Obsolescence: The hidden risk of buying iPads for schools

Buying iPads for your school sounds like a great idea. They’re the gold standard of EdTech: expertly made, aesthetically pleasing and highly intuitive to use. Schools figure that by owning iPads, they’re making a long-term investment into something that will continue to benefit generation after generation of students.

Unfortunately, that’s not quite how technology works. Like any other computer or device, each iteration of the iPad is dependent on Apple continuing to support it. And when they decide to withdraw support for older models, this leaves the school vulnerable to security breaches. 

2,000 iPads to be removed from Scottish schools

A recent BBC report tells the story of a council in Argyll and Bute that has reluctantly started the process to remove 2,000 iPads from the region’s schools due to security concerns. 

1,000 iPads have been removed already due to the out-of-date software no longer being compatible with Apple’s security releases. A report commissioned by the council states that a further 1,000 devices must also be removed by October 2026 as they are at risk of “critical security vulnerabilities”.

Executive director Douglas Hendry said: “Due to a lack of current device replacement strategies at school level, schools can face challenges when outdated equipment, which can no longer be supported, is removed from the network due to becoming obsolete or posing a security risk to the network.

“In April 2025, the ICT security team advised of the immediate removal of 970 iPads running Apple iPad software below version 17 from the school network due to critical security vulnerabilities.”

What does this mean for other schools?

Device obsolescence is an issue for all UK schools. Ben Hatton, an analyst with the firm CCS Insight, told the BBC that all councils could face regular issues due to the rapid pace of change with modern technology: “If we look at laptops, for example, the imminent end of life for laptops running Windows 10 will cause major problems for many organisations yet to upgrade to hardware capable of running Windows 11.

“We would expect quite a few cybersecurity concerns to arise over the coming years, for organisations and consumers, if people don’t upgrade their devices.”

Why schools should be wary of buying tech

It’s no secret that schools have limited capital budgets. A school that has invested in owning a suite of computers or iPads can’t guarantee being able to replace them with the frequency required to stay up-to-date and secure. This puts them in a vulnerable position where they limp along with out-of-date tech, hoping they don’t fall prey to a malicious attack or data breach. 

Clearly, this isn’t a sustainable strategy in a world where technology is only going to become more prevalent and more central to the learning experience. 

As Mike Upton, of threat detection firm e2e-assure, explained to the BBC why it was so challenging for school IT managers to secure iPad-type devices: “Not only does it become increasingly difficult if these devices are out of date, but application security concerns can arise if they can’t be updated individually.

“While there are ways to mitigate this, the extra cost and effort involved when monitoring these out-of-date devices with no wider support, can be prohibitive.”

Renting: the logical alternative

When schools rent their IT equipment instead of buying it outright, they benefit from knowing they will always have access to the latest devices, software and security updates – and that they’ll be able to upgrade the whole suite at the end of the contract.

At Utility Rentals, we’ve been providing fully compliant lease finance to schools for nearly 40 years. We have a dedicated IT leasing division, Classroom as a Service (ClaaS), which specialises in financing educational technology, whether your school needs a few laptops, or hundreds of tablet devices.

Leasing IT equipment through Utility Rentals/ ClaaS offers lots of benefits:

• Keep your capital budget: Reserve your capital funds for other projects, while funding your technology through a regular affordable payment.
  
• Device consistency: No more mish-mashing of different makes and models. You can lease an entire suite of the same product, making management, maintenance, and software compatibility much easier.
  
• Trustworthy suppliers: We carefully select our vendor partners based on their experience and reliability. They must meet strict standards and provide ongoing support and warranties throughout your rental period.
  

As the UK’s leading specialist in educational lease finance, and a Feefo Platinum Award winner for seven consecutive years, your school is in safe hands when you rent your IT equipment from us.

How renting iPads works

Utility Rentals and ClaaS offer schools a flexible way to acquire iPads and other EdTech without any upfront capital outlay. Our rental agreements are designed specifically for the education sector.

Think of it like a mobile phone contract: you agree to rent your iPads over a fixed term (typically a few years) and make manageable regular payments. When the contract ends, you’ll have the option to upgrade to newer models, keeping your technology up-to-date.

As the UK’s longest-established school equipment leasing provider, we understand the financial constraints schools face. As part of the Everything ICT framework, our fully IFRS-compliant operating leases deliver proven value. If you’re a UK state school or college, you are automatically pre-approved for our finance.

We offer a variety of rental terms and flexible payment options tailored to your budget. With fixed, predictable payments, budgeting becomes easier, and you’re protected from inflation. Many of our IT partners also include extended support and warranty options, so you’re covered for the entire lease term.

How should I get started?

To explore renting your school’s IT equipment, there are two ways to proceed, depending on whether you’ve already selected the products you’d like. 

You can:

1. Work with your chosen IT supplier to turn their quote into an affordable lease proposal
2. Ask us to source your equipment to build the perfect IT and finance solution for your school.

Take a look at some of our case studies to read about the experiences of schools that have partnered with us, and check out our bucketload of 5-star reviews on Feefo! For an initial no-obligation chat about whether leasing is right for your school, please get in touch with our friendly team today.

Tags

• iPads
• iPads for Schools