iPads or laptops for KS2? How to actually decide
The device debate rarely has a single right answer. The trick is to start with teaching and learning, not the hardware.
Every primary planning a 1:1 or shared-device rollout hits the same question: iPads or laptops? It's usually argued on gut feel and brand loyalty. A better approach starts with what you want children to actually do.
iPads win on simplicity, instant-on use, creativity (photo, video, audio), durability in younger hands, and management at scale. They struggle with heavy typing, some exam-style tasks, and anything needing a full desktop browser or specific software.
Laptops (including Chromebooks and Windows devices) win on typing, multi-tasking, compatibility with assessment tools and the kind of work expected higher up the school. They're less immediate, need more management, and can be less robust with the youngest pupils.
So the real questions are: what will children create and do on these devices day to day? How much typing and formal work is involved? What does your secondary feed, or the rest of your trust, use? And who will manage and support them?
Often the answer is a blend — iPads in lower KS2, transitioning to laptops or Chromebooks in upper KS2 as work gets more formal. Whatever you choose, decide it from the curriculum first and the hardware second. The device should serve the teaching, not the other way round.
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