The Managed Device Program ensures the College handles every aspect of student device deployment—from sourcing best-in-class hardware tailored for future-ready learning, to seamless setup and distribution. Each device comes pre-loaded with essential applications not typically available through retail purchases, including College-licensed software like FX Math Tools, Clipchamp and Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, Outlook, OneDrive). Students also benefit from enhanced Wi-Fi prioritisation for faster, more reliable connectivity on campus.
A high level of protection and security is also included which allows the students to be safe and guarded from malicious attacks at home and at school.
Warranty and Accidental Damage Protection, not typically offered on consumer laptops, is handled by the College’s IT department.
2. Is this a mandatory program?
This is a mandatory requirement for all students in Year 10, 11 and 12. The College has not supported BYO devices since 2022; therefore, it is mandatory for all students to be part of the Managed Device Program. Different payment options are available, and we recommend parents consider what best suits their needs.
3. Can the MDP Surface Laptops be used outside of the school and other schools in the future?
Absolutely, outside of the support and network of St Philip’s College the Surface Laptop is a fully functioning premium device, which far exceeds any minimum specification requirements. It comes with Windows 11 ready to use anywhere for years to come.
4. Is there any spyware on these devices that the school installs to monitor the students?
No spyware is installed or deployed on any student device. The security and privacy of our students is a top priority. The only monitoring tools in use are limited to standard internet protection and local antivirus software. The College does not—and cannot—access webcams, view desktops, or engage in intrusive monitoring. Such capabilities are not part of our systems and are typically only found in high-end software well beyond the scope or purpose of any school environment.
5. Is there a camera on the laptop and can it be used?
There is a front facing camera which is used for online learning, Microsoft Teams meetings and logging on to the laptop using facial recognition; however, we will not use this for remote access or viewing remotely. There are security measures put in place in both Windows 11 and the firewall to prevent access to cameras.
6. Do the students have admin rights to their Surface device and can they install software at home?
Yes, all students will have admin rights to their laptop by default, this means they can install applications outside of the College’s recommended apps. Admin rights may be removed on request of parents/guardians.
7. How does the laptop become ‘free’ from the school network once the student leaves or finishes, especially if it is purchased outright?
Once a student finishes their schooling or departs the College, their device is unenrolled by the IT department UPON REQUEST. This means that it exits our ‘managed’ environment and enters an out of the box environment, allowing the student to log in to the device like a normal everyday laptop. Any existing files and data would be downloaded and available to the student, however access to their school OneDrive (cloud) and Office365 account would be closed.
8. When the laptop is ‘unenrolled’ and exits the College’s ‘managed’ environment, does the software remain on the laptop?
The Windows 11 operating system will remain, and an account will be created on the device to allow the student to login locally. Microsoft 365 will remain as it is subscription based. This means that if parents have a subscription, you can enter your subscription details to reactivate it if you would like. All other software, Antivirus and St Philip’s apps and online applications are removed.
9. What will we receive in the Managed Device Program package?
The package contains:
- Microsoft Surface Laptop 6 - 13.5", Core Ultra 5 CPU, 8GB RAM, 256GB M.2 SSD, touch screen.
- STM Dux hard case protection.
- 39-watt Surface fast charger.
10. What happens if the student has a problem with their laptop? Where do they go and how can they fix it?
Each student is covered under a 3-year warranty and Accidental Damage Protection, meaning if there is a fault with the device or it has been damaged, it will be replaced with an exchange laptop within a timely manner. In cases of extreme damage or faults, the laptop will be replaced with a hot swap device the same day, if available.
Their account and files will be migrated over, and all they need to do is bring their damaged device to the St Philip’s IT department.
In rare circumstances, where the device requires replacement under the Accidental Damage Protection plan, there is a possible excess of approximately $150 to be paid by the student or parent/guardian. Warranty cover is handled by the school at no cost. The Accidental Damage Protection covers two claims for your device.
11. How do we go about purchasing the laptop?
It is all done through the College - no parent purchasing is required. Please do not purchase any device from a retail outlet or privately, this includes purchasing similar devices from a reseller. They will not work when brought to school.
A letter or email with payment options and details is sent to parents and guardians in Term 4 of each year to students who will be going onto Year 10. This information is also provided to parents and guardians with students who are newly enrolled in Years 10, 11 and 12.
12. How and where do we collect it?
You will be notified of how, where and when to collect your device at the time of ordering. If you’re unavailable to collect during these times, the student may collect their laptop upon commencement at the College.
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