For further guidance and our BYOD policies, please visit this page
Thomas Hardye School operates a 'bring your own device' network that allows staff, students and guests to access school services and the Internet via their own wireless devices.
Use of the network is subject (but not limited) to the following conditions:
Electronic Communication Device – such devices include laptops, netbooks and notebooks, iPads and tablets, Kindle and e-readers, iPod Touch, smartphone and mobile phones and any other devices that allow electronic communication.
Devices that are primarily aimed at gaming or are primarily a music player are not allowed.
Similarly, devices that just permit the making of phone calls and sending texts are also not allowed.
Thomas Hardye School will make the final decision whether any such device is permitted.
Lost, stolen or damaged – Students who bring such devices into school do so entirely at their own risk, just like any other personal item.
Thomas Hardye School will not accept any responsibility for devices that are miss-placed, lost, stolen or damaged.
Many devices have a location finder app and it is recommended that this feature is enabled to aid tracking where ever possible.
It is also recommended that such devices are fully insured to cover loss and damage outside of the home.
Security and Care - Students are responsible for the proper care and use of their own device.
Students are responsible for the adequate security of their own device whilst in school, keeping it with them at all times when required or securing properly in their own locker.
It is recommended that students do not share or lend their device to other pupils. Educational use – Devices will only be used for educational purposes to support learning whilst in school.
It will be at the teacher’s discretion as to when these devices may be used by a student within school. Students will respect a teacher’s decision and turn off their device when requested to do so.
Audio, Photographs and Video – Students will not use their device to record audio or take photographs or video of other students or members of staff without their permission.
Students will not transmit or upload such media without permission.
Internet Usage Policy – Devices will only access the internet through the Thomas Hardye School network. Students will adhere to the school’s ICT Acceptable Use Policy and E- Safety Policy whilst on the school site.
In addition Students will not access any inappropriate material that may or may not already be downloaded onto their device.
Members of staff have the right to access a student’s own device if there is reason to believe a student is in violation of this policy or the above mentioned policies.
Students breaching the BYOD Policy – If a student breaches the BYOD Policy or if a member of staff feels that they are likely to have breached this policy then the student’s device will be confiscated and held in the school office.
The student’s parent will be contacted and they will need to come into school to collect the device. Subsequent breaches of this policy by the same student will result with that student no longer permitted to bring in their own device.
The above conditions are an overview, the complete 'Bring Your Own Device to School (BYOD) Policy for Students' document can be found on the Policies page.
Connecting a Microsoft Windows computer
If you are using Windows 8 or later, connecting to the THS-BYOD network is fairly straightforward. However, the the wireless profile settings used by Windows 7 may prevent your computer from connecting to the THS-BYOD network.
We recommend the automatic profile creation steps below, whatever version of Windows you are using.
We have created a wireless profile utility that will create the THS-BYOD profile, with the correct settings, for you automatically. To create the wireless profile automatically:
Click 'Yes' when the message box pictured appears.
Although the utility is designed to help Windows 7 computers get connected, it can be used with any version of Windows and is the easiest way of ensuring you will be able to use the network.
The download contains two files designed to work with different versions of Microsoft's DotNet framework, you can use either of them. Both files do the same thing and both will work on most Windows versions.
However, if you run one and find it doesn't work because "the framework is missing", simply use the other file instead.
If you are reading this before visting the school, you can run the utility now and the profile will ready to use when you get here. If you cannot download or run this utility, please click on the the step by step guide to manually creating a profile below.
Click on the wireless network icon in the tool tray and select Open Network and Sharing Center
From here select Set up a new connection or network
On this window choose Manually connect to a wireless network and click Next
Enter the following details:
Network Name: THS-BYOD
Security type: WPA2-Enterprise
Encryption type: AES
Leave the Security Key field blank and ensure Start this connection automatically is ticked, then click Next
You have now added the wireless profile. However, you will need to change a few more settings before it will work.
On this window click on Change connection settings
On the 'THS-BYOD Wireless Network Properties' window select the Security tab and then click on Settings about half way down the window.
On the 'Protected EAP Properties' window ensure the Validate server certificate box is unchecked. You do not need to change any other settings.
Once this is done click Ok.
Network Login
Once the profile has been created you will only to supply your normal login credentials to connect to the network from then on.
In the Username field enter your school network username.
In the Password field enter your school network password.
Connecting an Apple Mac OSX Computer
From the Wi-Fi menu choose THS-BYOD
You will be asked for a username and password.
In the Username field enter your school network username.
In the Password field enter your school network password.
This should be all that is required to connect to the BYOD network and the Internet. However, when browsing the web, you may occasionaly need to enter your credentials again. (See below)
When browsing the web, our firewall may request your username and password again, especially when you haven't used your device for a while. The login request will look like the one pictured opposite.
In the Username field enter your school network username.
In the Password field enter your school network password.
Connecting An iOS Device
Navigate to the Wi-Fi settings of your device and select the THS-BYOD network.
In the Username field enter your school network username.
In the Password field enter your school network password.
You will need to accept the certificate presented to you.
This should be all that is required to connect to the BYOD network and the Internet. However, when browsing the web, you may occasionaly need to enter your credentials again. (See below)
When browsing the web, our firewall may request your username and password again, especially when you haven't used your device for a while. The login request will look like the one pictured opposite.
In the Username field enter your school network username.
In the Password field enter your school network password.
These will be the same as the credentials used in the previous step.
Tap 'Browse the web!' and you will have internet access on your device.
Connecting an Android device
Please note, your Android device may look slightly different to the screenshots below; however the steps should be similar.
Navigate to your device's settings and select Wi-FI
Select the THS-BYOD network.
You shouldn’t need to change any settings on this screen apart from the following:
In the CA certificate field, select Don't validate
In the Identity field, type your school network username.
In the Password field, type your school network password.
After you have entered this information tap the Connect button.
This should be all that is required to connect to the BYOD network and the Internet. However, when browsing the web, you may occasionaly need to enter your credentials again. (See below)
When browsing the web, our firewall may request your username and password again, especially when you haven't used your device for a while. The login request will look like the one pictured opposite.
In the Username field enter your school network username.
In the Password field enter your school network password.
These will be the same as the credentials used in the previous step.
Tap 'Browse the web!' and you will have internet access on your device.
Connecting A Chromebook
Click the 'wireless' icon in the bottom right of your screen.
Select the THS-BYOD network.
A screen similar to this will pop up
Change the EAP Method to PEAP
Change the Server CA Certificate to Do not check
In the Identity field enter your school username
In the Password field enter your school password
Leave the Anonymous Identity blank
WiFi radio waves
Some parents have expressed concerns regarding the health of their children in relation to being exposed to the radio waves transmitted by our BYOD Network.
"There is no consistent evidence to date that exposure to RF signals from wi-fi and WLANs adversely affect the health of the general population." (Public Health England, 2013)
The 5Ghz band of WiFi transmitted across the school has a wavelength nearly 100,000 times longer than even the least powerful EM Radiation that makes up part of the visible spectrum of light and as such "[doesn't] have enough energy to damage DNA directly". (American Cancer Society, 2020)
