Multi-academy trust improves staff and pupil experience with new teacher devices

The Constellation Trust is a ten-school multi-academy trust based in Hull.
RM has been its managed service IT partner since 2017.

Project

Replacing classroom-based PCs for teachers with individual laptops and docking stations.

Objectives:

• Improve flexibility and productivity for teachers across the trust
• Reduce overall device estate
• Provide Windows 11 devices

Classrooms in the trust have historically contained a desktop PC for teachers to use. This setup limited teachers’ ability to use technology to plan lessons, collaborate and access school systems in the way that suited them best. The trust decided to replace the classroom PCs with a docking station in each classroom and a laptop for every teacher.

Solution

In his weekly meeting with trust stakeholders, RM Account Manager Jon Allen presented a hardware lifecycle report showing the age, expected lifespan, and Windows 11 readiness of the trust’s existing devices. Working with the trust’s IT and finance teams, RM developed a plan for procuring new devices and delivering them to the individual schools.

The trust invested in 444 HP Windows 11 laptops to be delivered during the 2025 summer holiday period. At the same time, the old PCs were removed and securely disposed of and the docking stations installed. All the laptops were set up using Microsoft Intune before dispatch, so they arrived at the schools ready to go. The trust’s RM engineers carried out all the work in time for the new academic year.

Working with RM, the trust used the HP Brighter Futures scheme to maximise its budget. By trading in its old devices under the scheme, the trust received over £49,000 in cash back.

Outcomes

With each teacher having their own portable device, they no longer need to log in to an individual PC in every classroom they teach in. Nor do they have to use personal devices or paper-based methods for planning, assessment or CPD. Critical tasks such as recording safeguarding concerns can be done immediately rather than when next in front of a suitable device.

The trust could also rationalise its overall device estate by removing old hardware trolleys and outdated IT suites.

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To find out more about how RM can help your trust develop and execute a technology strategy to support your objectives, get in touch – rm.com/contact.