Today, in an age where data is king, it’s so important to understand just how much of a difference clear reporting and clever analysis can make when it comes to school admissions.
This positively impacts your school budget and your student’s happiness.
By really getting to grips with the power of data, schools can make decisions that are backed up by facts. And, these aren’t just decisions that make the admissions process easier – they’re decisions that form the foundation of a successful school.
Through this blog, I aim to give school you – school leaders – a chance to mull over the power of data-driven decision-making in the field of school admissions.
I’m a big believer in the fact that the right tools and tactics can bring massive benefits to schools and, most importantly, to benefit students.
Primary To Secondary Transition
Over the years, I’ve loved working in the world of education. I spent 13 years working in a state secondary and in that time I’ve seen how powerful data can be when it comes to shaping decisions and strategies.
Having a slick data collection from your schools really ramps up your school’s ability to roll out the welcome mat for new students. When you’ve got automated platforms doing the hard graft, you can focus on the more nuanced parts of the transition. Actually getting to know the students and parents and building those relationships.
The aim? To craft a balanced and supportive place for learning.
And here’s a really important point – getting these adjustments right from the start can seriously cut down on worried parent phone calls and early stage behaviour concerns among the students. It’s all about making that transition as smooth as possible, right from day one.
Having access to early, accurate data – the kind that tools like Admissions+ offer – can make a world of difference in how a school gets ready for this important transition. It gives you a sneak peek into what the new batch of students might need and how best to support them.
Maybe they require support with English as an Additional Language (EAL), Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), or students with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) needing a personalised transition. Understanding this picture is paramount to your success and their success.
This sort of detailed info allows you to think strategically about staffing. Perhaps you need more teaching assistants on board to make sure your students start their educational journey on the right foot? Or maybe your Head of Maths needs to consider making some staffing adjustments to offer an additional Maths set in Year 7. Information is power, and getting this information at the earliest possible stage allows for you as a school, to be best prepared for your incoming students.
Sixth-Form Admissions
Now, let’s shift our attention towards sixth-form admissions. Getting those early insights from potential sixth-formers about their favourite courses can give you some seriously useful info.
This on-the-ball approach lets you gauge the demand for certain courses and make choices about what you should and can offer – and all this is backed up by data.
Meaning you can make decisions on whether or not particular courses should run. So, if a course has low numbers, you can get ahead of the situation and redirect those students to other subjects and not waste valuable time (and money) recruiting new staff if this isn’t necessary!
And we all know that staffing is often where the biggest chunk of the school budget goes. So, making sure that courses are viable and that there are enough students for each subject is crucial to avoid spending unnecessary money and make sure resources are used in the best way possible.
But the thing is, this is something that often gets overlooked.
Let’s get going on changing that, get in touch with us and we can show you how we can help.
Key Actions to Take from This Blog: A Checklist for School Leaders
Here are 7 key actions to take from this blog:
- Review and enhance data collection processes, especially between primary and secondary transition phases to ensure you’re welcoming new pupils with the right support.
- Assess and adopt data management tools, such as Admissions+, to help make a positive impact on the admissions process and collect valuable insights on incoming students.
- Strategically plan staffing needs based on the incoming data, ensuring that additional support in areas like EAL, SEND, or EHCP is available for those who need it.
- Continuously analyse sixth-form course demand, leveraging early insights to tailor your curriculum offerings and staff allocation with data led decisions,
- Adopt a proactive approach to course viability, ensuring that each course has sufficient numbers to justify the expense and resource allocation.
- Make data-driven decisions a regular part of your school strategy, rather than an occasional consideration.
Remember that these steps are about creating the most positive and impactful journey for your students. By staying ahead with data and planning accordingly, you can not only make the admissions process smoother but also pave the way for an educational experience that supports both their academic and personal growth.