Hipperholme Grammar School Reduces E-Waste and Saves Money with Google ChromeOS Flex

Hipperholme Grammar School is an independent school catering for children aged 3-16, based in Halifax, UK. The school has a strong commitment to sustainability and is always looking for ways to reduce its environmental impact.

In 2023, Hipperholme Grammar School decided to transition its fleet of over 1,000 Windows and Mac devices to Google Chrome OS Flex.  Google ChromeOS Flex is a free, cloud-based operating system that can be installed on a wide range of hardware, including older devices.

The school’s decision to switch to ChromeOS Flex was motivated by a number of factors, including:

• Sustainability: ChromeOS Flex is a lightweight and efficient operating system that can extend the lifespan of existing devices. This can help reduce e-waste and save money.
• Cost savings: ChromeOS Flex is a free operating system, so the school could save money on software costs.
• Security: ChromeOS Flex is designed to be very secure, with built-in virus protection and sandboxing technology. This can help reduce the risk of cyberattacks and data breaches.
• Ease of use: ChromeOS Flex is a very simple and easy-to-use operating system. This can make it easier for teachers and students to start using new devices and be productive quickly.

The transition to ChromeOS Flex was a smooth process as the School was able to use the Google Cloud Console to deploy Chrome OS Flex to its devices remotely. The process took a few minutes per device, and the school was able to complete the transition within a few weeks.

Since switching to ChromeOS Flex, Hipperholme Grammar School has seen a number of benefits, including:

• Reduced e-waste: The school has been able to extend the lifespan of its existing devices, which has helped to reduce e-waste.
• Cost savings: The school has saved money on software costs and IT support costs.
• Improved security: The school has not experienced any cyberattacks or data breaches since switching to Chrome OS Flex.
• Increased productivity: Teachers and students have found ChromeOS Flex to be a very simple and easy-to-use operating system. This has helped to increase productivity in the classroom.
• C-Learning supported the transition of all devices to ChromeOS Flex

Andy Eastcrabbe, IT Manager at Hipperholme Grammar School said “We are very pleased with our decision to switch to Chrome OS Flex. It’s a sustainable, cost-effective, and easy-to-use operating system that has helped us to improve our IT environment. We would highly recommend Chrome OS Flex to other schools and organisations.”

The Hipperholme Grammar School’s experience with Chrome OS Flex has been incredibly positive for the School to be able to reduce e-waste, save money, improve security, and increase productivity.