Client name . Blackpool Sixth Form College
Sector . Education
Summary comment . Alan Lloyd, Vice Principal, Resources & Information
Systems, Blackpool Sixth Form College
"FileMaker is changing the way we work in College and has been a resounding success with all the staff that use it. The only losers are students who miss lessons – there is no hiding place with Alliance!"
Blackpool Sixth Form College
FileMaker Gives Blackpool College a Data Education
Since its doors opened in 1971, Blackpool Sixth Form College has gone from strength to strength and now has over one and a half thousand full-time A-level and GCSE students aged between 16 and 19. Subjects studied include Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Computing, English, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Law, Mathematics, Media and Film Studies, and Sociology.
With over 1600 full time students, Blackpool Sixth Form College required an entire information management system to register students, record marks, handle progress reviews and send disciplinary referrals.
A complete database system written in FileMaker was developed – using laptops with FileMaker-based software and specialist 'hole in the wall' style 'Viewpoint' terminals – to enable tutors to access student data wherever they are on campus.
- Delivery of a unique student information management system, "Alliance" based on FileMaker
- 'On-the move' access to all student records significantly improves working practices of tutors
- Multi-functional 'Alliance' database underpinned by FileMaker allows staff to keep track of student grades, attendance and absentee levels
- 'Viewpoint' screens allow students to read messages from tutors, look at examination results or check personal details across the campus
- FileMaker used by over 300 ICT and Computing students to extend database and applications knowledge
Blackpool Sixth Form College, the only specialist A-level college in Fylde, Lancashire, has built its entire management information system around FileMaker, allowing it to handle all aspects of student and staff records, course details, timetables and examination results.
According to Alan Lloyd, Vice Principal, Resources & Information Systems at Blackpool Sixth Form College: "We have around 1600 full time students and have used FileMaker to run our entire management information system for many years. More recently, we have added a complete tutor management system, written in FileMaker, which we call Alliance. Around 100 tutors are using laptops with FileMaker-based Alliance Client software that can be used to register students, send messages, record marks, handle progress reviews and send disciplinary referrals if required."
The client software can be used both on and offline and it automatically synchronises data to the main Alliance Server. Messages can either be read out by tutors or students can go to "hole in the wall" style terminals which we call Viewpoints. These Viewpoints use a barcode reader and flat touch-screens. A Viewpoint screen can be used by a student to read messages, view registers, look at examination results or check personal details.
A member of staff can also use them to "clock" in and out of College and another FileMaker–based application, called "Alliance Central", is used to print staff and student ID cards, analyse attendance, generate reports, and record known absences. Finally, the College also has approximately 250 Computing and ICT students using FileMaker for their A level and AS level course work.
The College also runs a variety of Btec qualifications including National Certificates in Forensic Science, IT Practitioners, Media Production and Performance Art. It also offers students a huge and diverse range of recreational activities which is unmatched by any other sixth form in the country. In 2007-08, about 50 activities were available including a variety of musical, artistic and sporting activities including 3 specialist academies.
