jonathan18: My son managed to break his ‘military grade’ Chromebook (a Lenovo 500e) in a case with a substantial rubber bumper, so I’d note nothing is impossible for the clumsiest/slackest of kids! (And, since then, he’s managed to crack the screen of my once-was-quality Asus C302 Chromebook)

@Loismustdye: one thing to be mindful of is it’s not necessarily the case the school insists on Chromebooks or Apple laptops; if this intermediate is the same as my kids went to/are still at (initials being RI) I know for sure there are many kids there who have Windows laptops and don’t have any issues. I recall reading/hearing the same thing from this school when my eldest was enrolling a few years back - ie, it must be CB or Apple - (you’ll find a thread somewhere on GZ from me seeking the same advice as you are!), but it’s clear it’s not a hard and fast requirement.

That said, it’s not that I’m trying to put you off Chromebooks - just that you may well have more choice than they’re leading you to believe, if it is that same school.

Personally, I’m looking to get the little sh!t a second-hand Windows laptop for next year, in the hope he’ll not have destroyed it before he starts high school the following year.