Student Device Requirements

Minimum device requirements for the 2023 academic year.

Updated: October 21, 2022.
The College has finalised the minimum device requirements for the 2023 academic year, to ensure parents have visibility and can purchase accordingly. Students use an iPad in years 7-9 and a MacBook in years 10-12 a simple, flexible & reliable tools to support deeper and more creative learning. These technologies accelerate student ability to communicate, create, collaborate and develop critical thinking. Where useful in learning, students are given access to an Office 365 account, Apple creative apps, Adobe Creative Cloud account and SEQTA Learn. We take this opportunity to thank parents for their continued modelling of the appropriate use of devices to support learning.

To help ensure equity and capability for all students, it’s essential for learning in all year levels to have devices at the minimum to help ensure equity and capability for all students.

The minimum required device specifications for the 2023 Academic Year are as follows:

New students entering Years 7-9 require an iPad 9, Logitech Rugged Combo 3 Touch keyboard case & Apple Pencil.

Years 7-9 2023

Year 7	Year 8	Year 9
iPad 9 256Gb 2022 + Logitech Rugged Combo 3 Touch with Trackpad + Apple Pencil	iPad Gen 9 2021 (or iPad Pro) + Keyboard + Stylus	iPad Gen 8 2020 (or iPad Pro) + Keyboard + Stylus

Please note the iPad 10th Gen was announced on Tuesday October 18. Education pricing is not yet available at the time of writing. Parents may wish to wait to purchase this iPad 10 model and the bundle including the required “keyboard case with trackpad” and “Apple Pencil” instead.

New year 7-9 families can drop off their iPads in the Logitech case to have it enrolled in college systems on Thursday 19 or Friday 20 January between 9am and 2pm.

For new Year 7 -9 students in 2023 it is essential the iPad is brought to the College in January in an “out of the factory” condition to ensure it can be enrolled correctly onto the College’s network and for the required software to be installed.

The configured iPads can be collected on Friday January 27 between 9am and 3pm.

Parents can source these from a supplier of preference requesting education pricing. However, Winthrop Australia is the nominated 2023 discounted supplier:

Discounted Year 7-9 iPad store

New students entering Years 10-12 require a MacBook Air M1 2021.

Years 10-12 2023

Year 10	Year 11	Year 12
MacBook Air M1 2022	MacBook, Air or Pro 2020	MacBook, Air or Pro 2019

Students in Year 10-12 must update their MacBook to be running MacOS Ventura 12.01 or later in 2023.

During January a self-help guide is provided to help students configure their college provided Microsoft and Adobe apps via the Student SEQTA Splash page. Students need to complete this configuration before the start of Term 1, 2023.

MacBook Air M2 or MacBook Pros are only recommended for students in Years 10,11 & 12 doing Media/AIT.

Parents can source these from a supplier of preference requesting education pricing. However, Winthrop Australia is the nominated 2023 discounted supplier:

Discounted Year 10-12 MacBook Air store

FAQs

Parents and carers of 2023 Year 7 and Year 10 students need to be aware there may be delays to the delivery of device orders as supply chains have been disrupted due to COVID and a shortage of certain components.

We’d like to advise parents to consider being ready to place orders in late October to help ensure delivery before the new school year.

Students should only bring one device to school. An iPad with stylus and keyboard case in year 7-9 and a MacBook in year 10-12

Families bring the iPad in to be set up straight out of the box and safely inserted in the case with the student name displayed. If for some reason the iPad has been set up, please follow these instructions on “How to factory reset your iPad“.

At the time of writing in early October 2022 for Year 7 students commencing in 2023 the iPad 10 is yet to be released. Should this be announced it is anticipated supplies of the iPad 9 will quickly mean the iPad 10 is the default iPad available for purchase.

In the experience of IT Support a glass screen protector is always a good investment. If you do not have Apple Care on the device it can be a much more affordable investment.

New Students commencing at the College for the first time in 2023 in Years 8, 9, 11 and 12 can purchase from the minimum required device specification listed above.

To ensure consistency and equity in the learning environment plus the ability to complete tasks students in year 7-9 must have an iPad and in year 10-12 must have a MacBook.

Student device enquiries

For general enquiries please contact Mrs Roslyn Slater at rslater@mercedes.wa.edu.au
For technical queries please contact IT Support via 9323 1323