Web software to save schools time and money

Several schools are looking to reduce costs and improve the working life of school administrators by using a new web-based information management system.

Four local authorities - in Kirklees (Huddersfield), Poole (Dorset), and Richmond-upon-Thames and Haringey in London - are currently rolling out RM's Integris G2 system, which includes an account management package developed by financial software company Coda.

Along with the finance capabilities, Integris G2 manages information relating to pupil attendance and performance as well as student and teacher timetables.

Around 330 schools hope to be using the system by the end of September this year.

The Ministry of Defence has also signed up to use G2 in its schools - which cater for the children of service workers located abroad, a total of around 12,000 pupils.

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An RM spokesman told silicon.com the new system is designed to lessen the burden of the school administrator.

While competing info management systems have to be installed on computers at the school site - meaning school administrators have to deal with regular and costly maintenance - Integris G2 is web-based so administrators access it online via a browser. The data is stored on a central server run by RM.

RM predicts that by using the Integris G2 system, primary schools could save around £1,500 per year. Given that an average primary school in the UK has an annual ICT budget of around £10,700, this would be significant.

G2 could also help local authorities comply with the government's 'Every Child Matters' scheme to promote the sharing of information around various children's services, such as health and social work.