How to buy a touch screen for primary schools ks1 and ks2
Choosing the Right Interactive Screen for Primary Schools: A Practical Guide for Leadership Teams
As schools continue to modernise their classrooms, interactive touchscreens have become an essential investment—replacing aging projectors, interactive whiteboards, and legacy AV systems. These high-performance displays now form the backbone of daily teaching, offering sharp visuals, seamless connectivity, and intuitive interaction that supports a broad curriculum. But selecting the right touchscreen panel is not simply a matter of choosing the largest or most feature-rich model. Primary schools have unique needs: varying classroom sizes, a wide age range of learners, differing levels of teacher tech confidence, and often tight budgets.
Based on years of supporting UK schools with large-scale deployments and one-off upgrades alike, here’s a structured overview of what you should know—and a checklist to guide your decision.
Why Schools Are Replacing Projectors with Just Displays
Projectors, once a classroom staple, now pose more limitations than benefits. Dim brightness in well-lit rooms, frequent bulb changes, ongoing calibration issues, and disruptive shadows can all impact teaching flow. Over time, maintenance costs and lost teaching time add up. By contrast, interactive flat panel displays (IFPDs) offer clear, bright images without warm-up time, support for touch and stylus input, and the ability to annotate, screen share, and switch between content with ease. The screens are durable, maintenance-free, and designed for everyday school use.
What Makes a Great Interactive Touchscreen for Primary Use
A reliable screen should do more than just turn on. It needs to support natural handwriting with no delay, launch applications quickly, and work smoothly with the school's existing infrastructure—whether that’s Chromebooks, iPads, Windows laptops, or a combination. For Key Stage 1 and 2 classrooms, 65" or 75" screens are the most common, offering strong visibility across a typical room. These displays often become the focal point of morning starters, whole-class input, group modelling, and even behaviour tracking. Wall-mounting ensures safe, secure installation, but mobile trolleys offer flexibility in open-plan or shared spaces.
- Comparing Key Brands for Primary Education
Promethean is known for its intuitive whiteboard tools, smooth handwriting recognition, and strong classroom software (ActivInspire). It suits schools focused on whole-class modelling and interactive starter activities. - BenQ is often chosen for EYFS and younger KS1 classes due to its built-in health features like anti-glare, anti-bacterial coatings, and eye-care modes. The included EZWrite software is simple to use and excellent for collaboration.
- SMART offers robust stylus support and compatibility with SMART Notebook and Lumio. These panels are ideal for detailed annotation and schools already using SMART’s ecosystem. ViewSonic is a strong contender when value is a key priority. These screens are well-built, responsive, and offer great functionality for multi-room deployments or trusts looking to standardise equipment.
- Clevertouch integrates well with both Microsoft and Google platforms and includes LYNX Whiteboard and an app store tailored for education.
Real-World Scenarios
In one KS2 classroom, the interactive display is used to deliver starter activities in maths and grammar, where pupils are invited to the board to complete tasks. The teacher uses the split-screen function to compare model answers with class input, and the lesson is saved for pupils to review later. Another primary setting has introduced mobile BenQ panels for shared intervention spaces. The panels are wheeled into break-out areas for phonics games, story sessions, and pupil-led presentations. The built-in speakers and height-adjustable mount ensure accessibility for all learners. In a Year 6 science class, a ViewSonic screen is used to present a live experiment on one side of the display while allowing annotation of diagrams on the other. The session is recorded and uploaded for pupils to revisit via Google Classroom.
Financial Planning and Long-Term Value
Interactive screens are a capital investment, but several routes can improve affordability: Manufacturer Bid Pricing—if your school is the first in the area to request a quote for a specific model, we can often apply for reduced pricing on your behalf. Leasing Options—spread the cost over 3–5 years, with warranty and technical support included. Ideal for aligning purchases with budget cycles. Total Cost of Ownership—beyond the screen cost, consider what you’ll save: no bulbs, no replacement remotes, fewer IT callouts, and reduced energy consumption.
Try Before You Buy
We encourage schools to test products before committing. We offer live remote walkthroughs for SLT and teachers, on-site demonstrations where possible, and short-term classroom loans for hands-on testing. This ensures your investment fits both your space and your staff.
- Quick Checklist: What to Consider When Buying an Interactive Panel
- Classroom size: Choose 65” for standard rooms, 75” for larger spaces.
- Mounting needs: Decide between wall mounting or a mobile trolley.
- Device compatibility: Confirm compatibility with your school’s laptops, tablets, and wireless systems.
- Teacher confidence: Select software that staff can use easily.
- Content use: Plan how the screen will be used—modelling, annotation, video, multi-input.
- Futureproofing: Ensure the screen supports OS updates, wireless casting, and cloud access.
- Brand fit: Match your chosen panel to your curriculum tools.
- Budget strategy: Decide whether to purchase outright or lease.
- Test first: Request a demo or trial period.
- Installation support: Work with a provider that offers fitting, onboarding, and aftercare.
If you’d like support comparing models or understanding which setup fits your classrooms best, feel free to get in touch. We’re here to make the process straightforward—from quote to installation and beyond.
FAQ
What size screen suits a primary classroom?
Quick Answer: Most primary classrooms benefit from a 65" to 75" screen depending on room layout and viewing distance.
Detailed Answer: The ideal size depends on classroom depth, pupil seating arrangements, and wall availability. Just Displays helps schools assess their spaces before recommending a size. In one example, a Year 6 class upgraded from 65" to 75" panels after realising pupils at the back struggled to see clearly. The improvement in clarity significantly boosted pupil focus and reduced repeated explanations during whole-class teaching.
Will our existing tech work with it?
Quick Answer: Yes, most interactive panels are fully compatible with Chromebooks, iPads, and Windows laptops.
Detailed Answer: We ensure that any screen supplied works with your school’s current devices. Whether using USB-C, HDMI, or casting technologies like AirPlay or Miracast, we’ll match the panel to your needs. One school using a mix of tablets and Windows devices was able to wirelessly cast from all their equipment after installation—saving time and simplifying lesson transitions.
What software comes with the panel?
Quick Answer: Most panels come with built-in whiteboarding and teaching tools at no extra cost.
Detailed Answer: The panels we provide typically include annotation, screen sharing, web browsing, timers, and split-screen tools out of the box. For example, one teacher began using the included whiteboarding app daily for mental maths starters, then saved each session’s notes directly to cloud storage for pupil access at home—no third-party software required.
How durable are these panels in a busy school?
Quick Answer: They are classroom-grade and designed to handle daily use.
Detailed Answer: Our panels feature hardened, anti-glare glass and sturdy internal components to survive knocks, fingerprints, and near-constant use. In one school, the ICT lead chose reinforced brackets and anti-tip mounts for an Early Years setting where pupils regularly interacted with the screen on the floor. Four years on, the screen still runs without a single service call.
What maintenance do they need?
Quick Answer: Very little—just cleaning and the occasional software update.
Detailed Answer: Unlike projectors, interactive panels don’t use bulbs or filters. We provide guidance on automatic updates and basic cleaning methods. A multi-academy trust we support configured all their panels for overnight updates and included panel cleaning in their caretaker checklist—minimising disruption and extending lifespan.
Can more than one pupil use the screen at once?
Quick Answer: Yes—multi-touch technology allows simultaneous use.
Detailed Answer: Most panels support at least 10 simultaneous touchpoints—some up to 40—enabling collaborative learning. One KS1 classroom set up a morning routine where three pupils interact with phonics tiles while the rest of the class watches and joins in verbally. This hands-on approach increased early reading confidence across the group.
Will our staff need training?
Quick Answer: Yes—optional training is available for an additional cost.
Detailed Answer: Just Displays offers staff training tailored to your school’s level of experience and chosen panel. While many teachers find the basic tools intuitive, advanced features such as screen recording, cloud sync, and casting benefit from formal guidance. One school chose to schedule two after-school sessions: the first focused on core tools for all staff, and the second on using software features to support SEND learners and flipped learning models. The cost was covered from their CPD budget, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive.
What does it actually cost?
Quick Answer: Costs vary, but Just Displays helps reduce spend via education discounts and leasing.
Detailed Answer: We apply for manufacturer bid pricing to ensure the best possible rates. Schools often secure first-bid pricing when requesting a quote on a specific model for the first time in their area. Leasing options are available, allowing you to spread the cost over 3 to 5 years and include warranty, support, and optional training. In one case, a school upgraded six classrooms by leasing panels at a fixed monthly rate—no upfront strain on budget, full control over procurement