Schools are spoilt for choice when it comes to technology. From parental engagement to data analytics, it seems like there’s a tool for every task. How those tools work together can either create a smooth, connected experience for schools, or add more friction to an already busy day. That’s why at VenturEd, we believe in offering “school-centric solutions” to help our customers solve their daily challenges, rather than create new ones.
What does “school-centric” actually mean?
We follow one simple principle: the school comes first. Instead of pushing a one-size-fits-all package, we believe schools should be able to choose the best tools for each job – even if that means mixing and matching providers. That flexibility means schools can pick systems that genuinely meet their needs, not just the ones that happen to sit inside a larger MIS.
This approach stands in contrast to what we’d call “MIS-centric solutions”. These are designed around what the MIS can offer, encouraging schools to use only their in-house tools – even when more effective alternatives exist elsewhere.
To be clear, MIS platforms do a vital job. They’re the backbone of school data. But we don’t believe that means they should also be the go-to for every other digital need a school has – especially when schools are under pressure to deliver better communication, engagement, and experience for parents.
Why schools and MATs need flexibility
Every school is different. They all need to keep students engaged, happy and safe, but the most suitable route to success will vary. Trying to solve every problem with one platform often leads to compromise – and in many cases, frustration for staff and parents alike.
By focusing on what the school actually needs (rather than what a single vendor offers), schools can create their own ecosystem of best-in-class tools. That might mean using Teachers2Parents for messaging, pairing it with SchoolMoney for simple payments, and then plugging into a different system for safeguarding or analytics tools. That’s fine. In fact, that’s exactly what we encourage.
Seamless, school-wide integration
Of course, using different providers doesn’t work unless they can all talk to each other. Our solutions are designed to integrate easily – not just with each other, but with third-party systems too.
With Xporter, our secure data integration tool, we allow schools to connect their MIS to the apps they use every day, whether they’re ours or not. Student data is automatically synced, which removes the limitation of having to work within your MIS to get the latest data. That’s why we refer to this approach as school-centric, rather than MIS-centric. Your school data is within your control, and it’s entirely your choice how you use it.
Solving real problems in schools
Let’s take a closer look at how this school-centric model works in practice:
Parental engagement
Our communications platforms (Teachers2Parents and Groupcall) help schools reach families on their terms – through SMS, email, or app notifications. Groupcall can even automatically translate messages into parents’ home language, breaking down barriers and making communication more inclusive. Contact details are always kept up-to-date via secure sync directly from your MIS, so you can use the right tool for job without worrying about database accuracy.
Digital payments
Whether it’s paying for school meals, trips, or events, our two payment platforms offer options for every school. SchoolMoney is perfect for primary schools who need something quick and simple. WisePay is packed with extra modules for larger or independent schools, like letting them hire out facilities or sell event tickets. Payment method choices are also available to ensure no families are excluded, with options to pay securely by card (online or in-app), using digital wallets, and even cash.
SEND-specialist analytics
For schools offering SEND provision, off-the-shelf solutions can be limiting in terms of handling student data around behaviour, wellbeing and safeguarding. We provide two options: SchoolPod operates as a full MIS with advanced SEND capabilities, while BehaviourWatch offers the same functionality to manage behaviour, but is designed to work alongside whatever MIS you choose. This flexibility means schools can access the benefits of our systems without being tied to a particular MIS, since we understand there can be many other factors affecting this choice.
What about trust-wide consistency for MATs?
This flexible approach also works brilliantly at trust level. Multi-academy trusts often manage schools of all shapes and sizes – from small primaries to large secondaries, and those with specialist SEND provision. With our model, trusts can mix and match the right tools for each school’s unique needs, without losing sight of the bigger picture. One school might use SchoolMoney for its simplicity, while another uses WisePay for its custom modules – but each connects to the respective school’s MIS. That means trust leaders get a clear, consolidated view of performance across all their schools, with no need to compromise on local fit. It’s flexibility for schools, and clarity for the trust – exactly how it should be.
Giving schools freedom of choice
Our school-centric philosophy means we’ll never pressure you to adopt every product we offer. In fact, we often help schools integrate our tools alongside products from other providers. Because what matters most is making life easier for schools – not locking them into a single ecosystem.
The result? Schools stay in control. They get the tools they need, and only the ones they need. And they can focus on what really matters: helping pupils thrive. If that sounds like a better way of doing things, we think you’ll agree – school-centric is the way forward.