Faculties pilot examination outcomes app that would save £30m

Hundreds of scholars will obtain examination outcomes digitally this summer time, as a part of a authorities plan that would lower paperwork in schooling and save £30m a yr.

The pilot is a part of a wider authorities plan for the general public sector to save lots of £45bn in productiveness every year by way of the usage of digital know-how.

The modernised “schooling file” to be launched by the Division for Schooling (DfE) will imply paper recordsdata are not manually handed on to college students. All paperwork will transfer to an schooling file app, which might be used when college students apply for additional schooling, apprenticeships or employment.

The app has already been trialled at chosen colleges, however the wider pilot will see hundreds of scholars related.

The schooling file app will comprise the pupil’s identify, date of delivery and deal with, colleges they’ve attended, official {qualifications} like GCSEs and A-levels, and any help wants.

Financial savings will even be made by offering outcomes to college students by way of the app. Greater than 95,000 younger folks within the Higher Manchester and West Midlands areas will obtain their GCSE outcomes by way of the app this summer time, forward of a deliberate nationwide roll-out.

Outcomes might be made accessible on the app at 11.00am on GCSE outcomes day, Thursday 21 August, though pupils will nonetheless be capable of go to high school to gather them.

The DfE mentioned it expects financial savings of about £30m a yr, which is equal to the sum required to pay the salaries of greater than 600 new academics in additional schooling.

Schooling minister Stephen Morgan mentioned the pilot would “enable colleges and faculties to give attention to what they do greatest – instructing the subsequent era – fairly than being slowed down in paperwork”.

The digital schooling information created will even make it faster and simpler for college students to use and enrol at sixth type, school or a coaching supplier, in line with the federal government, by enabling them to “share data digitally fairly than having to take paper copies of data like their {qualifications} with them once they enrol”.

The federal government added that digital schooling information will allow pupil data to be handed on quicker and supply extra details about any help a pupil may require.

Mark Giles, principal at The Hathershaw Faculty, which has been trialling the schooling file app since spring 2024, mentioned: “We consider this may scale back administrative burdens on colleges and, sooner or later, may be utilised by mother and father of youthful kids to help transition from major to secondary faculty.”

He added: “Suggestions from college students and workers was very constructive because the schooling file was correct, verifiable and could possibly be introduced to suppliers immediately.”

James Bowen, assistant common secretary in school leaders’ union NAHT, mentioned any strikes to chop paperwork and prices are welcome. “It’s critical that any adjustments work for colleges and faculties, in addition to pupils, at what’s all the time a busy, pressurised time for varsity leaders and their workers,” he added.

“We’re subsequently happy that the app is being piloted, and it’s important that that is finished fastidiously, with seamless help for college students and colleges ought to any points come up, and swift motion to be taught classes from these. After we are coping with one thing as essential as examination outcomes, it’s essential that the federal government will get this positively proper.”

The anticipated £30m financial savings will help the federal government’s plan to make use of know-how to make £45bn in productiveness financial savings yearly, led by know-how secretary Peter Kyle.