What is The Key?
The support that matters. For the decisions that count.
The guidance, resources and CPD that matter to your school, staff and governors right now. Designed to actively engage, and make a real impact.
✓ Quality assured by in-house education specialists
✓ Tailored to you, delivered in the right format for the task in hand
✓ In-depth support for all staff, covering much more than compliance
Rated the must-have support by 8 out of 10 school leaders.
With over 4,300 resources, The Key offers the most comprehensive, time-saving support to schools. Over 80% of school leaders rated The Key as an essential resource, worth every penny.
Source: market research by education.co.uk, 2023.
Educational Impact
improve school processes
improve teacher knowledge
reduce teacher workload
save school money
improve teaching efficiency
 Company | Business Name: The Key HQ Location: United Kingdom Founded: 2007 |
| Age Range | 5-7, 8-10, 11-13, 14-16, 17-18 |
 Features | Professional Development CpdOnline SafetySafeguardingStatutory Requirements School Improvement Ofsted Inspection Staff TrainingPerformance Management Staff DevelopmentGain CertificationGovernance Budget Setting Training Planning |
 Languages | English |
 Accessibility | Robust features |
 Policies |  Terms of ServicePrivacy PolicyGDPR |
 Requirements | Internet - Low BandwidthInternet - High BandwidthDesktop - MacDesktop - WindowsDesktop - ChromebookDesktop - LinuxMobile - iPhoneMobile - iPadMobile - WindowsMobile - Android |
 Set Up | No time at all - you can access your membership straight away. |
 Training | Live OnlineDocumentationVideos Once you’ve signed up, you’ll be able to easily navigate our services without any training. If you need any extra help, just get in touch with our support team. |
 Support | EmailFAQs/ForumKnowledge BasePhone Support |
| Home Learning | School must create the account. |
 Tags | Recruitment supportPolicy and compliance Safeguarding trainingCPD trainingSchool improvementOnline training Prevent Duty training KCSIESafeguarding CPD |
The Key PricingPricing Plans Free TrialPaid Subscription The Key pricing starts from £764.4 / year This price is for Whole School membership for a school with 0 - 50 pupils.  Optimised for a quick response | |
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The Key Reviews
4.7 out of 5
from 29 Verified Reviews
The Key has collected 5 reviews in the past 6 months
User rating
Excellent
22
Great
7
Average
0
Poor
0
Bad
0
Country
Peter Coolins
Strategic Business Manager
The Ashley School Academy Trust, England
Used The Key weekly for 5 years+
Oct 2024
Does what is says on the tin
Reply from The Key:Dear Peter, thank you for your positive review. We're glad to see that our support has significantly improved your school processes! Tamara
Peter Coolins found The Key:
- Moderately saves school money“Training/CPD”
- Slightly reduces teacher workload
- Slightly improves teaching efficiency
- Moderately improves teacher knowledge“Training”
- Significantly improves school processes“Sample policies”
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Oct 2024
There is always a space to be better and improve the service!
Reply from The Key:Dear Yulia, thanks so much for your 4.5* review! We're pleased to see that our online training has helped you save time and reduced your workload. Your thorough feedback is appreciated and will help other schools and trusts find our support. Thanks again, Tamara.
Yulia found The Key:
- Significantly saves school money“It helps schools save money because they don’t need to spend on travel or printed materials. They are also flexible, so more staff can learn without needing to bring everyone together in one place.”
- Moderately reduces teacher workload“it helps reduce teacher workload by allowing them to complete training online at their own pace, so they don’t have to attend long in-person sessions.”
- Moderately improves teaching efficiency“It can improve teaching efficiency by providing teachers with quick access to resources and training, allowing them to implement new strategies in the classroom faster.”
- Moderately improves teacher knowledge“It can enhance teacher knowledge by offering up-to-date info and best practices, helping teachers stay informed about the latest teaching methods and educational research.”
- Significantly improves school processes“It can improve school processes by streamlining training for staff, allowing them to complete courses at their own pace, which saves time and ensures that everyone is on the same page with important policies and procedures.”
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Aug 2024
saved hours writing policies and checking compliance in previous school
Reply from The Key:Dear Sarah, thank you for your positive review! We're glad to see that our resources have helped to reduce you and your team's workload. Tamara.
Sarah found The Key:
- Slightly saves school money
- Significantly reduces teacher workload“model policies, safeguarding updates”
- Slightly improves teaching efficiency
- Moderately improves teacher knowledge
- Moderately improves school processes
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Kirsty
Safeguarding Administration Officer
The Hamble School, England
Used The Key weekly for 3-4 years
Jun 2024
always helpful when need support with links and we always find the information we need to share with staff
Reply from The Key:Dear Kirsty, thank you for your brilliant and thorough review of The Key! We're pleased to hear that you use our safeguarding resources with your staff throughout the year. Tamara.
Kirsty found The Key:
- Significantly saves school money“It is our one stop shop for safeguarding information throughout the year”
- Moderately reduces teacher workload“I am able to share factsheets on topics to all staff so enabling a quick safeguarding refresh each week which saves them time looking it up themselves”
- Slightly improves teaching efficiency“Always able to share learnings during tutor time if the need arises”
- Significantly improves teacher knowledge
- Significantly improves school processes“We now share from The Key through our staff bulletin on a Monday rather than cramming lots in at the end of a school day”
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May 2024
We rely upon The Key as our first point of call for school management information. We also use The Key for Governors, Safeguarding and CPD.
Reply from The Key:Dear Julie, thank you for your 5* review! We’re pleased to hear that you’re having a positive experience with us as a member of The Key. Tamara.
Julie Hale found The Key:
- Significantly saves school money“HR Advice & Guidance”
- Moderately reduces teacher workload“Availability of resources for supporting Leadership & Management.”
- Moderately improves teaching efficiency“Availability of resources for supporting Leadership & Management.”
- Moderately improves teacher knowledge“Developing Leadership & Management knowledge and expertise.”
- Significantly improves school processes“School Business Management teams regularly use The Key in order to support school processes.”
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Christine
Education Partnership Manager
Croydon Council HQ, England
Used The Key occasionally for 0–3 months
May 2024
a lot of information that is easily accessible
Reply from The Key:Dear Christine, we appreciate you leaving us a positive review. Your feedback helps us meet your needs as a member of The Key. Tamara.
Christine found The Key:
- Slightly saves school money“Policies and procedures”
- Slightly reduces teacher workload“Able to access curriculum material”
- Slightly improves teaching efficiency“Up to date CPD”
- Slightly improves teacher knowledge“Video content”
- Slightly improves school processes“Policy update”
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May 2024
Regular notice of skill training and detailed suggestions for improvement
Reply from The Key:Dear Keith, thank you for leaving positive feedback. We're pleased to see that our resources have helped to improve your schools processes. Tamara.
Keith found The Key:
- Does not significantly save school money
- Slightly reduces teacher workload
- Slightly improves teaching efficiency
- Moderately improves teacher knowledge“Safeguarding”
- Significantly improves school processes
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Mar 2024
It helps keep up to date on current issues and regulations and helps with solutions
Reply from The Key:Dear Paul, thank you for leaving positive feedback. We're pleased to see that our resources have helped to improve your schools processes. Tamara.
Paul Smith found The Key:
- Slightly saves school money
- Slightly reduces teacher workload
- Slightly improves teaching efficiency
- Slightly improves teacher knowledge
- Significantly improves school processes
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Mar 2024
Invaluable resource that saves time and offers high quality information
Reply from The Key:Dear Helen, thank you for taking the time to leave 5* feedback. We're pleased to hear that our resources and guidance have helped to improved your school processes, and reduced teacher workload. Tamara.
Helen Ridout found The Key:
- Moderately saves school money“Saves time, reduces workload”
- Significantly reduces teacher workload“All information in one place”
- Moderately improves teaching efficiency“Sharing best practice”
- Moderately improves teacher knowledge“Sharing good practice”
- Significantly improves school processes“Used all the time to review and influence systems and policies from full rewrites to reviews, interview questions, restructures etc etc”
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Mar 2024
I would recommend to a SBM as its good for the guidance. Not sure how The Key helps with teachers.
Reply from The Key:Hi Stephanie, thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. We’re pleased to see that you have found our guidance helpful as an SBM. While we do primarily serve senior leaders, we have lots of resources that support teachers too, in areas such as in assessment and feedback. We'd love to hear your thoughts on what else you'd like to see from The Key. If you'd be able to make time for this, please drop us an email at enquiries@thekeysupport.com. Thanks again, Tamara.
Stephanie Starkey found The Key:
- Does not save school money“None”
- Does not significantly reduce teacher workload
- Slightly improves teaching efficiency
- Does not significantly improve teacher knowledge
- Significantly improves school processes“I use it to refer to for policies, guidance, examples etc”
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Mar 2024
Lots of useful information re. policies, interview questions, curriculum info, OFSTED guidance etc.
Reply from The Key:Dear Kuben, thank you for your positive feedback! We're pleased to hear that our resources have helped improve teacher knowledge and reduced workload at your school. Tamara.
Kuben Reddy found The Key:
- Does not significantly save school money“Not really”
- Moderately reduces teacher workload“Key information re. curriculum, policies etc. that are helpful”
- Slightly improves teaching efficiency“Useful resources and training presentations”
- Moderately improves teacher knowledge“Lots of useful information”
- Moderately improves school processes“Policies”
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Ian Partington
Academy Business Manager
St Peter and St Paul Catholic Primary Academy, England
Used The Key weekly for 5 years+
Mar 2024
We find the key easy to understand plain english style and informative
Reply from The Key:Dear Ian, thank you for taking the time to give us positive feedback. Tamara.
Ian Partington found The Key:
- Slightly saves school money“Tender information”
- Slightly reduces teacher workload“not applicable”
- Slightly improves teaching efficiency“not applicable”
- Slightly improves teacher knowledge“not applicable”
- Moderately improves school processes“Finance information and general guidance”
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Mar 2024
On hand information when needed
Reply from The Key:Dear Tracy, thank you for taking the time to share your 5* feedback with us. We're pleased to hear that our recruitment resources has helped improve your school processes! Tamara.
Tracy Strutt found The Key:
- Slightly saves school money“Used for interview questions - better recruitment”
- Slightly reduces teacher workload
- Slightly improves teaching efficiency
- Significantly improves teacher knowledge
- Significantly improves school processes“Recruitment and job role lists”
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Mar 2024
The key is good as a resource to keep you updated, but overall it is expensive and has little effect on the school overall, as the sections most relevant you have to pay an additional subscription to use them.
Reply from The Key:Hi Beverley, thank you for taking the time to leave a review, as it really helps us understand what improvements we can make for members like you.
We'd love to hear more about your experience of using The Key. If you'd be able to make time for this, please drop us an email at enquiries@thekeysupport.com. Thanks again, Tamara.
Beverley Hughes found The Key:
- Does not save school money“costly for what it provides the school”
- Does not significantly reduce teacher workload
- Slightly improves teaching efficiency“None”
- Moderately improves teacher knowledge“Safeguarding updates”
- Slightly improves school processes“None”
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Rebecca Fawcett
Operations Manager
President Kennedy School, England
Used The Key weekly for 7–12 months
Mar 2024
Very clear guidance, always up to date, examples of how other schools have used the information
Reply from The Key:Dear Rebecca, thank you for taking the time to share your 5* feedback with us! Tamara.
Rebecca Fawcett found The Key:
- Slightly saves school money
- Slightly reduces teacher workload
- Slightly improves teaching efficiency
- Slightly improves teacher knowledge
- Moderately improves school processes“Good advice and guidance on topical issues, some of which is new information.”
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Simon Jaggard
Headt Teacher
St. Joseph's Specialist Trust, England
Used The Key occasionally for 5 years+
Mar 2024
Yes its a very useful organisation for templates as they have done the work for you
Reply from The Key:Dear Simon, thank you for taking the time to leave us a positive review. We're pleased to hear that our resources have helped to significantly reduce your teachers' workload. Tamara.
Simon Jaggard found The Key:
- Slightly saves school money“It provides an excellent time saving reference library of resource information”
- Significantly reduces teacher workload“See before”
- Does not improve teaching efficiency“NA”
- Slightly improves teacher knowledge“Useful for developing policies”
- Slightly improves school processes“interview structures”
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Mar 2024
It's excellent
Reply from The Key:Dear Eamonn, thank you for your positive review! We’re pleased to hear that we've helped your school save money on training resources. Tamara.
Eamonn Kelly found The Key:
- Significantly saves school money“Training Resources”
- Moderately reduces teacher workload“Policy examples etc.”
- Slightly improves teaching efficiency
- Slightly improves teacher knowledge
- Moderately improves school processes“various documentation”
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Angela Purchon
School Business Manager
Robin Hood Primary School, England
Used The Key weekly for 5 years+
Mar 2024
It is a good tool
Reply from The Key:Dear Angela, thank you for your 5* review! We’re pleased to hear that we've helped to improve your school processes. Tamara.
Angela Purchon found The Key:
- Slightly saves school money“.”
- Slightly reduces teacher workload“.”
- Slightly improves teaching efficiency“.”
- Slightly improves teacher knowledge“.”
- Significantly improves school processes“Policies”
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Mar 2024
Natalie found The Key:
- Slightly saves school money
- Does not significantly reduce teacher workload
- Slightly improves teaching efficiency
- Moderately improves teacher knowledge
- Significantly improves school processes
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Elizabeth Leer
Deputy Headteacher
Rothesay Nursery School, England
Used The Key occasionally for 3-4 years
Mar 2024
I am likely to recommend
Reply from The Key:Dear Elizabeth,
thank you for your review.
We appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback.
Tamara.
Elizabeth Leer found The Key:
- Does not significantly save school money“No”
- Moderately reduces teacher workload“SEND Impact report, Ofsted guidance”
- Moderately improves school processes“Policy frameworks”
- Does not significantly improve behaviour or wellbeing“No”
- Slightly improves attainment“No”
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Mar 2024
Whatever I look for I usually find something that supports me to achieve my outcome. I would be lost without it!
Reply from The Key:Dear Jayne,
thank you for taking the time to share your 5* feedback.
We’re pleased to hear that you’ve had a positive experience with us.
Tamara.
Jayne found The Key:
- Slightly saves school money
- Significantly reduces teacher workload“Policies”
- Significantly improves school processes“performance management”
- Slightly improves behaviour or wellbeing
- Slightly improves attainment
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Mar 2024
I recommend this all the time and was mentioning it at our women in leadership conference today!
Reply from The Key:Dear Amy,
thank you for taking the time to share your 5* feedback.
We’re pleased to hear that you mentioned us at a leadership conference!
Tamara.
Amy Myers found The Key:
- Slightly saves school money“time saved for leaders to find good information and resources”
- Moderately reduces teacher workload“Using the well-being plans to help teachers with workload and capacity”
- Significantly improves school processes“recruitment process”
- Moderately improves behaviour or wellbeing“Well-being support planning, well-being initiative development”
- Slightly improves attainment“Nothing springs to mind at this moment”
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Mar 2024
Provides the most up to date and relevant info
Reply from The Key:Dear Kerry,
thank you for your 5* review.
We appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback as it helps us learn what we can do to meet your needs as a member.
Tamara.
Kerry found The Key:
- Slightly saves school money“filtering and monitoring info”
- Does not significantly reduce teacher workload
- Moderately improves school processes“GDPR, KCSIE”
- Does not improve behaviour or wellbeing
- Does not improve attainment
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Steph
Head Teacher
St Helen's Church of England Primary School, England
Used The Key daily for 5 years+
Mar 2024
Sometimes it is not easy to search what you are looking for
Reply from The Key:Dear Steph,
thank you for your review.
We appreciate you taking the time to share what we can improve on to help meet your needs as a school.
Tamara.
Steph found The Key:
- Does not significantly save school money“None”
- Significantly reduces teacher workload“CDP opportunities, safeguarding updates”
- Moderately improves school processes“Policies and procedures”
- Slightly improves behaviour or wellbeing“Ideas/examples for behaviour”
- Slightly improves attainment“Updates in bite size format from DfE”
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Mar 2024
I have always used the key for templates, ideas and I check the weekly roundup all the time. Thank you
Reply from The Key:Dear Alison,
thank you for taking the time to share your 5* feedback.
We’re so pleased to hear that you’ve had a positive experience with us.
Tamara.
Alison found The Key:
- Moderately saves school money“Less courses and time out of school because you have the information”
- Significantly reduces teacher workload“We are given the key changes in documents saving us time in reading the whole thing”
- Significantly improves school processes“The calendar of events and the reminders when things need to be done by”
- Moderately improves behaviour or wellbeing“It will give ideas and strategies.”
- Slightly improves attainment“N/A”
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