Every school has a story – shaped by its community, its purpose, and its hopes for the future. When Queensgate Foundation Primary School on the Isle of Wight set out to find a modern MIS that could keep pace with their evolving needs, they weren’t just looking for software – they wanted a system that could grow with them and simplify daily school life.
A two-form entry school serving a diverse community with a high proportion of SEND pupils, Queensgate prides itself on being more than just a place of learning. It’s a vibrant, supportive environment where children are encouraged to grow, explore, and achieve their very best.
Here, Business Manager Angie Selle shares how Compass transformed school life at Queensgate.
Queensgate Foundation School: Our Compass Story
The Challenge We Faced
Before Compass, our MIS was outdated, clunky, and limited in what it could do. We had to buy several additional systems just to meet everyday needs – from communication and payments to trips and staff records — because nothing worked together. There was no flexibility to tailor the system to our school, and no option for electronic records, which meant endless printing and filing of pupil and staff information. It was time-consuming, inefficient, and costly.
Daily tasks often took far longer than they should have. Admin staff were duplicating work across multiple systems, and teachers struggled to stay “in the know” about pupils because access to information was so restricted. The lack of integration made communication harder and slowed the whole school down.
After 28 years working in the school, I’ve seen a lot of change, but it was clear that our MIS simply wasn’t moving with the times. Education evolves constantly, and we needed a modern, intuitive system that could grow with us — one that supported the realities of daily school life rather than holding us back.
Finding the Right Solution
Our Island SBM group came together to explore alternatives to our previous provider, inviting several companies to present their MIS solutions. Each school made its own decision, but for us, Compass stood out straightaway. It offered everything in one place — no more juggling multiple systems for different tasks — and the simplicity of one product and one cost was a real financial benefit.
The original Compass presentation was professional, comprehensive, and delivered by a team who clearly understood what schools need in order to operate effectively. The fact that the system could be built bespoke to our school, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, was a major incentive. We wanted a system that truly fitted how we work, and Compass gave us confidence it could do exactly that.
The onboarding process wasn’t without its challenges, particularly when transferring data from our old system, which revealed some inconsistencies. But the Compass onboarding team worked hard to correct everything and ensure the information was accurate. The ‘sandpit’ period was incredibly helpful — we could learn the new system while still referring back to the old one until we felt comfortable. Gradually, things began to fall into place, and it all started to make sense.
The Difference It’s Making
As with any big change, there was some initial reluctance from staff, but once we began using Compass day to day, the benefits quickly became clear. Having everything in one place has transformed how we work. Attendance, trips, payments, risk assessments, staff contracts, absence, CPD, and our whole-school calendar are now all recorded and managed within a single system. Tasks that once took far too long are now quick and straightforward, making daily operations much more transparent and efficient.
“Compass has reduced duplication across our admin processes by more than half.”
One of the biggest improvements has been the way we manage new pupil enrolments. Parents can now complete all the necessary forms online before their child even starts school. Previously, we relied on printing, posting, and chasing paperwork well into the autumn term – but Compass has completely streamlined that process. It’s quicker, easier, and far more cost-effective.
“Moving enrolments online has removed the need for hundreds of printed pages each year, cutting both cost and admin time.”
For me personally, Compass has been a huge time-saver. Whether it’s suspension paperwork, tracking staff absence, managing contracts, or recording CPD, everything is instantly accessible. It frees up valuable time to focus on other priorities across the school.
“These efficiencies collectively free up several hours each week to focus on higher-value priorities.”
Teachers and support staff now have far better access to the information they need, which helps everyone stay in the loop and aligns with the strong sense of community we pride ourselves on. While some features are still evolving, we’ve embraced so much already and can clearly see the positive impact Compass is having across the whole school.
Looking Ahead
As I approach retirement, I genuinely wish I’d had longer to use Compass. It has already made such a difference to how we work, and there’s still so much more potential to unlock. Looking ahead, I’d love to see even further development in areas like premises management and automated reminders for checks — having those features within Compass would make another important part of school life far easier to manage.
My advice to other schools is simple: look closely at what your current MIS is doing for you. Is it evolving with the demands of school life? If not, talk to Compass. Tell them what you need — they listen, they adapt, and they do everything they can to support you. If Compass can do more than your current system, then the choice is clear. Don’t settle for second best.
Ready to streamline your school day? Let’s move forward together.
