An Apple Account is an account which allows the user to sign into the App Store or iCloud, in order to download apps, make purchases, or save data.

Many students and parents already have personal Apple Accounts before they join the school iPad scheme, especially if they already own an iPad or iPhone, but it is not mandatory to have this set up for school.

The school will provide each student with a unique Apple Account that is created before the scheme starts - these are called School Managed Apple Accounts, and they are created for every student, whether they have joined the One-Off Payment / Lease scheme or have a BYOI.  School Managed Apple Accounts are used for specific purposes such as taking backups of student iPad on iCloud - they cannot be used to download apps from the App Store.

To install school apps and configure settings such as email accounts, the school uses a Mobile Device Management system (MDM).  The MDM is used to send apps and settings to all students' iPad.

This means that students do not need personal Apple Accounts to download school apps, and they are not expected to do this during the school day.

For use at home, students are able to sign in to the App Store using a personal Apple Accounts in order to download other apps and games.  This should be done with the consent of their parent or carer, and these apps should not be used at school. All personal apps should be age appropriate.

 

Family Sharing

Family sharing is a way to organise and create Apple Accounts in order for a family to manage app purchasing as well as share items like photos, location, or calendar events.

A parent or guardian uses their own personal Apple Accounts to set up Family Sharing and then becomes the Organiser.

As the Organiser, they can then invite family members using their Apple Accountss.  This means that children's Apple Accountss do not need payment information.  Parents can authorise and pay for apps if requested. However, the feature 'Ask to Buy' will not work with the school iPads due to the iPads being managed by our MDM system.

They can also create Apple Accountss for children under 13 years of age (therefore, if a Year 7 student wishes to purchase/download apps outside school, the school recommends that parents set up Family Sharing).

 

Personal Apple Accounts

Alternatively, it is possible to create a personal Apple Account without entering any payment method.  This would allow a student to download free apps without the need for parental consent.

 

Useful Links:

How to create an Apple Account without a payment method
support.apple.com/en-gb/HT204034