Willowfield School is a mixed comprehensive school for 11 to 16-year-olds within the London Borough of Waltham Forest that has been using iAM Compliant to streamline their estates management and compliance since 2021. Before this, the school used paper-based systems, which came with obvious limitations and inefficiencies.
We spoke with Mike Thomas, School Business Leader at Willowfield School, who provides strategic leadership across Finance, Premises, Human Resources, Sustainability, IT, and Resource Management. We asked Mike a handful of questions about the impact iAM Compliant has had on the compliance operations at Willowfield School so far. Here's what he had to say...
You’ve been using iAM Compliant at Willowfield School since 2021. What was your initial reason for looking into a Compliance Management software provider, and what made you choose iAM Compliant?
I initially worked with several paper-based systems, which were effective to a degree but had significant limitations, particularly when it came to consolidating paperwork for audits. I needed a more streamlined solution - one that would allow me to monitor helpdesk requests, store premises information (such as policies and risk assessments), log annual maintenance tasks, and send notifications for upcoming reviews or due tasks.
Are there any particular challenges you are currently facing in your estates management and compliance? How does iAM Compliant support you in overcoming these?
Like any other school, our primary challenge is ensuring a safe and supportive learning environment for pupils and staff. This involves promptly addressing any defects, whether repairing a broken water pump or ensuring PAT testing is completed on time.
The iAM system makes planning and managing maintenance and annual tasks easy. Its Risk Management feature is particularly valuable, enabling us to track risk assessments and share them with staff for acknowledgement and confirmation that they have been read and understood.
With iAM, it helps us provide excellent teaching facilities that foster an environment where great learning can happen.
What are the biggest pain points that you believe iAM Compliant solves for schools?
The helpdesk feature enables me to monitor and manage staff requests and identify patterns efficiently. The system’s flexibility to schedule daily, weekly, monthly, and annual checks ensures that no task is overlooked. Additionally, its user-friendly interface makes it incredibly easy to navigate and operate.
How have staff at Willowfield School received and adopted iAM Compliant?
Seamlessly, it was very easy to roll out.
How would you describe your overall experience using iAM Compliant?
iAM Compliant has significantly streamlined our operations, making it easier to manage maintenance, track helpdesk requests, and ensure compliance. The system's ability to schedule regular checks and monitor patterns of staff requests has been invaluable. Its user-friendly interface and risk assessment tracking have helped maintain a safe and efficient environment for staff and students, ensuring nothing is overlooked. Overall, iAM Compliant has made our day-to-day operations more efficient, organised, and reliable.
We're so pleased with the positive impact iAM Compliant is having at Willowfield School, helping to ensure compliance and support the school’s ethos of being a safe and happy place for pupils.
Ready to try out iAM Compliant for yourself? Try it for free and see the core features of our comprehensive compliance management tool now.