Most schools know what technology they need. The difficult part is paying for it. Budgets are set a year at a time, capital funding is scarce, and replacing projectors or tired whiteboards across several classrooms can cost more than a single year's budget can absorb. Leasing lets a school get the equipment now and spread the cost over a fixed term. Here's how it works, and what it really costs.

What is equipment leasing?

With a lease, a specialist funder buys the equipment and the school pays a fixed monthly or quarterly rental to use it, usually over two to five years. There's no large upfront payment, so the project doesn't eat into your capital budget, and the cost sits in your revenue budget as a predictable line you can plan around. With Simply AVS finance and leasing, terms run from 24 to 60 months and there's nothing to pay upfront.

Leasing isn't just for the screens themselves. Interactive displays, slot-in PCs, wall lifts, visualisers, audio, software licences, cabling, installation, training and extended warranties can all go into one agreement, so the whole project comes to one monthly figure rather than a hardware price plus a list of extras.

How the process works

It starts with a site survey. We visit the school, look at how each room is used and specify the right kit, whether that's a height-adjustable display for younger pupils or a larger screen for a hall. We then send one quote that includes the equipment, installation, software and support, along with the monthly rental, so you see the project cost and the funding together.

Once you're happy, our funding partner reviews the application, usually within a couple of working days. Our engineers then install and commission everything, often during half term or the holidays so teaching isn't disrupted, and train your staff on the new equipment. Rentals only start once the installation is complete.

Which type of lease is right for a school?

Most schools and academies choose an operating lease. You use the equipment for the term without owning it, then return it or refresh to newer technology at the end. This is the usual route in education, because it keeps technology current and avoids being left with ageing kit.

A finance lease covers most of the equipment's useful life and can be extended at a nominal rental, while a business loan means you own the equipment from day one. Maintained schools and academies are subject to Department for Education rules on borrowing and finance leases, so most opt for an operating lease. Check with your business manager or trust finance team if you're unsure which applies to you.

What does it cost in practice?

Our finance page includes a fully costed example for a primary school upgrading four Year 3–6 classrooms. Each room gets a 75" 4K Hisense GoBoard interactive display on a height-adjustable wall lift, a slot-in Windows PC and a visualiser. The project also covers a five-year warranty, removal and recycling of the old boards and projectors, installation and a half-day staff training session. The total project value is £12,061.28 ex VAT. On a five-year operating lease that works out at £260.07 a month plus VAT, or about £15 per classroom per week, with nothing upfront.

You can see the full breakdown and compare different terms on our finance page, alongside example monthly payments for other project values. Leases start from £1,000. All figures are indicative and subject to status, credit approval and a final survey.

Extra options for schools and trusts

Education leasing comes with options a standard business agreement doesn't. Payment profiles can include holiday periods or stepped rentals to match your budget year, and flexible start dates mean you can install now and begin paying later. Software licences and subscriptions can be 100% funded alongside the hardware. Larger schools and multi-academy trusts can use pyramid leases to pass lower rates on to feeder primaries. There are also parent and teacher laptop schemes, insurance cover for new equipment, and technology refresh, which lets you upgrade when you need to and include more than one supplier on the same agreement.

Why schools choose to lease

The main benefit is getting the right technology into classrooms now rather than waiting years to save up. Fixed rentals make budgeting simpler and the VAT is spread across the term too. Because everything from installation to support is included, there are no surprise costs, and at the end of the term you can refresh to current technology rather than holding on to equipment that's past its best.

Get a leasing quote

If you're planning new interactive displays, audio or AV for your school, we'll design the solution and arrange the funding in one conversation. Visit our finance and leasing page to see real examples and request a quote, and we'll send you the project price and monthly cost together.