Tablet hardware that survives a school day
Schools and universities don't usually lose tablets to software problems. They lose them to drops, missing chargers, loose cables and devices that wander off.
We supply the hardware that keeps tablets working across a campus: rugged cases, wall mounts, sign-in kiosks, room booking panels and media players. It works with whichever school management, booking or sign-in system you already use.
Built for Busy Campuses
What schools and universities need
Education is one of the hardest environments for hardware. Devices are shared between hundreds of users, handled by young students, left in public corridors and looked after by IT teams that are usually small and stretched.
Four things come up on almost every campus: durability, because tablets will be dropped. Security, because public areas are rarely supervised all day. Easy management, so a small team can look after hundreds of devices. And budget planning, because rollouts often happen in stages as funding allows.
Older buildings add another challenge. Power isn't always where you need it, which is why PoE and wall mounts with hidden cabling are popular in schools.
Three places to get it right
Most campuses use tablets in three places: at reception, in the classroom and around the campus. Each has different users and different risks, so the right hardware isn't the same in every spot.
At Reception
Sign-in and visitor kiosks
A sign-in tablet at reception records visitors, contractors and late students without the office team writing names in a book. It also gives you an accurate list of who is on site if you need to evacuate.
Use a counter mount or wall mount with a locked enclosure, so the tablet can't be removed when the office is busy. Set it at a height that works for adults and wheelchair users.
Lock the tablet to your sign-in app, so visitors can't browse elsewhere or change settings.
In the Classroom
Shared tablets for students
Classroom tablets are passed between students, carried around the room and taken outside. A rugged case with corner protection and a handle or strap prevents most of the damage, especially with younger students.
Charging is the other daily challenge. Give every device a home where it charges overnight, so the first lesson doesn't start with flat batteries.
For teachers moving screens between rooms, TV carts make it easy to share one display across several classrooms.
Around Campus
Room booking, libraries and signage
A room booking panel outside meeting rooms, lecture theatres and study rooms shows who has the space and lets people book on the spot. LED status lights show whether a room is free from down the corridor.
In libraries and student hubs, a self-service kiosk on a floor stand helps students find resources, check timetables or print without queuing at the desk.
Screens in foyers and common areas keep notices and events up to date. A commercial media player lets you schedule content and update every screen from one place.
Choosing the right hardware
Reception sign-in kiosks
Reception sign-in kiosks
A sign-in kiosk needs to be quick for visitors, secure when the office is busy, and reliable every morning.
- Use a locked enclosure on a counter or wall mount, fixed with screws, not adhesive.
- Cover the Home button and ports so visitors can't exit the app or unplug the tablet.
- Use permanent power or PoE, so the kiosk isn't flat on Monday morning.
- Position it where office staff can see it, but visitors don't need to come behind the counter.
Browse wall mounts and desk mounts.
Room booking panels
Room booking panels
Room booking panels stop double bookings and show at a glance whether a space is free.
Qbic panels such as the TD-1070 and Luminen are built for this job. They mount outside the door, run on PoE, and use LED status lights so people can see availability from a distance. Models with NFC or RFID readers let staff and students check in with their ID card.
They work with a range of booking platforms. See our list of Qbic software partners, or read TD-1070 vs Luminen to choose the right panel.
Cases for shared student tablets
Cases for shared student tablets
Shared tablets get dropped, carried by one corner and left on the floor. The case decides how long they last.
- Corner protection and a raised edge around the screen.
- A handle or strap, so students carry the tablet properly.
- A finish that's easy to wipe clean between users.
- Open access to the charge port, so devices can go straight onto charge.
Browse tablet cases.
Library and self-service kiosks
Library and self-service kiosks
A self-service kiosk frees up library and student services staff for questions that need a person.
- Use a weighted or bolt-down floor stand in open areas.
- Set the screen height for the age of your students, and check it works for wheelchair users.
- Place it where students already queue, so they see it straight away.
- Use a locked enclosure, because these areas are often unsupervised after hours.
Digital signage and notices
Digital signage and notices
Screens in foyers, staff rooms and common areas replace printed notices that go out of date.
Use a commercial display on a wall mount, and a Qbic media player to run the content. You can schedule screens to turn off overnight and during holidays, and the built-in watchdog timer restarts the player if it freezes, so nobody needs to visit the screen to fix it. Read more about watchdog timers.
Managing a fleet with a small IT team
Managing a fleet with a small IT team
Most schools have one or two people looking after hundreds of devices. The hardware should make their job easier, not harder.
- Standardise. Use the same tablet model, cases and mounts across the school, so spares and training are simple.
- Plan for the next device. Enclosures are cut for a specific model. Choose a tablet that will still be available when you expand next year.
- Manage centrally. Device management tools like Apple School Manager let you lock kiosks to one app and push updates without touching every device.
- Buy in stages. Rolling out one building or year group at a time works well, as long as later orders match the first.
Our tablet enclosure guide covers app lockdown and power in more detail.
Security and vandalism
Security and vandalism
Public areas on a campus are rarely watched all day, so any tablet left there needs to be secured.
- Use a keyed or tool-locked enclosure that fully covers the tablet.
- Fix mounts with screws into solid walls or counters, not adhesive pads.
- Hide cables in the wall or mount, so they can't be pulled out.
- Keep a record of who holds the keys, especially across multiple buildings.
For extra protection in semi-supervised areas, add a security tether.
Find the right hardware for your campus
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Wall mounts
Explore Wall MountsSecure wall mounts for sign-in kiosks, corridors and staff rooms, with hidden cabling and locked enclosures.
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Room booking panels
Explore Qbic PanelsQbic panels for meeting rooms, lecture theatres and study spaces, with LED status lights and PoE.
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Tablet cases
Explore Tablet CasesRugged cases with handles and corner protection for shared classroom tablets.
What to specify
Each part of the campus needs different hardware. Here's what to look for, and what most often gets missed.
| Use | Hardware | Key specification | Most commonly missed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reception sign-in | Locked enclosure on a counter or wall mount | App lockdown; permanent power or PoE | Tablet flat on Monday morning |
| Room booking | Qbic room booking panel | PoE; LED status lights; works with your booking system | Panels mounted where people can't see them from the corridor |
| Shared classroom tablets | Rugged case with handle | Corner protection; easy to clean | No overnight charging plan |
| Library or student services kiosk | Floor stand with locked enclosure | Weighted base; screen height for your students | Placed away from where students queue |
| Foyer and notice screens | Commercial display, wall mount and media player | Scheduled content; off during holidays | Notices out of date because updates need a USB stick |
| Moving screens between classrooms | TV cart | Stable base; lockable wheels | Cables left trailing between rooms |
| Unsupervised areas | Locked enclosure, screwed fixings, tether | Hidden cabling; key register | Adhesive mounts in areas nobody watches after hours |
Common questions
Where should I start?
Where should I start?
Start with who will use each tablet:
- Students, staff or visitors? Younger students need rugged cases. Visitors need a simple, locked kiosk.
- Supervised or not? Tablets in corridors and libraries need stronger security than those in a staffroom.
- Which device? Enclosures are cut for a specific model, so check the exact model before ordering.
- One site or several? If you're rolling out across buildings or campuses, choose hardware you can repeat.
Talk to us before a new building or refurbishment is finished. Power and mount positions are much cheaper to plan early.
Will the hardware survive younger students?
Will the hardware survive younger students?
Yes, if you choose the right case. Look for corner protection, a raised edge around the screen and a handle or strap. For fixed kiosks, a locked enclosure and screwed fixings stop the device being pulled off the wall or counter.
Do you supply the sign-in or booking software?
Do you supply the sign-in or booking software?
No. We supply the hardware and work with whichever system you use. Qbic room booking panels support a range of booking platforms, listed on our Qbic software partners page.
Can we buy in stages as budget allows?
Can we buy in stages as budget allows?
Yes, and many schools do. The key is choosing a tablet model and hardware that will still be available when you place the next order. Ask us which models we expect to stock long term, so every stage matches.
Do you work with education IT providers?
Do you work with education IT providers?
Yes. IT providers, AV integrators and resellers who supply schools can become a wholesale partner for volume pricing and dedicated support. For help planning a project, get in touch or call 09-979-5479.