Access GCSEPod
Cost-effective resource management MATs: How an education learning platform can help
Budgets. It’s a word you’re probably tired of hearing, yet in the world of multi-academy trusts (MATs), it’s one you just can’t escape.
When choosing an education learning platform, it’s not just about serving one school—it’s about creating efficiencies across your entire trust. The software you select needs to be: (a) easy to roll out, (b) cost-effective, and (c) capable of providing the right data to justify your return on investment.
Before you begin your buying journey, let’s explore whether Access GCSEPod can help you achieve cost-effective resource management across your trust.
Firstly, why consider an education learning platform like Access GCSEPod?
These platforms serve as powerful curriculum content and assessment tools designed to improve student outcomes.
Access GCSEPod, in particular, stands out by offering tailored content aimed at boosting results across entire schools.
While many education learning platforms are available on the market (you can explore them here), we will focus on Access GCSEPod, as it's a product we know inside and out.
However, just like when choosing a car or vetting home extension builders, it’s always worth exploring a range of solutions."
If you’re new to Access GCSEPod, Hello! It’s great to have you here!
Watch this quick video for a high-level overview of our platform.
Is attainment an area for improvement across your trust?
If you’re looking for an education learning platform to boost GCSE results across your trust, Access GCSEPod should definitely be on your radar. Our research shows that users, on average, achieve one grade higher than non-users.
If attainment isn’t a priority for your trust right now, this might not be the best time to invest in a curriculum and assessment platform, and maybe you should consider other ways to achieve effective resource management. We’ll cover those options within this article, too.
Let’s look at some real-life examples of how Access GCSEPod has led to trust-wide improvements in GCSE results…
Bourne Academy, part of the South Lincolnshire Academies Trust, has seen significant improvements in GCSE exam results using Access GCSEPod. James Hind, Deputy CEO of South Lincolnshire Academies Trust, noted, "We saw an increase in exam results... it was a bit of a no-brainer really. This works; it makes a difference."
Since then, the trust has rolled out GCSEPod across all their schools, consistently seeing similar improvements. This success highlights GCSEPod’s ability to raise academic achievement through focused revision strategies.
Check out the short video below to learn more!
What is the cost of Access GCSEPod?
When managing resources for your trust, understanding the cost of your potential investment is essential. Access GCSEPod Pricing is divided into two packages based on your needs:
Whole School Learning Bundle
Designed for all Key Stage 3 and 4 pupils, this package includes:
- Over 30 GCSE subjects
- All KS3 subjects
- Lesson plans, homework, assignments, and assessments
- Data tools and ongoing customer support
Cost: £7.95 per pupil, per year.
GCSE Success Suite
This package includes everything from the Whole School Learning Bundle but is tailored for Key Stage 4 pupils with additional resources to support GCSE preparation.
Cost: £11.95 per pupil, per year (for KS4 students).
For trusts purchasing for multiple academies, discounts are available.
Cost considerations for an education learning platform
Investing in an education learning platform might initially seem counterintuitive, especially when you're aiming to manage resources cost-effectively. That's why the first step is to assess whether your budget can support an investment like Access GCSEPod.
Rolling out the platform across an entire trust can feel overwhelming. A more manageable and cost-effective approach might be to trial it within a single academy to evaluate its impact before expanding trust-wide. This strategy was successfully adopted by Bourne Academy before implementation across the South Lincolnshire Academies Trust. Here’s a link to the full story.
It's essential to weigh both cost and value carefully, especially in the context of resource management. Consider not just the upfront investment, but the long-term benefits in terms of improved student outcomes, time saved for staff, and enhanced efficiency across the trust.
Achieving cost-effective resource management in all areas of your trust
Managing resources efficiently goes beyond just classroom tools. To truly make the most of your budget, you need to think about every aspect of your trust, from finances and HR to payroll and even how you engage with parents.
By using an education learning platform alongside a streamlined approach to these areas, you can cut unnecessary costs and improve operational efficiency. For instance, good financial planning can help you spot where you might save money, while a centralised HR and payroll system can reduce admin headaches and boost staff morale. On top of that, using digital tools to keep parents involved can strengthen your school community, which ultimately supports better student outcomes.
Taking a well-rounded approach to resource management means every part of your trust is working together to be more efficient, leaving you free to focus on what really matters—helping your students succeed.
Further reading: Visit our multi-academy trusts page to discover what options are available for you
The common mistake trusts make with software
In today’s tech-driven world, schools and trusts have no shortage of software options. However, through conversations with our customers, we’ve learned that the challenge isn’t finding software—it’s managing multiple tools that don’t communicate with each other. We call this “software overwhelm,” and it not only complicates your team’s workflow but also leads to inefficient and costly resource management.
The key to overcoming this is to simplify your tech stack by ensuring your tools are integrated and work seamlessly together. When selecting new software, it’s essential to choose options that integrate with your existing systems to streamline operations and reduce complexity.
At Access Education, our suite of tools is accessible through Access Workspace, a single login portal that brings together HR, Payroll, and Financial Management systems. Changes made in one system automatically sync across the others, providing a more efficient way to manage resources, particularly at a central level.
Additional reading: Visit our operational efficiency hub, where you’ll find free guides, articles and videos to boost operational efficiency in your trust.
Closing thoughts
Achieving cost-effective resource management across your trust requires a strategic, holistic approach. If your goal is to improve school or trust-wide results, education learning platforms like Access GCSEPod are worth considering.
It's equally important to explore how you can enhance operational efficiency in key areas like HR, payroll, and finances—because, let’s face it, resource management goes far beyond the classroom. Trusts are run much like businesses, and effective resource management means looking at the bigger picture to ensure the entire organisation is working smoothly.