Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)

K-6

Students K-6 will no longer be required to bring their own laptop or iPad to school from 2026. Lucas Heights Community School will provide students with laptops and iPads for classroom use.

In 2026, students and parents will still be required to agree to conditions set out in the Student ICT Policy and Responsible Use Agreement for students to have access to school supplied devices. If primary students bring a digital device to school such as a mobile phone, Apple watch or iPad, it is to be turned off and/or handed in at the office when first entering the school.

7-12

Minimum Specifications

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Purpose

Our school acknowledges the educational value of digital devices and online services in supporting and enhancing educational outcomes and student well-being. We also recognise that they may cause harm if misused and that we need to help our students use them safely, responsibly, and respectfully.

Scope

This procedure provides a consistent framework for the safe, responsible, and respectful use of digital devices and online services by students in our school. It sets out the shared responsibilities of school staff, students, parents, and carers and also provides a framework for managing potential risks to student safety and well-being.

This procedure covers student use of digital devices and online services in school-related settings, including on school grounds, at school-related activities, and outside of school, where there is a clear and close connection between the school and students' conduct. It covers the use of school-provided and personal digital devices, as well as all online services.

7-12 School’s Approach

In 2026, Year 7- 12 students at LHCS must bring a laptop-style device to school. It is important to note that most laptops only have a realistic lifespan of 3 years.

LHCS recognises the need to prepare our students for a rapidly changing world where technology plays a massive role in our personal, social and professional lives. Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) refers to students bringing a personally owned electronic device to school to enhance their learning. Multiple models are available, and this school has chosen a BYOD model that meets the needs of most students and is compatible with our wireless network.

During class, all devices such as mobile phones are to be turned OFF AND AWAYin the student’s bag unless approved by the class teacher. Students should not use the device to record images, video or sound (unless under explicit teacher instructions). Students should not use the device to access, download or send inappropriate, offensive or prohibited material.

Damage and Loss

Students bring their devices onto the school site at their own risk. They should protect their devices by carrying a protective case and a padded sleeve in a backpack.

In cases of malicious damage or theft of another student’s device, existing school processes for damage to the school’s or another student’s property will apply.

Technical Support

The school will not provide technical support for repairing or maintaining hardware or software issues with the device. Students should not expect or ask their teachers for technical support. The school accepts no responsibility for fixing a device resulting from technical support from a teacher or another student. The school employs technical support to assist with BYOD connections to the DOE’s wireless network. The device must meet the wireless capability specification to connect to the DOE’s wireless network.

Device Repairs, Maintenance and Warranties

Students are solely responsible for the repairs and maintenance of their devices. The school accepts no responsibility for providing repair and/or maintenance services for a student’s device. Warranties: Students should understand the limitations of their devices' manufacturer’s warranty, including its duration and coverage. Under Australian consumer legislation, warranties usually last for one year, during which any manufacturing defects will be repaired or the device replaced (per the manufacturer's specific terms and conditions).

Extended Warranties: At the time of purchase, students may also purchase an optional extended warranty (to extend the standard warranty period) from the device's supplier/manufacturer, which will cover any manufacturing defects.

Insurance

The DOE’s Treasury Managed Funds do not cover devices owned by students or their families. When students purchase their devices, they may also purchase an optional insurance policy from a relevant insurance company.

As portable devices are subject to a higher risk of accidental damage, before signing up for an insurance policy, students should be fully aware of the policy's details and limitations, including any excess charged for making a claim.

As a guide, a suitable insurance policy should cover all types of devices and provide worldwide replacement cost coverage against:

Accidental damage, damage from falls and liquids, theft, fire, vandalism and natural disasters (such as floods, cyclones, earthquakes, tornadoes, water damage, and power surges due to lightning)

What if I cannot provide a laptop for my child (7-12)?

Lucas Heights Community School understands that the BYOD program adds to families' costs. At the same time, we know the phenomenal benefits of students utilising technology in the classroom, and we are keen to keep moving forward with using BYOD in teaching and learning. Lucas Heights Community School does have a laptop loan process for students whose families are working to purchase a laptop or for students whose laptops are undergoing repairs. Our loan policy is for short-term loans of up to 2 weeks. Students requiring a laptop for extended periods can loan a laptop daily through the Deputy Principal and the Learning Commons Coordinator. A $100 fee is charged for borrowing a laptop for an extended period.

Parents need to give their child a note outlining the reason for their child's lack of a laptop and request a loan laptop. Students need to provide the note to their relevant Deputy Principal.

Parents will be provided with a copy of the laptop loan policy and agreement document, which must be signed by the student and their parent/guardian via School Bytes.

Once the loan agreement is completed, students are provided with a laptop to loan via the Learning Commons Coordinator. Day-to-day loaning of laptops; students report to the Learning Coordinator's office, sign a laptop out at the beginning of the day, and return the laptop at the end of the day.

Exemptions

Exemptions to any part of this procedure may apply to some students in some circumstances. Parents and carers can request an exemption, which will be considered on a case-by-case basis and granted when required by law or at the principal’s discretion.

Consequences for inappropriate use

Students who misuse their devices will be subject to the same disciplinary measures as those who fail to abide by the school’s code of conduct.

• Confiscation of the device for collection from the front office at the end of the school day.
• The device will be confiscated until a parent or caregiver can attend school to collect it or until an interview between the student, parent, or caregiver and the Deputy Principal or Principal is conducted.
• Loss of internet and network privileges for a period of time.
• In cases of bullying, harassment or threatening behaviour, school-based management (detentions, meetings, suspensions) and outside agencies such as the police will be involved. * In cases of refusal to hand over the phone, school-based discipline will be followed.
• Recording of inappropriate activities will be dealt with as a serious breach of the school’s behaviour systems.

For further reference, please refer to the school behaviour management plan, wellbeing and discipline procedures.

Network, Internet and email usage.

The DEC provides students with secure storage on Google Drive or OneDrive and access to some school printers. Students should not save inappropriate or offensive material or games on the network.

LHCS provides filtered internet access to students across the school for in-class use. This service is filtered by the NSW DEC and is intended for research, learning, and communication between students and staff. The Internet is to be used for educational purposes.

Students are not to access, download, or distribute inappropriate, offensive, or prohibited material. Students will not download any material that breaches copyright law. Students will not use Wi-Fi to connect devices to an unfiltered internet.

NSW DoE provides each student with an email address and webmail service accessible through the DEC student portal. The use of this service is outlined in the DEC’s internet and email usage policy.

Contact between students and parents/carers during the school day.

Should a student need to make a call during the school day, they must:

• approach the administration office and ask for permission to use the school’s phone. During school hours, parents and carers are expected to contact their children only through the school office.

Responsibilities and Obligations

It is a shared responsibility to support students' use of digital devices and online services in safe, responsible, and respectful ways.

For students

• Be safe, responsible and respectful users of digital devices and online services, and support their peers to be the same.
• Respect and follow school rules and procedures and the decisions made by staff, knowing that other schools may have different arrangements.
• Communicate respectfully and collaboratively with peers, school staff and the school community and behave in the ways described in the Behaviour Code for Students.
• For parents and carers
• Recognise their role in educating their children and modelling the behaviours underpinning the safe, responsible and respectful use of digital devices and online services.
• Support the implementation of the school procedure, including its approach to resolving issues.
• Take responsibility for their child’s use of digital devices and online services at home, such as online services with age and content restrictions.
• Communicate respectfully and collaboratively with school staff and the school community.
• Students must switch off or put their digital devices on silent when at official school functions, during meetings, and when assisting in the classroom.
• Provide digital devices that meet school specifications where a school participates in a bring your own device program and completes any related paperwork.

For the principal and teachers

Deliver learning experiences that encourage safe, responsible and respectful use of digital devices and online services. This includes:

• Establishing agreed classroom expectations for the use of digital devices and online services, per this procedure and departmental policy.
• Identify strategies to ensure all students can engage in classroom activities, including those for students without a digital device.
• They must read and abide by the Terms of Service for any online services they use in teaching, including those limiting use by age.
• Educating students about online privacy, intellectual property, copyright, digital literacy, and other online safety-related issues.

• Model appropriate use of digital devices and online services per departmental policy.
• Respond to and report any breaches and incidents of inappropriate use of digital devices and online services as required by school procedures, departmental policy and any statutory and regulatory requirements.

This includes:

• Reporting the creation, possession or distribution of indecent or offensive material to the Incident Support and Report hotline as required by the Incident Notification and Response Policy and Procedures and considering any mandatory reporting requirements.
• Working with the department and the Office of the eSafety Commissioner (if necessary) to resolve cases of serious online bullying and image-based abuse.
• Following the school’s behaviour management plan when responding to inappropriate student behaviour relating to using digital devices or online services.
• If feasible, particularly as issues emerge, support parents and carers to understand strategies that promote their children’s safe, responsible, and respectful use of digital devices and online services.
• Participate in professional development related to using digital devices and online services appropriately.

Communicating this procedure to the school community

High school students will be notified of this procedure through Google Classroom and Year adviser meetings.

Parents and carers can access this procedure electronically via the school’s website and in hard copy at the school’s administration office.

Complaints

If a student, parent or carer has a complaint under this procedure, they should first follow our school’s complaint process. If the issue cannot be resolved, please refer to the department’s guide for students/ parents/carers about making a complaint about our schools.

Review

The principal or delegated staff will review this procedure annually.

Appendix 1: Key terms

Bring Your Own Device is an optional program that allows parents and carers to provide personal digital devices for use at school. The principal makes any decision to adopt a bring-your-own-device program in consultation with the school community. All digital devices used in schools are covered by the Student Use of Digital Devices and Online Services policy. Schools retain discretion to determine the specifications of personal devices to be used at school.

Digital citizenship refers to the skills and knowledge a person needs to use digital technologies effectively and positively to participate in society, communicate with others, and create and consume digital content.

Digital devices are electronic devices that can receive, store, process, and share digital information, and connect to applications (apps), websites, and other online services. They include desktop computers, laptops, tablets, smartwatches, smartphones and other devices.

Digital literacy is the set of social, emotional and technological skills and competencies that people need to understand and use digital devices and online services, and to expand their opportunities for education, employment, and social participation, including entertainment.

Educational purpose is any use approved by school staff that supports student learning, wellbeing and academic outcomes.

General capabilities are the broad collection of knowledge, skills, behaviours and dispositions described within the Australian curriculum and NSW syllabus.

Image-based abuse occurs when intimate, nude or sexual images are distributed, or threatened to be distributed, without the consent of those pictured. This includes real, altered and drawn pictures and videos. This is a crime in NSW.

Online bullying involves using technology such as the internet or mobile devices to bully someone. Bullying behaviour has three key features. It involves the intentional misuse of power in a relationship. It is ongoing and repeated, and it involves behaviours that can cause harm. Bullying behaviour can also involve intimidation, victimisation and harassment, including that based on sex, race, religion, disability, or sexual orientation.

Online safety is the safe, responsible and respectful use of digital media, devices, other technology and online services.

Online services are any software, websites, or applications that can gather, process, or communicate information. This includes digital classrooms, chat and messaging, online games, virtual reality, social media and other online spaces.

Reasonable adjustment is a measure or action taken to assist a student with a disability to participate in education and training on the same basis as other students.

School-related settings include school grounds, school-related activities, and outside the school, where there is a clear and close connection between the school and students' conduct. This connection may exist in situations where: there is discussion about school taking place outside of school hours; a student is wearing their school uniform but is not on school premises; a relationship between parties commenced at school; students are online in digital classrooms; and where online contact has flow on consequences at school and duty of care requires the school to respond once an incident is reported.

School staff refers to school personnel who have some level of responsibility for implementing policy and the school's digital devices and online service procedures. This includes principals, senior staff, teachers, non-teaching staff, school administrative staff, volunteers and contracted staff engaged by schools.

Appendix 2: What is safe, responsible and respectful student behaviour?

Be SAFE

• Protect your personal information, including your name, address, school, email address, telephone number, pictures of you and other personal details.
• Only use your own usernames and passwords, and never share them with others. • Ask a teacher or other responsible adult for help if anyone online asks for your personal information, wants to meet you or offers you money or gifts.
• Let a teacher or other responsible adult know immediately if you find anything online that is suspicious, harmful, in appropriate or makes you uncomfortable.
• Never hack, disable or bypass any hardware or software security, including any virus protection, spam and filter settings.

Be RESPONSIBLE

• Follow all school rules and instructions from school staff, including when using digital devices and online services.
• Take care with the digital devices you use: make sure the devices you bring to school are fully charged each day and are stored appropriately when not in use; understand that you and your parents and carers are responsible for any repairs or IT support your personal devices might need; make sure the devices you bring to school have the latest software installed and take care with the school-owned devices you share with others, so that other people can use them after you. • Use online services in responsible and age-appropriate ways: only use online services in the ways agreed to with your teacher; only access appropriate content and websites, including when using the school’s filtered network and personal, unfiltered networks; and do not use online services to buy or sell things online, to gamble or to do anything that breaks the law.
• Understand that everything done on the school’s network is monitored and can be used in investigations, court proceedings or for other legal reasons.

Be RESPECTFUL

• Respect and protect the privacy, safety and wellbeing of others.
• Do not share anyone else’s personal information.
• Get permission before you take a photo or video of someone, including from the person and from a teacher.
• Do not harass or bully other students, school staff or anyone, this includes cyberbullying using a digital device or online service.
• Do not send or share messages or content that could cause harm, including things that might be: inappropriate, offensive or abusive; upsetting or embarrassing to another person or group; considered bullying; private or confidential; and/or a virus or other harmful software.

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