10:01am Monday 24th August 2009
By Ron Godfrey
HEAD teachers in primary schools all over York have a lot to thank Iccom Educational for.
The York-based software development company has created APPtracker, which makes the complexities of the Government’s Assessing Pupil Progress process simple.
Until now there has been no standardised method of assessing children’s progress in the years between taking their dreaded SATS tests.
It is hardly surprising that Iccom Educational is targeting both the New Business Of The Year and the Best Employer And Education Link Jimmy Pewtress, managing director of Iccom Educational, came up with the software after conferring with Chris Pearce, head teacher of Headlands Primary School, Haxby.
Not only did the school benefit, but the system was allowed by the local education authority to be trial-led at primary schools across the city.
It received universally positive feedback, not only from the schools and The Times Educational Supplement Forum, but also from the website of the Government’s Department for Children, Schools and Families.
That gave the firm the confidence to commercially develop the software.
Chris said: “We know we have a head start over other companies in having the only offering that recreates the current assessment materials on screen. But we are acutely aware that there is only a short time before similar software appears.”
He will be helped to stay ahead of the opposition through a network of teachers and consultants who monitor the software.
The firm, by the way, is backed by two of its directors, Alice Adams and James Lucks, both shareholders from ICT consultancy Iccom, of Helmsley.
Alice, The Press Business Personality Of The Year and winner of the Women In Enterprise category in 2006, is also competing in this year’s awards in the Science & Technology and Growth Business Of The Year categories – so no clash there!
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