Your Role as a Digital Champion – Information Systems School Support

As schools continue to increase their use of technology, the systems used to manage day-to-day operations are becoming more complex. From tracking pupil records and managing staff schedules to organising facilities, handling budgets, and maintaining school sites, digital tools are now central to how schools run. These systems are not just used in the office — support staff in a wide range of roles rely on digital platforms to keep everything running smoothly.

This course is designed to help you — as a Digital Champion — build a stronger understanding of how these systems work and how they connect across the school. Whether you’re involved in administration, finance, premises, IT support, or student services, you’ll gain useful knowledge to support your colleagues, improve digital processes, and reduce common frustrations. The more confident you are with your school’s digital systems, the more effectively you can help your team, support planning, and contribute to a well-managed and future-ready school environment.

Schools often face issues like:

• Too many logins or platforms – Staff and students might need to use several systems separately, which can be confusing and time-consuming.
• Data silos – Information in one system might not be shared with another, causing delays or mistakes.
• Double data entry – Staff may have to enter the same information in more than one place, adding to workload and risk of errors.
• Lack of integration – Systems that don’t “talk to each other” can make it hard to work as a team or make informed decisions.
• Old or unsupported software – Outdated tools may not meet your school’s needs or may not follow data protection rules (like UK GDPR).

During this course, you’ll explore:

• The main digital systems used in schools include platforms for managing student data, timetables, learning, attendance, finance, and communication.
• How these systems connect (or don’t connect!) with each other.
• The challenges schools face when systems aren’t working well together.
• How to help improve the way your school uses digital tools — now and in the future.

By the end of this course, you’ll be better able to:

• Understand the digital setup in your school.
• Spot areas where systems could work better together.
• Support other staff with digital tools in a helpful, confident way.
• Contribute to future planning around digital systems in your school or trust.