Partner Article

Bath College selects Compass for central data hub

Newly merged College starts first academic year with integrated solutions

Bath College kicked off the new academic year by implementing a range of software from Compass Computer Consultants (Compass), following the merger of City of Bath College and Norton Radstock College.

The software includes a new management information system (MIS), which will bring multiple databases from the two Colleges into one central hub, while facilitating greater reporting on College performance and student achievement.

Bath College now has almost 6,000 students at further education, higher education and apprenticeship level across two sites in Somer Valley and Bath. The College went live with ProSolution, the MIS, in September 2015, followed by KPI dashboard solution, ProMetrix in November 2015. Student monitoring and tracking solution, ProMonitor was also integrated with the MIS at the same time.

ProSolution was implemented to bring together four student information databases into one central place. It was selected from a shortlist of four software providers and is used by teaching and administrative staff for timetabling, updating registers and recording enrolments.

David Grant, Director of Information Services & Systems, Bath College, says, “A key element of facilitating the successful merger was the creation of a single database that would enable accurate and meaningful reports about students, funding, courses and viability.

“We needed a solution that would support all departments across the College to contribute to this central database, and that could be implemented in a tight timescale from merger to the new academic year. ProSolution was the most responsive to our needs, the best value for money and there was a can-do approach to meeting the deadline.

“It was a big challenge but we had confidence in Compass and we started the new year with a new MIS that smoothly completed 2,000 enrolments in two weeks.”

ProMonitor integrates with ProSolution to streamline student tracking and reporting. For example, register information and personal details automatically update attendance data and Individual Learning Plans (ILPs) within the monitoring system.

ProMonitor was implemented at Norton Radstock College in September 2014 to standardise student tracking and ILPs in anticipation of an Ofsted inspection. Following the merger it was decided that the newly formed college would continue with the solution as it was considered to be better than the monitoring system in place at City of Bath College.

The dashboard reporting solution ProMetrix uses information from the single database to easily monitor KPIs in areas such as funding, attendance and class sizes. Data is displayed in easy graphics to give department heads and managers an overarching view of college performance, with the ability to drill down to source information, while teachers can access information specific to their courses and students.

Grant adds, “This single, central database is absolutely key to the effective management of the College and provides robust and reliable metrics about every aspect of performance.

“The product suite provides a strong college-wide system that is responsive to changes in the education sector. Together they provide rich evidence of student progression both academic and pastoral, which is essential for meeting Ofsted and government requirements.”

The College also benefits from other solutions within the Compass portfolio including ProAchieve and ProPortal.

Compass is an Advanced Computer Software Group company. In August 2015, the business was shortlisted in the EducationInvestor Awards 2015 for the Technological Infrastructure category. Winners will be announced in November.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Advanced .