The end of Windows 10: helping schools move to Windows 11
On 14th October 2025, Microsoft will stop supporting Windows 10 – and that means all schools must move to Windows…
On 14th October 2025, Microsoft will stop supporting Windows 10 – and that means all schools must move to Windows 11.
This is a bigger problem for many schools than it might first appear. If schools have compatible devices, the issue in switching to Windows 11 may be limited to the inconvenience of having to spend time installing a new OS and transferring files across.
However, if they’re using devices that are not compatible with Windows 11, schools won’t have the option of upgrading: they’ll need to replace entire fleets of devices.
At our sister company Classroom as a Service (ClaaS), we are already seeing an increase in IT leasing enquiries focused around the upcoming Windows 11 transition. We expect this will accelerate further in the coming months, especially as the new academic year approaches in September.
Interested in exploring how we can help you close more deals?
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In this blog, we’ll explore what you as suppliers can do to anticipate this increased demand for devices with Windows 11 pre-installed.
Why is Windows 11 controversial?
This isn’t the first time Microsoft has upgraded its operating system (OS), but the move from Windows 10 to 11 is arguably the most controversial.
It’s not difficult to see why: when Microsoft launched Windows 10 in 2015, they positioned it as an “operating system as a service” that would be continuously updated over time rather than replaced by a new OS a few years later.
Yet, 10 years later, it is being replaced – and many schools are unhappy about it because it means finding money from stretched budgets to replace soon-to-be redundant laptops, desktops, and All-in-Ones.
Is upgrading to Windows 11 the only option?
First, let’s explore whether there are any options open to schools with non-compatible devices, other than purchasing new devices.
The short answer is “sort of”: Microsoft has released a chargeable licence extension to enable users (including schools) to continue using Windows 10 for one additional year. The idea is to create some breathing space that removes the hard deadline of October 2025 for upgrading. In theory, the additional time could allow Windows 10 devices to reach the end of their natural lifespan, depending on when they were first purchased or leased, and schools could then lease or buy new devices with Windows 11 pre-installed.
The move has proved unpopular, however, as there’s a charge per device for the licence extension, which many users have objected to paying, given that they expected Windows 10 to operate indefinitely at no extra cost.
Microsoft are framing the extension as “a last resort option for customers who need to run certain legacy Microsoft products past the end of support. Extended Security Updates are not intended to be a long-term solution but rather a temporary bridge.”
This means that the extension is only a temporary solution for schools: after the extra year’s support expires, there will be no renewal option.
Why not just carry on using Windows 10?
Some schools may be tempted simply to carry on using their Windows 10 devices after Microsoft withdraws official support.
As any tech supplier will know, however, this is a risky strategy as it leaves the school vulnerable to cyber attacks and operational problems. No support means no fixes for new bugs when they appear, providing opportunities for hackers to gain access to the school’s system.
When a school system is compromised by a cyber attack, it can have immediate real-world consequences, such as cancelled lessons and the inability to take registers and payments. Or, in the more sinister scenario, it could lead to ransom demands from hackers in possession of confidential information.
Given that this could quickly escalate into a safeguarding issue if there’s pupil data or other sensitive info on the devices, sticking with Windows 10 isn’t a realistic option beyond 14th October 2025.
How to help schools upgrade to Windows 11
Windows 11 was released in 2021, so there’s already a wide selection of devices available on the market for schools that need to replace their fleets. The more pressing issue for most schools is how to pay for them.
That’s where we come in.
Our sister company ClaaS specialises in providing innovative subscription based finance to schools who need help paying for tech and IT equipment. We deal with all order sizes: some schools only require a handful of devices, whereas others are replacing their entire fleet and require 200-500 units.
By helping schools spread the cost of their equipment over its useful life (often 3 years for laptops and similar products), we often find they place larger order volumes than if they were purchasing outright.
Take a look at this example showing how a school with nine classrooms could obtain three times as many devices via leasing on day 1 than they could pay for each year out of a capital budget:
So, not only does the school benefit from the efficiency of acquiring an entire fleet straightaway, you as the supplier also benefit from a higher sales volume.
We’re currently recruiting suppliers!
If you supply IT equipment to schools, register as a supplier today to close more deals!
What if schools are reluctant to upgrade?
Some schools may, understandably, baulk at the idea of upgrading (even with a cashflow-friendly option to replace their fleet!)
What can you, their supplier, do to persuade them?
The key is to educate them about what end of support means, and the extent to which they will be exposed if they don’t upgrade.
End of support means that, after 14th October 2025, Microsoft will no longer:
- Fix newly discovered security bugs, leaving schools vulnerable to potentially devastating cyber attacks.
- Offer technical support for Windows 10 issues, creating huge inefficiencies for school IT managers as they try to work out solutions for themselves.
- Provide software updates from Windows Update – including security updates.
Schools that don’t upgrade are risking data breaches, cyber attacks, and operational issues. The only realistic solution is to replace redundant kit with devices that have Windows 11 pre-installed, and we can help: our role is to help you turn your equipment quotes into affordable lease proposals.
Work with us
ClaaS is currently recruiting suppliers to fill the increased demand for Windows 11 devices in schools, so if you’re in this space, please fill out our registration form here:
https://forms.monday.com/forms/85663e0756bee3b12d02abbf4e4b33c2?r=use1
To learn more about the benefits of offering your products to schools on a subscription model, you can follow ClaaS on Linkedin and connect with our founder, Steve Mattey. We’re always happy to have a no-obligation chat.
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