SchoolGuru

Submitted by: Catherine Bassindale

Website: http://www.SchoolGuruHertfordshire.co.uk

Describe your idea. How does it work and who does it help?

SchoolGuru uses the latest data from Local Authorities to reveal your chances of getting a place at your chosen state schools. Our pioneering Admission Calculator will tell you whether you would have got in, on allocation day, in recent years.

You just put in your details - the school you want, the admission rule you will be considered under, and the distance from your house (which you can estimate by using our bespoke Google maps). We'll hold your hand every step of the way. Once you've put in the information required, the Admission Calculator will generate a report showing whether you would have got a place, or not, in previous years. It will also judge whether or not you're likely to get a place this year. It takes, oh, about a second.

The system is simple to use, completely free, and it could potentially revolutionise the way that parents apply for schools. As 'catchment areas' are now longer legally enforceable, following the Greenwich ruling in the early 1990s, parents typically have difficulties working out if they are likely to gain a place at a particular school. They have previously had to rely on gossip, guesswork and potentially misleading tip-offs from head teachers and estate agents. Now, with SchoolGuru, they have fast access to the up-to-the-minute data that's relevant for their particular circumstances. They can use this information to make realistic and strategic choices on their application form.

Parents can use the Admission Calculator to help them find the best school for their child, whatever their criteria (eg, they might want a faith school, or a school they can walk to, or a school with good academic results). The service is invaluable for parents moving into a new area, and for anyone who wants to avoid the heartache of being allocated a school they haven't chosen.

The Local Authority stands to benefit, too. If parents are aware that they may not get their first-choice school, they can prepare themselves for this eventuality before allocation day, and shop around for acceptable alternatives. We will have urged them to include at least one 'safe' school that they are happy with, among their preferences. As a result, they will have a realistic view of what could happen on allocation day - and are less likely to end up going to appeal, offering considerable cost-savings to the LA.

There are benefits to schools, as well. Parents spend a great deal of time at open evenings, asking the teachers whether they are likely to get in. Without access to the technology that we have, it's difficult and time consuming for the schools to answer this question. However, if they direct parents to our site - we can offer them fast, reliable information, instead. In addition, SchoolGuru will soon offer individual schools the opportunity to publicise any vacancies for pupils (free of charge). This could help them financially, as schools are funded per capita. It will also assist parents moving into the area.

We've just got SchoolGuruHertfordshire up and running, and we are now working on the rest of the country. This is a huge task, as there are 150 Local Authorities, and each requires a new website (eg, SchoolGuruRichmond, SchoolGuruKent, etc). We would like to offer nationwide coverage asap - and inform parents about this unique and helpful service - and this is why we need to win the prize money, please!

What information or services do you need?

SchoolGuru uses information from:
- Local Authorities (admission data)
- Google maps
- Individual schools (admission data)
- Sats, GCSE and A level results for individual schools, as well as county and nationwide averages
- Ofsted reports