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Technology plays an important role in education today. The school’s recommendation for a student device is the Apple MacBook Air for all students in Years 7 to 12. When purchased in Year 7 this device has the technical capability, when treated well, to last for all 6 years of high school.
Student technology requirements are currently met through a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) program at Farrer. The information below describes the minimum device specifications and our recommendations for student devices.
Devices can be purchased through your preferred retailer to try to get the best possible price. Please check the minimum device specifications below to ensure the device you choose will be suitable.
This Link should take you to the Education Store on the Apple website should you wish to purchase Apple Products.
PLEASE remember to purchase Apple Care with your Apple product, it dramatically reduces the cost of accidental damage repairs.
Minimum Device Requirements
Minimum Device Requirements
Year 7 and 8
Year 7 and 8
All students beginning Year 7 at Farrer in 2024 should have a laptop device that meets the following minimum specifications:
Processor: Intel i5 (for Windows) or either M1 or M2 Processor (for Apple Mac)
RAM: 8GB
Hard Drive: 256 GB
Screen Size: 13 inch
Our school has transitioned our student devices from Windows laptops to MacBook Air laptops, which are currently the device used by teaching staff. The MacBook Air device is better suited to a full day of educational use and is of higher build quality than a similarly priced Windows laptop.
Year 7 and 8 technology subjects require the use of specialised software which does not run on devices such as iPads or Chromebooks which is why these devices are not recommended as the only student device for this stage of learning.
Mouse
We recommend students purchase a Bluetooth mouse to use with their laptop. The school canteen offers a quality bluetooth mouse that will work with Windows devices, Apple MacBooks and Apple iPads.
Minimum Device Requirements
Minimum Device Requirements
Years 9, 10, 11 and 12
Years 9, 10, 11 and 12
If treated appropriately, the device students started Year 7 with will still be suitable for Stage 5 and 6 (Years 9, 10, 11 and 12) of a student's education. However, it is at these stages where subject choice can play a role in the device requirements.
The minimum device specifications for a laptop computer are still applicable in Stages 5 and 6 but it is also possible to meet your technology requirements with an iPad device combined with an Apple Pencil and keyboard case, while using the same laptop device you started Year 7 with. The iPad, when combined with an Apple pencil allows students to create detailed handwritten notes which are always backed up to cloud storage.
For this reason the school recommends the purchase of an iPad with an Apple Pencil for Year 10 and above.
Laptop device minimum specifications:
Processor: Intel i5 (for Windows) or M1 Processor (for Apple Mac)
RAM: 8GB
Hard Drive: 256 GB
Screen Size: 13 inch
iPad device minimum specifications:
iPad Air or iPad Pro, Apple Pencil 2nd Generation, a Keyboard Case
iPad (with Home Button), Apple Pencil 1st Generation, a keyboard case
Some things to consider:
If your son is choosing a technology-based subject in Stage 5 or 6 then the reliability of his laptop device is important to ensure he does not fall behind in project work. An iPad alone is not suitable for technology-based subjects at this time.
If your son is studying a high level of mathematics in Stage 5 or 6 it is highly recommended to get an iPad device as these are heavily used by our teachers to provide fast feedback to students through digital workbooks.
Mouse
We recommend students purchase a Bluetooth mouse to use with their laptop. The school canteen offers a quality bluetooth mouse that will work with Windows devices, Apple MacBooks and Apple iPads.
Choosing the Correct Apple Pencil
Choosing the Correct Apple Pencil
Apple now have three different types of Apple Pencils available, all with different features and compatability. The table below, from Apple, is designed to help illustrate the differences. However, it can also be summarised by the following points:
The image below includes the Apple Pencils available and which iPads they are compatible with.
**The Apple Pencil USB-C does not include any pressure-sensitivity so if you need this for artistic applications it is NOT the right pencil to choose.
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