Streamlining Digital Management for Multi-Academy Trusts: A Real-Life Success Story

In today's digital age, managing multiple school websites can be a daunting task for any Multi-Academy Trust (MAT). The complexity increases when these schools operate under different Google domains and website solutions, leading to inconsistencies and inefficiencies. Each school may have its own set of protocols and preferences, making the task even more challenging.

So, how can Trusts efficiently manage their digital presence and streamline operations while ensuring each school maintains its unique identity?

In this post, I'm going to delve into a real-life example of how we helped a MAT navigate these challenges. By providing a unified platform that integrates seamlessly with various Google domains and website solutions, realsmart enabled the Trust to maintain consistency, improve communication, and enhance overall operational efficiency across all its schools.

his solution not only simplified the digital management process but also allowed the schools to focus more on their core mission: educating students.

Table of Contents

• The Challenge: Unifying Two Trusts
• The Solution: A Comprehensive Approach
• The Outcome: Efficiency and Cohesion
• Embracing Digital Solutions: A Path Forward

The Challenge: Unifying Two Trusts

In the summer of 2023, The Three Rivers Learning Trust merged with The Tyne Learning Trust to form The Cheviot Learning Trust. This significant merger aimed to unify resources and enhance educational quality across the merged institutions. However, it also presented substantial digital management challenges that needed to be addressed efficiently:

• Separate Google Domains: The schools within The Tyne MAT each operated on distinct Google domains, complicating the process of creating a cohesive digital environment.
• Different Website Solutions: Each school had its own website platform, making it difficult to achieve uniformity and a seamless user experience across the newly formed trust.

Three Rivers, already a realsmart customer, leveraged realsmart's robust synchronisation service, which links their Management Information System (MIS) to Google. This service had already proven effective in streamlining user management, groups, Google Classroom, and calendars, all while offering single sign-on capabilities. The task at hand was to bring The Tyne MAT schools in line with this system, ensuring a smooth transition and integration.

The integration process involved meticulous planning and coordination. IT teams worked tirelessly to migrate data, consolidate platforms, and train staff on the new unified system. The goal was to ensure that all schools within The Cheviot Learning Trust could benefit from enhanced digital tools and a more integrated approach to digital management, ultimately leading to a more cohesive and efficient educational environment.

The Solution: A Comprehensive Approach

realsmart was entrusted with developing a unified theme for all new MAT schools, consistent with the existing Three Rivers design. Here’s how they tackled the challenge:

1. Google Workspace Migration

realsmart undertook a massive Google Workspace migration, consolidating terabytes of data under a single Google Workspace domain. This move significantly eased:

• Security Management: Enhanced security protocols were easier to implement across one domain.
• Data Sharing: Facilitated seamless data sharing among all schools.
• User Management: Simplified the administration of users across the Trust.
• Collaboration: Promoted efficient collaboration between staff and pupils.

2. Custom Website Design

Utilising their design service, realsmart quickly rolled out new school websites under a common Trust theme. However, they ensured that each school retained its unique identity and brand. This balance of uniformity and individuality was crucial for the Trust’s success.

3. Special Features for MATs

realsmart implemented features specifically designed for MATs, such as:

• Trust-Wide Content Rollout: Enabled the dissemination of content across all schools effortlessly.
• Staff Dashboards: Provided a centralised platform for staff to access essential tools and information.
• Enhanced Collaboration: Fostered a collaborative environment within the single Google domain.

The Outcome: Efficiency and Cohesion

The new Cheviot Learning Trust, now educating over 5500 pupils across 18 schools and employing over 750 staff, witnessed immense benefits from these changes. The efficiencies gained from realsmart’s services were invaluable, streamlining administrative processes and enhancing overall productivity.

More importantly, the transition was completed during the final weeks of the term, ensuring no disruption to teaching and learning. This allowed educators to maintain their focus on delivering high-quality education, and students continued to thrive in a stable and supportive environment. The smooth implementation was a testament to the careful planning and collaboration between the Trust and realsmart.

Embracing Digital Solutions: A Path Forward

This real-life story showcases how effective digital management solutions can transform the operations of a Multi-Academy Trust. By adopting realsmart's comprehensive approach, The Cheviot Learning Trust not only overcame their initial challenges but also set a robust foundation for future growth and collaboration.

Are you facing similar challenges in managing your Trust’s digital presence? Consider embracing a solution like realsmart to streamline your operations and enhance your digital management efficiency.

For more information on realsmart’s services, feel free to connect with us.