Background
Jonathan Hull is the Principal Teacher for Equity and Digital Inclusion at East Renfrewshire Council, one of Scotland’s 32 local authorities. Located near Glasgow on Scotland’s west coast, the council supports a diverse and inclusive education estate — ranging from early years to specialist provision.
The full estate includes:
- 7 secondary schools
- 24 primary schools, 13 of which also have nursery classes
- 10 family centres
- 1 dedicated school for children with additional support needs
- 1 Gaelic Medium Primary School
Jonathan’s connection with LocknCharge began in 2014, during the early adoption of Chromebooks in classrooms. By that time, the first Carrier 30 cart was already in use — and over the years, that single unit has grown into a district-wide network of 76 Carrier carts.
In this story, we explore how East Renfrewshire built a sustainable digital learning environment — and how LocknCharge has supported that growth every step of the way.
The challenge: Managing a growing number of devices across schools
When digital learning first took hold in East Renfrewshire, managing device charging and access across classrooms quickly became a priority.
“Back in 2014, when digital devices were new, the challenge was to charge them.”
At the time, schools relied on a single Carrier 30 cart to serve a class of 30 students, sharing Chromebooks in small groups. Students would remove baskets from the cart, use the devices, and return them after each session — a process that proved both simple and sustainable.
In 2019, just before the COVID-19 pandemic, Jonathan stepped into a council-wide leadership role focused on digital equity and inclusion. His responsibilities now span digital strategy, procurement, infrastructure, and digital skills development — from coding and AI to accessibility and classroom readiness.
As device adoption accelerated post-COVID, so did the complexity of managing them. The council invested in shared device sets — typically one device per three to four students, with access managed on-site or taken home when needed.
Today, the device pool includes laptops, iPads, and Chromebooks, all supported by an infrastructure of 44 Carrier 30s, 27 Carrier 20s, and 4 Carrier 10s — deployed to keep pace with real-world classroom needs.
The solution: LocknCharge Carrier carts that fit real-world school needs
Before switching to LocknCharge, East Renferwshire schools used massive HP or LapCabby charging carts. While functional, they weren’t designed for daily classroom use and were not flexible enough for quickly evolving classroom needs:
“The LocknCharge Carrier 30 carts became the main thing that we used.”
Over time, schools moved away from transporting entire carts. Instead, students and teachers began using baskets to distribute devices across classes — a system that proved quicker and easier for everyone involved.
“LocknCharge just fits. The product fits the way we're using it in schools. We’ve designed spaces that would allow the cart to sit in the specific space.”
To manage bookings, some schools use laminated paper schedules, while others coordinate device use through simple online systems.
“The baskets are great because we’re able to educate children on how to independently tidy our devices away and how to put them on to charge.”
This system has simplified daily device access and made the process more student-led, freeing up time and reducing workload for teachers.
The results: Reliable, long-term device management that just works
With over 76 Carrier carts deployed across the council's schools, East Renfrewshire has built a device management system that’s reliable, student-friendly, and simple to maintain — seamlessly integrated into everyday classroom routines.
“The fact that we’ve been using them for so long means they stand the test of time.”
Nearly a decade into their use, the Carrier carts continue to perform without disruption, supporting shared access to laptops, iPads, and Chromebooks across all schools.
The future: Supporting BYOD and growing charging needs
As digital learning evolves, East Renfrewshire schools are preparing for the next wave — from Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) initiatives to secure phone storage and even wireless charging.
“What happens to devices while they're in the school is the issue.”
Jonathan and his team are exploring how to adapt their infrastructure to meet new demands — while keeping systems simple, scalable, and familiar for educators and students alike.
LocknCharge remains a key part of that strategy — not just because the products work, but because they fit seamlessly into daily school life.
“They’re not cheap things to buy. We could buy cheaper, but we don’t — because we know they’re going to be long-lasting. Everyone knows how to use them. Everyone knows what they are. It’s really easy to keep that going rather than put in new things… We’ve tried a few new things, but the schools just don’t like them. They like LocknCharge.”
As needs shift and technology advances, East Renfrewshire’s device strategy is future-ready — grounded in the practical, proven reliability of a solution that just works.
Looking to scale device management in your school or district?