7 hot resources for kicking off your new term

As schools begin what’s sure to be a challenging and strange year, we’re thrilled to have so many educator reviews to show what resources will be of use in these turbulent times. Below are 7 resources, listed in alphabetical order, that have been raved about by educators. If you use any of these, be sure to leave a review yourself!

epraise – Motivate students, engage parents, save teachers time

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.9/5 from 9 reviews

Over the past 9 years, epraise has continued to aid in the transformation of schools through leaderboards, digital badges, certificates, clubs & activities, the shop, draws, charitable donations, marksheets, homework tools, parents’ evenings, messenger, interventions and seating plans.

“Epraise has enabled us to share and communicate learning Activities during a world wide pandemic without causing stress or worry for our students and our staff,” enthuses The Banovallum School deputy headteacher Simon Curtis. “Students ask questions and seek clarification on what they’ve completed so far, we can provide bespoke and developmental feedback to support their learning and their development. Staff members have feedback to me to share how easy it has been to set weekly lesson activities.

“During a school year, epraise allows us to monitor student achievements and celebrate those constantly with parents. It links seamlessly to SIMs, the developers and epraise team have been phenomenal to work with, when we are stuck, when we make suggestions they listen and they look at solutions. Fantastic product and service!”

Milk – Homework monitoring, 2-way messaging, assessment reporting

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.4/5 from 12 reviews

Milk Student Planner System enables everyone to manage schoolwork, track achievement and stay connected! Functions include analytics, communication, homework/classwork, appointments, assessment/achievement data. Onboard your school in 24 hours.

Having been using Milk Student Planner for over a year, Stephen Brown – deputy head at Bourne Grammar School – explains simply:

“I like the product a great deal and would be reluctant to go back to a paper-based system. I praised the simplistic UI and that Milk essentially solves two problems (messaging and homework) very well indeed. The lack of a need to provide extensive training to use the product was also an area I was positive about.”

MyNewTerm – Manage all recruitment online via a bespoke system

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.65/5 from 3 reviews

A technology innovation developed by teachers, for schools & MATs, to efficiently manage all recruitment online via an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). Candidates apply direct from any device via a fully GDPR and KCSiE compliant application process.

Alison Austin, operations support officer at Samuel Whitbread Academy, has been using MyNewTerm for over a year. She says:

“The system is very easy to use and we have been able to personalise our pages to form our “shop window” with links to our web sites and other pertinent information. The advances in mobile access also ensure that we reach a wider audience. Wayne [Cartmel, founder] is proactive on social media and is actively seeking to increase market penetration thereby allowing us access to a greater number of potential candidates.”

School Spider – Everything your school needs in order to succeed online

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.75/5 from 12 reviews

School Spider offers a website designed specifically for your school, a parent payment system, mobile app and loads of features for parents, pupils and teachers. The software is extremely easy to use and, with everything all in one place, it is one login and one place to go.

Leaving a rapturous review, Nether Alderley Primary School’s Andy Brady (who’s been using School Spider for over eight years) declares:

“I think School Spider is THE benchmark for what a high-quality, low-maintenance school website should be. The incredible customer service – including responding to our requests for a bespoke and tailored design – is above and beyond the call of duty. Our website has helped us to develop so many areas of our practice and has increased our awareness of the importance of branding and projecting an image which is consistent with our values. We would urge other schools to explore the tools and quality of the service School Spider offer – they will not be disappointed!”

Tell us what you really think, Andy…

Tigtag World – Video-based resource for Science and Geography

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.45/5 from 17 reviews

Recent Teacher Choice 2020 winner Tigtag is a digital resource designed to help teachers deliver engaging and accurate Science and Geography instruction to students aged 7–11. Tigtag features more than 1,000 videos, alongside lesson background materials, activities, quizzes, visuals, and review questions.

Rosavelia Arellano, Dallas Independent School District bilingual Math and Science teacher, has been using Tigtag for over seven years. She says:

“I find Tigtag to be the best resource in the market. The videos and other material have a visual impact of content. The material includes all that is needed to cover in the curriculum. The results in standardized tests are excellent. They integrate knowledge with real life situations.”

Unifrog – One-stop-shop for whole-school careers guidance

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.85/5 from 22 reviews

For whole-school careers guidance, Unifrog’s impartial, user-friendly platform allows students to explore pathways throughout school, evidence key activities and competencies and draft and collate feedback on Personal Statements and CVs to submit the strongest possible applications.

“I just think there is so much information, so much inspiration for guidance lessons and ‘How To’ information,” marvels Martin Allenby, assistant headteacher (Guidance & 6th Form) at The Duchess’s Community High School. “The apprenticeship database, subject library, careers library, competencies, MOOCs, recording of activities & special opportunities alongside the ability to record all interactions in one place for every pupil means you could have a first class guidance programme if you put it at the centre of your careers work in school. The more you use the platform the more you find and the more inspired you become.”

VotesforSchools – Get students talking about big topics

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 from 3 reviews

With a resource that must get more vital by the day, VotesForSchools offers weekly lessons that get students debating and talking about the most important issues of the day. Used in over 500 schools for PSHE, citizenship, tutor time and assemblies.

Helen Keevil, assistant head at Epsom College, says: “[VotesForSchools is] so user-friendly: current topics which are relevant to the pupils we teach, easy to engage and a wide array of chosen topics so they appeal to every style of teacher & interests of the pupils. Perfect for a busy member of SLT as well as for an NQT, safe to print out the morning of the lesson – a quick glance through the lesson plan and bingo!”

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Be sure to leave some reviews of your own on EdTech Impact! Got a resource, platform or service you’d like to add? Click here.