Windows 10 End of Support Updates for Education: What You Need to Know
- ycurrie
- Jul 4, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 24, 2025
Understanding the Extended Security Update (ESU) Program
In April, Microsoft published its Windows 10 End of Support Updates for Education blog. They introduced the Extended Security Update (ESU) program, which serves as a cost-effective option for schools and trusts. This program enables educational institutions to extend the life of older devices without immediately investing in new hardware. For education settings facing tight budgets, it is a compelling choice.
At the time of the announcement, we recommended that customers consider ESU as a potential option, pending its final availability in the UK.
The Challenge of ESU Availability
Following extensive discussions with licensing partners, we can confirm the current state of the ESU program. Microsoft's current position is that ESUs are only available under enterprise-level licensing agreements in the UK. This makes individual schools and trusts ineligible under the current conditions.
Although Microsoft may consider widening access later this year, there is no confirmed timeline or commitment from them. This makes ESU an unsuitable and unreliable planning route for educational organizations.
Recommendations for Schools
In light of these developments, we are now advising customers to explore alternative paths to ensure their systems remain secure and compliant. Below are our recommendations in line with ISO 27001 and Cyber Essentials.
1. Upgrade to Windows 11-Capable Devices
This option represents the most secure and future-proof strategy for educational institutions. Where budgets permit, we strongly recommend upgrading to supported hardware. We are collaborating with partners like Circle IT to offer schools affordable refurbished machines. This approach balances cost-effectiveness with compliance.
2. Consider Windows 10 LTSC – Only in Limited, Emergency Cases
Windows 10 LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel) is important to note. It is not intended for general end-user environments like classrooms or staff offices. LTSC is designed for specialized, low-interaction systems, such as medical devices or kiosks.
In emergency situations, LTSC may be used temporarily. It can keep essential legacy devices operational in non-critical or low-usage scenarios while a comprehensive transition plan is developed. However, there are key limitations to be aware of:
🚫 No Microsoft Store (e.g., Minecraft and Flipgrid are unsupported)
🚫 No Microsoft Edge browser
🚫 No Teams desktop support after July 1st (web-only access only)
🚫 Limited software support (Adobe Creative Cloud is not supported)
These limitations make LTSC unsuitable as a long-term or widespread solution for school environments.
3. Running Windows 10 Without Security Updates
This option is strongly discouraged. Utilizing unsupported systems can lead to increased cybersecurity risks, as they are often targeted by attackers once official updates cease.
A Word From Us
“This situation — where options are unclear and availability is shifting — is not how we prefer to operate. It does not meet the standard we hold ourselves to.”
We are firmly committed to helping schools plan with confidence, even when the answers to their questions are slow to emerge. Additionally, we are actively exploring enterprise-level agreements that may allow us to provide ESU access to our customer base. We will provide updates as soon as we have news to share.
Summary of Recommendations
| Option | Recommended Use | Notes |
|-------------------------------|----------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|
| Windows 11 Upgrade | ✅ Primary path | Secure, compliant, long-term |
| Windows 10 LTSC | ⚠️ Emergency/temporary only | Not intended for general use |
| Continue Without Updates | ❌ Not recommended | Significant cybersecurity exposure |
Need help planning your next steps? Our team is ready to support your school or trust. Visit: www.cse-net.co.uk
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