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The Banda School, a member of the Association of British Schools Overseas (AOBSO) and IAPS (Independent Association of Prep Schools), is a British curriculum prep school with approximately 500 students located on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya. Established in 1966, the school has a rich history of providing quality education to its students and quickly became regarded as one of the best international schools in Kenya and one of the largest IAPS schools in the world outside the United Kingdom.
The Challenge
Addressing Operational Challenges Through Unified System Implementation
Before transitioning to Engage, The Banda School encountered several challenges with their previous school management system. The primary issues included inadequate support during critical times and the complexity of managing multiple systems for various school functions. These challenges affected the school’s workflow and communication with parents, particularly in areas such as fee billing, parent meetings and activities coordination. The school sought a system that could unify their school tech stack into one ecosystem to simplify school management and reduce the operating costs associated with multiple systems.
Before Engage, we struggled with operational inefficiencies and inadequate support. Managing multiple systems hindered communication and workflow, impacting parent engagement and school operations”
Richard Musau, IT Manager, The Banda School, Kenya
The solution
Streamlining Operations and Unifying Systems for Efficiency through Engage MIS (Management Information System)
Recognising the need for a more comprehensive and reliable system, Richard Musau, the school’s IT Manager, spearheaded the transition to Engage. Richard, who had been with Banda School since 2006, led the efforts to implement Engage as the school’s unified solution.
Engage offered a seamless integration of various school functions, including Engage Accounts, fees & billing, activities management, parent meetings management and much more. The decision to switch to Engage was made after thorough evaluation, including a demonstration by the Engage team. Despite initial delays due to the pandemic, The Banda School successfully migrated to Engage in September 2023.
The migration process to Engage was a managed and staged operation. Richard Musau and his team worked closely with the onboarding team from Education Horizons, the parent company of Engage, to ensure a smooth transition. Richard underwent training in the UK, empowering him to lead the implementation and train his team effectively.
The rollout to staff, including teachers and administrative personnel, was done gradually over the first term to minimise disruption. The focus was on familiarising staff with Engage’s interface and gradually introducing features such as registration, disciplinary records, rewards and conduct. By December, the majority of Engage’s functionalities were fully operational.
Engage provided us with the comprehensive solution we needed to bring all our systems under one roof, streamlining our processes and empowering our staff. With its seamless integration of various school functions, Engage not only simplified our tech stack but also gave us the tools to optimise our workflows and enhance communication across the school community”
Richard Musau, IT Manager, The Banda School, Kenya
The Results
Streamlining Operations, Improved Workflows and Strengthening Parent Engagement with Engage
The implementation of Engage at The Banda School brought significant improvements across various aspects of their school management:
- Consolidated Systems: By adopting Engage, The Banda School consolidated multiple systems into one, reducing costs and simplifying management for the school leaders
- Reduced Workload: The IT department experienced a significant reduction in workload, thanks to Engage’s unified system, eliminating the need for synchronising multiple systems and freeing staff to work on more critical projects
- Improved Workflow: Teachers reported that tasks such as report writing, registration and activities management became more streamlined and efficient, leading to increased productivity
- Enhanced Parent Engagement: Despite initial concerns about change, parents have thoroughly embraced the Engage parent portal for activities bookings, parent meetings and accessing student reports, with the school achieving a 100% parent login rate
- Efficient Fee Billing: The Engage Accounts module streamlined fee billing processes, enabling the Accounts department to be ready with fee notes well ahead of schedule
Engage has improved how we manage our school. It’s made tasks more efficient and streamlined, allowing us to focus more on teaching. Our staff loves how user-friendly it is, and it’s been a game-changer for us. Parent engagement has significantly improved since we implemented Engage. The parent portal has made communication easier and more effective, and our relationship with parents has never been better. It’s been amazing to see”
Lucy Haywood, Deputy Principal, The Banda School, Kenya
Engage’s activities management is like magic. It streamlines everything, making coordination effortless. Our staff, parents and students love it and it has transformed how we organise school events”
Richard Musau, IT Manager, The Banda School
Future Plans
Looking ahead, The Banda School aims to further leverage Engage’s capabilities to enhance its operations. Plans include:
- Implementing Additional Features: The Banda School plans to roll out features such as timetabling, room booking and the pupil portal to improve communication between teachers and students
- Digitising Admissions: The school is exploring ways to digitise its admissions process, making it more efficient and reducing paperwork
- Ongoing Support and Training: The Banda School will continue to work closely with Engage’s support team and its Customer Success Manager (CSM) to ensure ongoing support, training and system optimisation
The Banda School’s successful transition to Engage has demonstrated the positive impact of adopting a unified school management system. Through effective collaboration between the school’s IT department, school administrators and Engage’s support team, the school overcame its challenges and achieved significant improvements in workflow efficiency, parent engagement and overall operational effectiveness. As a result, The Banda School is well-positioned to embrace future advancements in education technology and provide an enhanced learning experience for its students.
Looking ahead, we aim to leverage Engage further by implementing additional features. From timetabling to digitising admissions, we’re committed to maximising the systems potential for a better educational experience”
Richard Musau, IT Manager, The Banda School, Kenya
Customer Support Experience
As with all schools, The Banda School’s Engage experience extended beyond implementation, with Education Horizons customer support playing a crucial role in their success. They found the support team to be highly responsive, offering prompt assistance whenever issues arose. This ensured minimal disruption to school operations and instilled confidence in the platform.
The school praised the support team for their expertise and dedication. They took the time to understand The Banda School’s unique needs and challenges, providing tailored solutions and guidance to maximise the platform’s effectiveness. Comprehensive training sessions and resources empowered staff members to become proficient in using the platform’s features, driving efficiency and productivity.
The Banda School found Education Horizons customer support to be instrumental in their journey towards digital transformation. The support offered ensured smooth implementation, ongoing assistance from the school’s dedicated Customer Success Manager (CSM) and continuous improvement, fostering a strong partnership built on trust and mutual success.
The support from Education Horizons has been outstanding. Their responsive and knowledgeable team ensured a smooth transition to Engage and ongoing support has been excellent. It’s been instrumental in our journey towards digital transformation”
Richard Musau, IT Manager, The Banda School, Kenya
Why Choose Engage?
Engage instantly makes working together easier, more efficient and more effective.
- One comprehensive system at the heart of your school to manage all your school data
- Excellent user experience with intuitive design and navigation
- Responsive for smartphones and tablets
- Safe, secure and accessible in the cloud
- One system that creates connected teams and streamlined communications
- Easily creates, access, share and update essential school information
- Highly flexible and customisable
