Alternative to boot camp?

From the Parallels site:

On Mac computers with an Apple M1 chip, you can install Windows 11 on ARM Insider Preview by watching the following video or by following the instructions in this article."

And from Parallels Instructions for installing Windows 11 ARM.

Parallels Instructions for installing Windows 11 ARM.

See the note at the top (the page is otherwise from June last year):

"Note: Parallels Desktop 17.1.1 or newer simplifies the setup experience with automatic download and installation. The process is similar to the automatic installation for Mac computers with Intel processors. Download the latest version."

With the latest version, select New in File, read the warning about Intel versions, then select Continue.

Use the button at the top on the left (Get Windows from Microsoft):

See what is downloaded and how it works. The problem with using Insider Preview is that, sooner or later, you need to move to the Release version. That can take a long time. Also the Release version is more secure for professional work (in my case technical translation for nuclear power stations involving Visio).

"And the only version of Windows that will run in a virtual machine on a M1 Mac is a developer's test version of Windows 11. "

This was once true, but not since November 2021. As noted elsewhere, Parallels Desktop 17 and later offers a "Retail OEM" version if you use the "Download Windows 11 from Microsoft" button.

As shown on the Microsoft Account:

Device status:

Most recent updates:

The "Developer's Test Version" mentioned is called Windows Insider Preview and there is no reason to make use of it.

if your school setup a wmware server or the likes the mac minis can remote desktop to that and run windows that way

No.

And the only version of Windows that will run in a virtual machine on a M1 Mac is a developer's test version of Windows 11. Not an appropriate version for doing school or other non-testing environments.

I definitely do not recommend doing that unless you really must use Insider Preview. The Release version is better. See the response here: