'DON'T pay for a £510 iPad for your child' - this is the message from one of the organisers of a petition calling for Windsor High to fund the devices by alternative means.

The parent, who doesn't want to be named, is one of a few parents of pupils at Windsor High who banded together to start the petition, which now has more than 6,900 names "to stop the expectation of parents to fund these items immediately."

She, along with another parent, met with headteacher Stephen Lanckham and is calling for parents to refuse to pay for an iPad, forcing the trust to find alternative funding.

The iPads for Learning scheme is being run by Windsor Academy Trust, across its nine schools, which also include Manor Way Primary, Tenterfields Primary, Colley Lane Primary Academy and Kingswinford Academy.

From September, all students in years 4 and 5 at its primary schools and years 7, 8 and 9 at the trust's secondary schools are being asked to use the expensive devices - with the move hitting some families hard.

Children of parents who don't pay for an iPad will get a device anyway and will still get to receive it in a celebratory 'unboxing ceremony' - but are not allowed to take it home.

The parent said: "Some parents are outraged, some are stressed and some are worried about how they can join this scheme.

"The original material provided by the school was extremely vague and only gave the benefits of the scheme without a thought to how it made parents feel.

"A few parents decided to have a meeting with the head – Mr Lanckham to clarify things.

"He guaranteed that every child will have an iPad - I think that will stop a lot of parents worrying.

"He said there will be no iPad based homework and that all homework will be set on google classroom and will be accessible from multiple devices.

"There should be no child at a disadvantage at home if they don't buy an iPad and only get to use the device in school.

"No child will be without an iPad for the ‘unboxing ceremony’

"The unboxing event involves every child. No child will be left out.

"If enough parents refuse to buy an iPad - the trust will have to find another method to finance them."

Parents have until tomorrow (Thursday June 24) to decide whether to sign up.

Stephen Lanckham, headteacher at Windsor High School and Sixth Form, said: "We have made every effort to ensure the iPads For Learning package is as affordable as possible.

"As we emerge from the pandemic, we understand the more challenging financial climate that many families will face. As we have communicated directly with parents, who we have been liaising with on this matter, we will continue to sensitively support families where meeting the full contribution is a challenge.

"Our goal is to ensure all children have access to iPads for Learning and that no child is left out, nor their learning in any way compromised."