Case Studies

At bksb, we pride ourselves on the diversity of organisations that rely on our products for developing the skills of their learners.
Click on the links below to view some short case studies about how bksb is used by clients in different sectors.

If bksb has had a positive impact on your learners, tutors or organisational success and you would like to share your story with other providers, please do not hesitate to contact us, we would be delighted to hear from you.

The Manchester College

The Manchester College, one of the largest in the country, uses bksb via the internet and intranet across 23 campuses. The learner-centric bksb approach motivates and builds the confidence of learners, as well as ensuring that they have the necessary skills to succeed on their course and in their future careers.

Using data from bksb, The Manchester College are able to produce comprehensive reporting and analysis of achievement levels. This information is vital for internal quality procedures, as well as providing statistical information to government departments and for inspection.

Connie Vitello, Initial Assessment, ALS and Assistive Technologies Co-ordinator at The Manchester College said: “Achievement and success rates are high as all learners are placed on the correct level of course. This is determined by students completing the bksb initial assessment prior to enrolling on a course. Achievement is also high for Functional Skills and Adult Basic Skills qualifications as the bksb diagnostic assessment ILP clearly identifies a learner's weak areas, so that they can upskill the relevant areas required. The bksb learning resources greatly assist learners in upskilling their weak areas - thus achieving on the course. We are not aware of any other product which will provide the range and quality of learning and reporting for the students and the college.”

Quarrydale School

Quarrydale Foundation School in Nottinghamshire has focused on use of the bksb software as part of its drive to raise attainment, particularly in English and mathematics. Impact of the software can be seen as Quarrydale is one of the most improved schools in Nottinghamshire in regard to A*-C English and maths results, with a 22% increase in the first year of use.

Jon Crone, Headteacher at Quarrydale School said: “Students found the software ‘user friendly’ and the direct linkage between the learning resources and ‘gaps’ in knowledge helped enormously. The key to the software in my opinion is the ability for it to be managed, maintained and most importantly to be useful to a wide range of colleagues (not just English and Maths specialists) and I believe wholeheartedly that it will progress from strength to strength.”

Care Training

Care Training in Nottingham have been running the bksb functional skills packages since 2010. This was initially run as a pilot programme with tutors for them to experience the learner journey themselves. “The feedback from tutors was positive without exception and all have bought in to using the bksb tools and resources as an integral part of the learner journey.” said Bruce Sheeran, Foundation Learning Manager at Care Training.

“Since rolling the programme out to our learners, we have seen a marked improvement in test passes and noted that our learners engage with their online learning resources far more readily and frequently than before. Through the use of our learner evaluation forms we have established that our students enjoy being able to access their learning materials at home as well as in the centre. Another huge, time saving advantage is the self-marking individual learning plan (ILP).”

Portsmouth Consortium

A consortia of 14-19 colleges and schools in Portsmouth rolled out the development tool products for most of its providers.

Lyn Exley, 14 – 19 Strategy Manager at Portsmouth City Council stated: “Staff using the system have found it really useful in being aware of the specific strengths and weaknesses to focus support and measure the distance travelled. Students like the fact that they are in control and can complete the testing when it meets their needs. The support provided by the product team for installation and staff training together with online help has been excellent. I am happy to recommend the product and organisation to other local authorities, colleges and schools.”

Manchester City Council

Manchester City Council runs the development tool in all schools, many colleges, pupil referral units, academies and 14-19 work-based providers and sixth form colleges.

Gill Scott, Curriculum Development Officer said: “Prior to entry to post-16 courses and apprenticeship programmes, all young people have to demonstrate their level of applied skills in English, maths and ICT through testing prior to enrolment. Direct testing at entry using the development tool products has proven a more reliable indicator of potential to succeed than existing qualifications.”