Case Studies
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A holistic perspective improves strategy and standards across STEP Academy Trust
STEP Academy Trust, London and South-East
BlueSky helps leaders to identify talent and expertise that can be leveraged to improve standards across the 18-school Trust.
"It really helps us to understand our people but, more importantly, empower them to develop their own career pathway as well."
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Supporting the focus on literacy and middle leadership
The Bemrose School, Derby
BlueSky helps the all-through school guard against a 'tick-box' culture for performance management and puts staff in control of their development.
"BlueSky allows me and the leadership team to reflect on things that are important for us, providing a rich source of evidence that we can triangulate with pupil outcomes and the impact of training on wider school outcomes."
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Supporting students and their mentors in high-quality teacher training
Northern Lights SCITT, Yorkshire
Rapid feedback on performance, access to CPD materials and quality assurance across trainee cohorts all made easier with BlueSky
"We are not grading them, but they assess their progress and development against the standards, We then use that information to run reports across the cohort to see which areas need to be worked on during the year."
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Online system combines efficiency with power to drive improvement
William de Ferrers Secondary School, Essex
Access to key data at a glance provides leaders with a deeper understanding of performance, helps inform self-evaluation and highlights staff expertise
"BlueSky means we can set out the key points from our development plan, and then staff can link it to what they are doing in terms of training, research, reading or other evidence throughout the year, and leaders can ensure development is aligned to the school's needs."
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A school with 16th century history and 21st century management.
Sherborne School, Dorset
Sherborne School's new paperless process links the development of staff with its professional standards and school improvement.
"It is reassuring to know that we have a system to help us operate our CPL more effectively and productively. We are now a more effective organisation."
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Transforming the performance development system at leading Qatar school
Doha College, Qatar
"Set up was simple, involving just a few emails about log ins and activation. BlueSky's website, including FAQs and explanatory videos, has been really useful too".
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A 2-19 academy has transformed its approach to performance management
Beaumont Hill Academy
BlueSky is helping Beaumont Hill to put a deep understanding of staff evaluation at the heart of its improvement strategy.
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BlueSky helps a leading technology college streamline its performance management
Basingstoke College of Technology
Basingstoke College of Technology uses BlueSky to monitor the progress of more than 400 members of staff.
"After only a few weeks of being in post I could see the benefits of having a centralised system to monitor staff performance and development"
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Connecting individual staff performance and school-wide improvement
Hempstead Schools Federation
Hempstead Schools Federation uses BlueSky to link and bring clarity to all elements of staff performance and monitoring.
"Since implementing the solution, changes to the appraisal system and the need to tie processes together have led to us discovering so much more in BlueSky".
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Updating our model for whole school teaching and learning
Barnby Road Academy
"Staff have really bought into BlueSky and are now using it to log their own development.
"Before deciding on BlueSky as our new model, we conducted a survey of staff attitudes and it was clear everyone was ready for change. Ensuring that staff would use the new system was essential and thanks to the strength of the support we received from BlueSky, including training and unlimited use of the BlueSky helpline, this need has definitely been met".
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Evaluate the effectiveness of professional development and learning provision
Lampton School
Here is a school rated 'outstanding in challenging circumstances' by Ofsted. Its 1,600 students come from a range of ethnic backgrounds, with the majority speaking English as a second language, and falling below national averages in terms of socio economics and ability.
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BlueSky is helping Olchfa School to reinvigorate its approach to professional learning
Olchfa School, Swansea
BlueSky provides leaders at the school with an evidence-based analysis of performance and a deep understanding of the impact of CPD
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Reduce workload by having everything in one place
Dulwich College Beijing, China
"The teachers are comfortable with using BlueSky, and the processes we use it for. That makes a huge difference.They know their own objectives, they can request CPD and they know the school development plan. BlueSky links everything together, that's a huge impact for everyone. The transparency of the system means that everyone feels good about their development and can see what they are working towards which has a very positive impact. If a teacher is moving to another school they like that they can take their BlueSky account with them," says Mahesh
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Staff centred appraisal, development, and professional learning
Ulink College Shanghai, China
"If you want to make teacher development, professional learning and appraisal teacher centred, and give the teachers the onus to be at the forefront of their own development then you need a platform that you can set up and hand over to the teachers. BlueSky is perfect for this because it brings it together so well," says Emmanuel.
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Linking professional development to individual and school objectives
UWC Changshu China
"All of these aspects contribute to, and have a certain impact on, pupil outcomes. It really does help to maintain standards, which is helpful for any institution," says Christoph Genz, Deputy Dean of Faculty
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Improved efficiencies provide a documented personal professional journey for staff
Taipei European School, Taiwan
Observation feedback is used qualitatively - through analysis and presentations to middle leaders, they have used BlueSky to determine CPD priorities. Having it all in one place and so easily accessible has really had a huge impact.
"We have been able to do this year what we've never done before which is to talk meaningfully about observation feedback and set priorities for the future," says Christopher Bellamy, Deputy Head, British Secondary and High School at Taipei European School.
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Evidencing the trajectory of one of Dubai’s most successful schools
The Emirates International School - Meadows, Dubai
"We can provide feedback very quickly after lesson observations," Andrew commented. "Whereas in the past I would have been entering data into spreadsheets and then making comparisons, the system does it all and the Head of Department can discuss the evidence with the member of staff almost immediately."
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The systematic approach to performance management enables leaders to track performance and boosts staff engagement
GEMS Wellington - Silicon Oasis, Dubai
BlueSky's flexibility means the academy has been able to tailor the functions to suit its needs and its existing culture and practice
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Performance management systems and practice are aligned across six schools in the multi-academy trust
Gloucestershire Learning Alliance Trust
BlueSky has provided an excellent platform for the trust to analyse and evaluate the impact of its performance management strategy, Claire says. But beyond the technical accessibility, a key element is that it matches their culture and philosophy around performance management.
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Education establishment moves from ‘Special Measures’ to ‘Outstanding’ in one academic year
Oxfordshire Hospital School
BlueSky has helped bring together and share best practice across the whole school. Between September 2016 and July 2017, the school went from being in special measures to outstanding in every category.
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At CIT South, standards are heading north.
The Priory, Garth and Boston Endeavour Academy Special Schools / Community Inclusive Trust South
CIT is also finding BlueSky is ideal for presenting information to bodies such as governors, Ofsted and the local authority.
"BlueSky provides senior leaders with access to quality-assured information, allowing an accurate overview of what areas are working well and conversely highlighting those areas which may need more energy and focus."
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Achieving uniformity and strategic planning in a whole-college setting
HSDC (Alton, South Downs & Havant Campuses)
BlueSky is enabling each member of staff to have ownership of their training and professional development.
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Providing Teach First with a powerful facility for tracking and supporting participant progress
Teach First
Allowing objective discussion, formative dialogue and rapid intervention.
"BlueSky is a key tool that is helping us to make a real difference to the quality of our programme and ensuring our teachers are the best that they can be for their pupils" Helen Gooch, Curriculum Design Project Manager at Teach First
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A large and swiftly improving academy pairs quality of teaching with school-wide improvement
The Chalk Hills Academy
The Chalk Hills Academy uses BlueSky to identify best practice – and rapidly improve quality of teaching and learning
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Powering a global view of professional learning for all staff across five campuses
The British School in the Netherlands
How BlueSky supports one of Europe's largest international schools with their professional learning programme and objectives setting process
"We have a much more filtered and consistent process now, and that's reflective of the level of professionalism across the school. Staff are much more aware of their responsibility to keep their practice under review, evaluating it on an ongoing basis and looking at specific aspects of their practice that they are going to work on during the academic year."
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