How and when do you retire iPads

[Planehazza]

We've got ~550 devices registered in our MDM and more keep coming out of the woodwork. It doesn't matter how many time I ask schools to look for them, or how many times I go looking, more are found...

 

I've just had 7 handed to me, and they're all EOL with iOS10.3 being the latest. I have kept them and will not be returning them, as it's a clart on to get them set up on MDM as you need iOS 11.x or later to enrol them up to to Apple School Manager/DEP via Apple Config. Plus, a device that ceased getting updates 7 years ago is not suitable for education use, IMO.

 

Just wondering what you guys do?

 

Thanks!

[steveg]

Generally try and stick to devices that either have current ios, or the previous version. Seems to work out to be around 7 years on average. App support starts to drop off after this, especially some of the Microsoft apps. We usually trade them in when buying new iPads.

[Planehazza]

Generally try and stick to devices that either have current ios, or the previous version. Seems to work out to be around 7 years on average. App support starts to drop off after this, especially some of the Microsoft apps. We usually trade them in when buying new iPads.

 

Where do you buy from that offers this service please?

 

Thanks!

[steveg]

We get them from KRCS, they have great education pricing and do trade in too. We aren't talking huge sums of money, varies from £20 - £50 for the devices that we trade in, but helps. Occasionally apple boost it too, we got £10 extra per device on one purchase because we were trading in / buying at the same time, but they don't often do this.

[Cat_Jam148]

Same as Steveg here.

 

Keeping in-line with what the DFE recommends, we retire any iPad that is no longer supported by Apple with security updates, which is usually a year or two after the device receives it's final major iPadOS version.

Edited June 10, 2024 by Cat_Jam148

[Fazza]

We follow the Cyber Security Essentials program (pretty much the same as the DFE recommendations) so if it's not 'cyber secure', then it's removed from service.

[DrCheese]

Soon as Apple drop support. Thankfully have always had supportive management but I know it can be a challenge. I would just point at the DFE requirements now & say it's out of your hands.

[LeMarchand]

As soon as they arrive. I take them out the back and shoot them to put them out of my misery.*

 

This is not called execution.

 

This is called retirement.

 

*Not really. Ours are good until 2029. I'm hoping not to be here then, as the chances of the school replacing them or stopping using any that are still working are slim.

[Brimstone]

A well rounded forward plan for technology refresh should be a critical part of any schools long term IT strategy????

 

I have a school with an insitution owned 1:1 program who keep their devices no longer than 5 years, they are just getting 25K in trade in value back against new iPads.

[Planehazza]

A well rounded forward plan for technology refresh should be a critical part of any schools long term IT strategy????

 

I have a school with an insitution owned 1:1 program who keep their devices no longer than 5 years, they are just getting 25K in trade in value back against new iPads.

 

 

You're correct; it should

 

We took over from the LA about 18 months ago and things are still all over the place. I'm not management so have no say

[DrCheese]

A well rounded forward plan for technology refresh should be a critical part of any schools long term IT strategy????

 

I have a school with an insitution owned 1:1 program who keep their devices no longer than 5 years, they are just getting 25K in trade in value back against new iPads.

 

A long term strategy matters for zero if the funding isn't there or varies from year to year.

[Planehazza]

A long term strategy matters for zero if the funding isn't there or varies from year to year.

 

This too. Simple answer, there is no money to buy new gear and understandably teachers get very upset (when do they not?) when IT say you can't use this perfectly working iPad because it's old. I understand it's more than just old, but they don't nor do they give a crap. They just see IT waltzing and breaking stuff.

[Brimstone]

A long term strategy matters for zero if the funding isn't there or varies from year to year.

That is utter rubbish, a long term stategy can take into account how much your budget can vary from year to year so you have a plan in ADVANCE in case budgets are severely cut.

 

Do you flip a coin to see how much you are going to be paid year after year??..I doubt it.

[LeMarchand]

Do you flip a coin to see how much you are going to be paid year after year??..I doubt it.

 

A lot of us aren't involved in such decisions. TBH, flipping a coin would probably be better than the way most management that I have had to deal with "plan". Gives you a 50% chance of getting it right.

[DrCheese]

That is utter rubbish, a long term stategy can take into account how much your budget can vary from year to year so you have a plan in ADVANCE in case budgets are severely cut.

 

Do you flip a coin to see how much you are going to be paid year after year??..I doubt it.

 

Sorry, I don't live in a world where our pupil numbers are exactly the same each year and the schools other ongoing or capital costs are exactly the same each year - Much as I'd love to.

I also don't live in a world where changes in management mean that priorities don't change depending upon other factors that IT can't account for.

 

Thanks for saying my experience is utter rubbish tho, good to know. I'll get out my magic ball in future & pretend I can predict the future.

 

Best I can do is make suggestions and point out where equipment needs to be replaced, but if the money isn't there for whatever reason then it doesn't matter what we've planned to do.

Edited June 10, 2024 by DrCheese

[Planehazza]

That is utter rubbish, a long term stategy can take into account how much your budget can vary from year to year so you have a plan in ADVANCE in case budgets are severely cut.

 

Do you flip a coin to see how much you are going to be paid year after year??..I doubt it.

What school do you support? Eton?

 

Academies in the North East are severely under funded and as said below, most network managers aren't included in decision making let alone us techs, so I don't know what you expect us to be able to do.

[DrBeaker]

Yep many times over the years tech has been purchased without IT consultation or knowledge ... and eventually sat in a cupboard gathering dust. As it's either unfit for purpose or management didn't want to spend money on e.g. an MDM solution to get them working.

 

Not...an....IT...problem I'm afraid.

[Cat_Jam148]

Yep many times over the years tech has been purchased without IT consultation or knowledge ... and eventually sat in a cupboard gathering dust. As it's either unfit for purpose or management didn't want to spend money on e.g. an MDM solution to get them working.

 

Not...an....IT...problem I'm afraid.

Points to the Chromebooks our LA purchased without any prior consultation. We're a full Microsoft 365 & Apple iPad school... they don't fit in to our existing IT estate at all!

 

Getting back to topic, our 6th Gen iPads will not be getting the iPadOS 18 update later this year. They've had a good run though

 

Still got security updates for another couple of years.

Edited June 12, 2024 by Cat_Jam148

[LeMarchand]

Points to the Chromebooks our LA purchased without any prior consultation. We're a full Microsoft 365 & Apple iPad school... they don't fit in to our existing IT estate at all!

 

If you're throwing them out...

[DrCheese]

Points to the Chromebooks our LA purchased without any prior consultation. We're a full Microsoft 365 & Apple iPad school... they don't fit in to our existing IT estate at all!

 

Getting back to topic, our 6th Gen iPads will not be getting the iPadOS 18 update later this year. They've had a good run though

 

Still got security updates for another couple of years.

 

Aye I think the cutoff for iOS 18 is the 7th Generation iPad. Do Apple publish anywhere about the length of time unsupported iPads get security updates?

[Planehazza]

I've just told SLT of a large primary school why I cannot and will not return several iOS10.3 iPads for use, and broke it to them that in the near future many will have the same fate. Wish me luck...

[ITGuyNW]

Aye I think the cutoff for iOS 18 is the 7th Generation iPad. Do Apple publish anywhere about the length of time unsupported iPads get security updates?

 

Apple iPad | endoflife.date

[Brimstone]

What school do you support? Eton?

 

Academies in the North East are severely under funded and as said below, most network managers aren't included in decision making let alone us techs, so I don't know what you expect us to be able to do.

 

You sound so like some bad tempered technicians who hate their job and environment they work in and think they should be at the centre of everything and decide which tools teachers should be using to make your job easier with little or no classroom experience.

 

I support as an education consultant hundreds of schools across the NE. Many of these schools have been running fantastic iPad 1:1 schemes since 2013. These school manage their budgets very carefully, have made enormous savings in printing and photocopying, operational and time savings in marking and assessment allowing teachers to spend the time they need with students, allowing teachers to become real innovators and ultimately raise attainment levels in school.

 

below are just a few who I have worked with

 

https://www.monkhouseprimary.co.uk/1-2-1-ipads/

 

https://bentondeneprimaryschool.schooljotter2.com/learning-and-achievement/ipad-project

 

https://www.stephensonmemorial.co.uk/learning-with-ipad

 

https://www.hadrianparkprimary.org.uk/ipads-hpps/

 

Maybe you should wake up and smell the coffee?

 

No I don’t support Eton….

[3s-gtech]

@Brimstone. Tone it down, again. Seriously. You’re coming across as a bully. This is a support forum - it’s about helping each other.

 

Not every school prioritises IT funding in the same way. Indeed also, many schools don’t want extensive Apple hardware deployment as the cost to benefit may not be as high as other suppliers. I’m retiring a large number of iPads this summer, and not replacing them. Makes no sense to do so, that money can be better spent elsewhere - for our use case.

 

Some high schools are repeatedly posting deficit budgets year on year - they can keep the lights on, pay the wages - that’s about it.

[DrCheese]

You sound so like some bad tempered technicians who hate their job and environment they work in and think they should be at the centre of everything and decide which tools teachers should be using to make your job easier with little or no classroom experience.

 

I support as an education consultant hundreds of schools across the NE. Many of these schools have been running fantastic iPad 1:1 schemes since 2013. These school manage their budgets very carefully, have made enormous savings in printing and photocopying, operational and time savings in marking and assessment allowing teachers to spend the time they need with students, allowing teachers to become real innovators and ultimately raise attainment levels in school.

 

 

Maybe you should wake up and smell the coffee?

 

No I don’t support Eton….

 

What are you on about ? It is not up to IT what the budget is. How you've gone from that to implying we hate our jobs and are bad tempered - that it's somehow our fault that we have no money is an absolutely crazy take. At no point has anyone sat here and said that we think we should be at the centre of everything. Our jobs exist to serve to the school & the IT system isn't our personal plaything.

Many of us want to roll out schemes like you point to but simply can't - Be it lack of will from management, budget or other political realities. If I could I rip out all our IT suites tomorrow & replace with 1:1, I would. But I can't. All I can do is push and push.

 

If we're playing the stereotyping game, I could say you sound like a consultant that flies in, promises the world and then gets upset when IT point out barriers (IT/Finance/Political) to whatever you want to flog to schools. When said scheme then fails, blame IT for everything.

Now I doubt you are, but if you're going to accuse us of being the above then I don't see what's different.

Edited June 14, 2024 by DrCheese