What is BlueSky Education?
Seamlessly link appraisal, professional development and quality assurance with school or trust priorities. Simplify processes and enhance professional learning and evaluation for the whole school workforce. All in one, flexible online solution.
BlueSky puts your people at the centre of school improvement. Our all-in-one platform helps schools to integrate personalised professional development into every day, for every member of your school workforce. Staff can easily log all CPD activities in one place, reducing the workload of collating evidence and maintaining engagement with objectives.
Our intuitive reporting features help school leaders evaluate the impact of professional learning on school and trust priorities. Staff can see how their work contributes to school improvement.
BlueSky is uniquely flexible, meaning schools and trusts can easily tailor the process and terminology to match the organisation’s values and priorities. The leading online solution of its kind, our platform is used by thousands of schools, trusts and groups in over 40 countries worldwide.
*Bett Award Finalist 2024 and Winner 2019 for Leadership and Management Solutions.*
Eliminate paperwork: Reduce the workload of performance reviews and easily ensure appraisal is an agile and ongoing conversation
Powerful reporting: Generate holistic reports at the click of a button to identify strengths or areas for development
Reduce CPD workload: Quickly identify training needs, assign and approve requests in seconds, track progress towards goals
Fully supported set up: Our Customer Success team works with you to set up and customise the account, and deliver unlimited training
One-stop solution: Support staff development by connecting appraisal, professional learning and quality assurance
Tailored to your culture: Turn features on or off, use in-built or upload bespoke frameworks and templates, and customise terminology
Get in touch with the BlueSky team today to book your free demo today.
Educational Impact
Additional evidence
Repton School, Derby
Download case study Company | Business Name: BlueSky Education HQ Location: United Kingdom Founded: 2001 |
| Age Range | 0-4, 5-7, 8-10, 11-13, 14-16, 17-18, 19+ |
 Features | 360 FeedbackAction ResearchAppraisal ProcessBespoke FrameworksCareer DevelopmentCoaching ConversationsCollaborationContinued Professional DevelopmentCpdDeep DivesEarly Career FrameworkEvidence Profile Individual PortfolioIndividual Progress SummaryInstant ReportsInternational StandardsIsiJournalLearning WalksLesson ObservationNational StandardsOfsted InspectionPerformance ReviewsPerformance ManagementProfessional DevelopmentProfessional LearningProfessional ObjectivesQuality AssuranceReal-time ReportingReview MeetingsSchool DevelopmentSchool ImprovementSefSelf-evaluation FrameworkStaff DevelopmentStakeholder ReportsStrategic PlanningTeacher StandardsTalent ManagementTrust-wide Reporting |
 Languages | English |
 Accessibility | Robust features |
 Policies |  Terms of ServicePrivacy PolicyGDPR |
 Requirements | Internet - Low BandwidthInternet - High BandwidthDesktop - MacDesktop - WindowsDesktop - ChromebookMobile - iPhoneMobile - iPadMobile - WindowsMobile - Android - Browser-based online platform: Access via any device with an internet connection. - MIS integration via Wonde. Single sign-on (SSO) with Office 365 and Google. |
 Set Up | Set up usually takes less than 24 hours. We can support building templates for pro-formas such as Lesson Observation forms and other quality assurance processes. The set up session is usually around one hour and following this, we aim to have your school up and running within one working day. |
 Training | Live OnlineWebinarsDocumentationVideos Tailored online planning and initial training is included in your membership. BlueSky is designed to be very easy to get started and intuitive for all staff to use for day-to-day processes. We provide key leadership staff with online training and resources to ensure training can be disseminated to all staff. We offer periodic review calls to ensure you get the most out of BlueSky, in line with your desired outcomes and school priorities. |
 Support | EmailFAQs/ForumKnowledge BasePhone Support All school staff can access unlimited technical support via email or telephone, and can access our comprehensive knowledge bank which includes training materials, guidance, FAQs and video resources. |
| Home Learning | School must create the account. |
 Tags | AppraisalSchool DevelopmentProfessional DevelopmentTeacher AppraisalLeadership Performance ManagementTeacher DevelopmentProfessional learningWorkforce appraisalTalent ManagementSuccession Planning |
BlueSky Education PricingPricing Plans Paid Subscription BlueSky Education pricing starts from £350 / year Pricing plan available upon request.  Optimised for a quick response | |
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BlueSky Education Reviews
from 61 Verified Reviews
User rating
Country
Bernard
Head Teacher
Used BlueSky Education weekly for 5 years+
Jun 2024
We are a systems led school. Blue Sky is one of our most valuable tools.
Bernard found BlueSky Education:
- Significantly reduces teacher workload“reduced bureaucracy for appraisal, performance reviews, CPD logs etc.”
- Significantly provides school data“Appraisal records, CPD records, teacher feedback, self evaluation data”
- Significantly improves teaching efficiency“Clarity on standards reviews,. Compiles' all school self evaluation and impact records.”
- Significantly improves teacher wellbeing“Well being is threaded in detail through personalised appraisals and any ad hoc meetings. Detail records created.”
- Significantly improves school processes“Connects appraisal, CPD, self evaluation and reporting roles.”
Kate Brown
Assistant Headteacher
Used BlueSky Education weekly for 1-2 years
Jun 2024
Some systems are not able to be fully integrated with our school's systems - such as the Leave of Absence request process.
Kate Brown found BlueSky Education:
- Slightly reduces teacher workload“Staff no longer have to manually input all training information for PDR, but are still required to complete a Leave of Absence, separate to our BlueSky platform.”
- Moderately provides school data“Tracking of time that staff are engaging in training for.”
- Moderately improves teaching efficiency“The PDR system and CPDL offer are now aligned.”
- Slightly improves teacher wellbeing“Having lesson observations, PDR target information and training all in one place helps to alleviate some stress.”
- Moderately improves school processes“Ability to track hours to ensure that directed time allocations for training have been met.”
Tom Hardy
Assistant Network Manager
Used BlueSky Education monthly for 5 years+
Jan 2024
Great, thanks!
Tom Hardy found BlueSky Education:
- Moderately reduces teacher workload“Clear training and improvement instructions saves time”
- Moderately provides school data“Puts all feedback in one place making it easier to access”
- Significantly improves teaching efficiency“Targets and CPD is summarised and made easier to manage for all staff”
- Moderately improves teacher wellbeing“Increase in wellbeing from praise via the BlueSky platform”
- Significantly improves school processes“Praise and targets are easily identified and managed via the platform”
Simon Jackson
Deputy Headteacher
Used BlueSky Education weekly for 5 years+
Dec 2023
Great potential, but system needs improving. Things like mandatory focus on an observation (I don't want one, it is in the title of the form), mandatory training evaluations (short and long term) are really frustrating. I would like to be able to personalise these forms more and remove some of these fields.
Simon Jackson found BlueSky Education:
- Does not significantly reduce teacher workload“The appraisal system is good for record keeping, but is clunky for staff. We are often following up wrong dates/ 'you have to tick this box for this to happen' etc. It could be simpler I think.”
- Moderately provides school data“Useful to see metrics for teacher development”
- Slightly improves teaching efficiency
- Does not significantly improve teacher wellbeing“It is a lot of chasing up for leaders, when staff can't follow the systems. Also, insisting on certain fields is really frustrating eg you don't seem to be able to turn off a mandatory evaluation for training. Sometimes I don't want staff to evaluate it.”
- Moderately improves school processes
Dec 2023
Very good system, but it would be made easier if as Administrator you could clear completion of say objectives if impact statements were missing without having to contact Blue Sky. Also to reinstate leavers who return.
Sally Filek found BlueSky Education:
- Slightly reduces teacher workload
- Significantly provides school data
- Moderately improves teaching efficiency
- Slightly improves teacher wellbeing
- Moderately improves school processes
Nov 2023
Customer support area rsponds quickly, easy application to use
Paige Frape found BlueSky Education:
- Slightly reduces teacher workload“smoother process of appraisal process”
- Slightly provides school data
- Does not significantly improve teaching efficiency
- Slightly improves teacher wellbeing“Application is easy to use”
- Slightly improves school processes
Nov 2023
It can take time to embed, some of the systems ( for example logging CPD ) could be more flexible and easy to bespoke to school. Staff can find it difficult to use, but from an admin side it's great
India found BlueSky Education:
- Slightly reduces teacher workload“Streamline CPD request process”
- Significantly provides school data“PM objectives, colleagues self review, lesson observation”
- Moderately improves teaching efficiency“Link to CPD priorities”
- Does not significantly improve teacher wellbeing
- Significantly improves school processes“Easy to monitor”
Nov 2023
It's a very useful system that has helped with efficiency. There are 1 or 2 things that could be done better.
Anton McLean found BlueSky Education:
- Moderately reduces teacher workload“Not necessarily workload, but efficiency of systems”
- Moderately provides school data“Observation reports; Appraisal objectives”
- Slightly improves teaching efficiency“Observation reports”
- Does not significantly improve teacher wellbeing“Maybe CPD, but difficult to quantify”
- Significantly improves school processes“Appraisal, CPD”
Nov 2023
Lawrence Collins found BlueSky Education:
- Significantly reduces teacher workload“Negates need for excessive 'form filling' and sharing of paper work with line managers / appraisers. Both would usually involve email exchanges and this increases the risk of conversations not being captured in a timely manner.”
- Slightly provides school data“Informs evaluation of whole school targets on the development plan (mapping of appraisal expectations against the focus areas for school development)”
- Slightly improves teaching efficiency
- Significantly improves teacher wellbeing“Teacher's feel valued and their voice captured. Transparency on the information shared helps teachers to 'own' their personal development.”
- Moderately improves school processes“One system for evidencing and recording of whole appraisal and CPD”
Bernard Cassidy
Head Teacher
Used BlueSky Education weekly for 5 years+
Nov 2023
Easy to use, good value and outstanding customer support.
Bernard Cassidy found BlueSky Education:
- Significantly reduces teacher workload“Simple record keeping. Allows meaningful discussion on appraisal with low level bureaucracy for teachers.”
- Significantly provides school data“Focused on school shared outcomes. Also provides leaders with internal data on CPD, self evaluation and appraisal at a touch of a button.”
- Significantly improves teaching efficiency“Clear links to professional standards and frameworks and helped us focus our staff on mechanism for improving teaching and learning.”
- Significantly improves teacher wellbeing“Records discussions on well being and ensured a whole school, systemic focus.”
- Significantly improves school processes“Simplified processes and communication for Call aspects of professional development.”
Leyla
Head of Professional Learning and Talent
Used BlueSky Education monthly for 5 years+
Nov 2023
Great to use for appraisal functionality
Leyla found BlueSky Education:
- Does not significantly reduce teacher workload“No”
- Significantly provides school data“Accessible information on staff appraisal objectives available through the reporting function”
- Does not significantly improve teacher wellbeing“No”
- Does not significantly improve teacher knowledge“Not aware of how it can be used for this function”
- Significantly improves school processes“Online functionality of recording and tracking staff appraisal objectives and reviews”
Oct 2022
BlueSky have been very supportive in producing a bespoke appraisal system that fits us as a school. They have always been very quick to respond to queries and understanding that we've not yet mastered the system. Nothing is ever too much trouble. We are delighted to be able to have the overview we now do of appraisal and development plans, and that this can be seen so quickly and efficiently. I wish we'd moved across years ago!
Chris Wilshaw found BlueSky Education:
- Moderately reduces teacher workload“No need for printing appraisal, taking to someone different in the school to hand in a paper copy. Line managers can see all the targets of people they line manage easily on one screen.”
- Moderately provides school data“Easy to gain an overview of the targets all school staff have set. Can now track which teacher standards staff are focussing on, and which school development priorities their targets link to. This would have taken a lot of work with our previous (paper based) system.”
- Moderately improves teacher wellbeing“Reduced time spent on emailing and printing versions of paper appraisal back and forth.”
- Slightly improves teacher knowledge
- Significantly improves school processes“Much easier and quicker to see whether all appraisals, targets and development plans are complete. Line managers and SLT can now simultaneously see and read these, without passing paper copies between them.”
Stefanie
Head of Governance
Used BlueSky Education weekly for 5 years+
Aug 2022
I have used BlueSky for several years and find it really supports staff development. It also aligns objectives to the priorities of the School/Trust. BlueSky provides a platform that helps staff to feel that they are personally being invested in, making staff feel valued.
Stefanie found BlueSky Education:
- Slightly reduces teacher workload“Helps support a paperless system. Pulling everything together into one report for analysis”
- Moderately provides school data“The system provides data of CPD impact allowing for further support where required. Also provides data on learning walks and mentoring/coaching, which supports with teacher development”
- Moderately improves teacher wellbeing“The system provides staff with an area to reflect on practice to help staff with future opportunities. It allows staff to know they are valued, through coaching, appraisals and CPD.”
- Slightly improves teacher knowledge
- Moderately improves school processes“All schools use the system so there is a streamlined process across the Trust. Reports provide efficient information to help analyse requirements across the schools/trust. E.G. CPD impact supports future CPD training requirements.”
May 2022
It has helped to streamline our performance management systems. It’s easy to use and intuitive allowing leaders to have oversight of a variety of school processes in one place.
Joanne found BlueSky Education:
- Moderately reduces teacher workload“It’s quick and easy to navigate.”
- Significantly provides school data“Quality Assurance data is easy to retrieve and in a sensible format.”
- Significantly improves school processes“Centralised CPL systems”
Mar 2022
Mandy Alexander found BlueSky Education:
- Slightly reduces teacher workload
- Moderately provides school data“Data on appraisal and learning walk thrus informs teacher development.”
- Slightly improves school processes“Appraisal process. Analysis of observations and CPD imapct”
Mar 2022
Always been happy with the concept, product, support and development
Kieran found BlueSky Education:
- Significantly reduces teacher workload“Feedback from observations”
- Moderately provides school data“CPD outcomes / engagement”
- Significantly improves school processes“Systematizing professional dialogue”
Deb Poole
Director of Staff Development
Used BlueSky Education daily for 7–12 months
Feb 2022
The support team are brilliant; the system is very user-friendly (despite my several attempts to break it) and the possibilities are endless with the fact you can make everything bespoke to your setting. Whenever I can't figure stuff out (often) or how to do something (often) the team are always on hand to remind / help / support or find a clever work around that does the job better than I'd hoped. They're FABULOUS. Corinne, our main person, holds a) our Trust and b) my sanity together.
Deb Poole found BlueSky Education:
- Does not significantly reduce teacher workload“no, sorry”
- Significantly provides school data“The ability to develop our own observation proformas, own ranking scales and then a pie chart afterwards is just MINT”
- Significantly improves school processes“The link between appraisal, CPD and observations”
Uzma Zaffar
Vice Principal - Quality Assurance
Used BlueSky Education daily for 5 years+
Feb 2022
Fantastic service
Uzma Zaffar found BlueSky Education:
- Does not significantly reduce teacher workload“NA”
- Significantly provides school data“CPD data PD Data”
- Significantly improves school processes“CPD needs and requirements PDs Probation period reports Lesson Observations Overview Statements”
Charlie Larrington-Vandy
Lead Practitioner of Teaching and Learning
Used BlueSky Education weekly for 5 years+
Feb 2022
There are still some things I believe that could be more editable to create really bespoke uses for our school.
Charlie Larrington-Vandy found BlueSky Education:
- Moderately reduces teacher workload“Paperwork over duplicating learning walks is gone!”
- Moderately provides school data“We use it to see on whole school impact of new initiatives”
- Moderately improves school processes“learning walks are easily monitored and tracked”
Livvy Black
Assistant Headteacher
Used BlueSky Education weekly for 4-6 months
Feb 2022
It's brilliant especially with the trainer input
Livvy Black found BlueSky Education:
- Moderately reduces teacher workload“Reduced paper work for applying for CPD and lesson observations”
- Moderately provides school data“QA data”
- Significantly improves school processes“Streamlining QA”
Feb 2022
It's a game changer
Sonia found BlueSky Education:
- Moderately reduces teacher workload“Less paperwork”
- Significantly provides school data“All reports and percentages lead us to close gaps with the right cpds”
- Significantly improves school processes
Brian Crombie-Fisher
HR Director
Used BlueSky Education occasionally for 5 years+
Feb 2022
Brian Crombie-Fisher found BlueSky Education:
- Moderately reduces teacher workload
- Moderately provides school data
- Moderately improves school processes
Feb 2022
It started off well with regular meetings and conversations but not heard much in the last couple of months only to be told they are leaving.
Kate Marchesi found BlueSky Education:
- Moderately reduces teacher workload“Classroom observations and feedback”
- Does not provide school data“None”
- Moderately improves school processes“PMP”
Andrew Williams
Head of High School
Used BlueSky Education daily for 5 years+
Feb 2022
Thought my time working in three schools and using Bluesky the support has bee tremendous. Casper and her team have been incredibly supportive - especially when I have set this up in new schools. It also has a significant impact on school development, standardisation of activities as well as monitoring.
Andrew Williams found BlueSky Education:
- Significantly reduces teacher workload“Analysis of data collected is quick and easy”
- Significantly provides school data“We recently used Bluesy as part of data collection for our annual inspection and as a result it supported our move from good to very good.”
- Significantly improves school processes“Lesson observations, PD and Performance management are now streamlined through the whole school.”
Laura Pearson
Education Director for Training, Development and School Improvement
Used BlueSky Education weekly for 3-4 years
Feb 2022
Some functions can be difficult to navigate - not always user-friendly
Laura Pearson found BlueSky Education:
- Slightly reduces teacher workload“Keeps appraisal information in one place.”
- Does not significantly provide school data
- Moderately improves school processes“Appraisal targets;observations”
