Serco Learning, Derby's Hot House Of Innovation, Leads The Nation
Derby-based supplier, Serco Learning, invests £20m in next generation Management Information System (MIS) designed to help drive up standards in schools nationwide.
- (1888PressRelease) November 04, 2011 - Bucking the current trend to cut back on spending, Derby-based supplier of school Management Information Systems (MIS), Serco Learning, is investing over £20million in the development of its next generation system, Progresso, which is launching this November. An essential business tool for day-to-day school management and accountability, this new internet 'cloud-based' MIS will provide Heads and schools nationwide with real-time data and reports on assessment, attendance and behaviour, available anytime, anywhere, to support school improvement and enable transformation for the delivery of modern 21st century education.
Led by its innovative development team, who collectively share over 100 years experience in education, Serco Learning, which employs over 100 staff in Derby, worked in close partnership with 25 pioneer schools who provided them with all important feedback and observations. Saint Benedict Catholic School and Performing Arts College in Darley Abbey, Derbyshire, is just one of the pioneer schools that will trial the software and lead the nation in its adoption of this next generation cloud-based software.
Dr Christopher Reynolds, Headteacher at the school, comments: "Real-time access to pupil data enables us to identify issues and implement solutions instantly and so drive up standards. Importantly for me, the system is also extremely intuitive so even those staff who say they are 'not technical' can get to grips with it quickly and efficiently. By implementing Progresso we will be equipped to deliver improved educational outcomes, as well as provide parents with more detailed information on their child's progress and an enhanced level of dialogue.
"Being cloud-based and accessible by the internet, Progresso also saves us money - all the back-ups and upgrades happen automatically overnight and we are able to avoid major financial outlay on expensive servers. It's a win-win situation."
A multitude of new and enhanced features much welcomed by the teaching community distinguish Progresso from traditional school hosted MIS systems. Its intuitive, easy-to-use web interface incorporates 'push' technology, in the same way as popular websites such as Facebook and Twitter, to deliver a live dashboard of personalised information to all users as soon as they log in.
Centralising school communications, Serco Learning Progresso combines SMS (text) and email messaging under one roof, so teachers and Senior Management Teams can communicate with selected groups of students, teachers and parents, without exiting the system. Anytime anywhere access to data simplifies life further and allows staff with web-enabled PCs and smartphones to action priorities quickly where ever they are located and to perform essential duties remotely at a time and place that suits them without the need to spend long hours at the school.
Another major benefit is the reduced cost of ownership - the school no longer needs to purchase, manage, maintain and replace dedicated school servers and associated technology infrastructure. Freedom from the time-consuming overheads of local system administration including local back-ups and upgrades allow ICT staff to focus their efforts on other school priorities that impact directly on teaching and learning.
Mohamad Djahanbakhsh, Managing Director of Serco Learning, comments: "Advances in technology in the last 25-30 years have been phenomenal, which is why our significant investment in the future of education with the launch of Progresso is crucial at this time, to help schools move into the 21st century and meet the rising demands of teachers and parents. We have completely re-written the software from scratch, in collaboration with the most forward-thinking schools in the country, to incorporate the features they require and ensure that it is fit for purpose for the next 20 years."
Serco Learning Progresso is right on track for its November launch and has sparked significant interest, as schools clamber to sign up for the national launch event programme (http://www.sercolearning.com/progresso-launch-events) including one which will take place on Thursday 24th November at The Derby Conference Centre, London Road, Derby, DE24 8UX. These events will give school Headteachers, senior management teams and IT co-ordinators the opportunity to watch a demonstration of Progresso, see how it will improve educational outcomes, and speak to some of the pioneer schools about how it will change the way teachers do their job, help schools communicate with each other, parents and pupils. School and Local Authority staff interested in attending should email enquiries ( @ ) sercolearning dot com or call 08456 888 500 dot
For further information about Serco Learning Progresso, please contact Serco Learning on Tel: +44(0)1 332 660 555, e-mail: enquiries ( @ ) sercolearning dot com or visit the website: www.sercolearning.com/progresso. Follow ( @ ) Serco_Learning on Twitter.
###
space
space
Satisfied Users & 
Approved Press Releases
Print
Email
Report Spam