Member Article

Gateshead’s Mesma secures first private school contract

A Bristol public school is the first in the independent education sector to benefit from online technology developed in the North East that ensures education facilities are ready for government inspectors.

Gateshead-based Mesma has won an undisclosed contract to supply its ‘intelligent’ software to Clifton College Preparatory School, which caters for 500 day and boarding pupils aged between three and 13.

Using Mesma enables the school to be fully prepared for inspections by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) and Ofsted, while the management team benefits from real-time access to critical information about the development plan at the touch-of-a-button.

Headmaster John Milne said: “Mesma is a great management aid, providing an affordable and tailor-made management resource that puts us in control of vital processes. Pressing a button gives us all the important information required for the school inspectors.

“Furthermore, the fact that Mesma can be easily adapted and tailored to operate within the ISI regulatory framework, and can be specifically written to meet individual needs, adds real value and speaks volumes for its potential in the independent education sector.”

Mesma was set-up by Neil Donkin, Carole Loader and Louise Doyle in response to changes implemented by education watchdog Ofsted, which led to schools, colleges and independent providers receiving reduced notice of inspection.

Clifton College Preparatory School is the latest success for the firm, which has seen year on year growth of 20% since be established in 2013 and is forecasting £200k turnover by the end of 2016.

Burnside Primary School in Cramlington, Bromley College in Kent and national not-for-profit groups like The MindSet are among many customers already benefiting from the technology’s self-assessment and improvement features.

Now, Mesma is gearing up to further help the education sector meet changes to Ofsted inspection framework which come into force in September.

From its office in the Team Valley, the firm is also targeting further work in the private education sector and internationally, where there’s strong demand for its services among commercial colleges in the Middle East owned and operated by UK-based consortiums.

Company director Louise Doyle said: “There is huge potential in the UK private education sector where schools such as Clifton College can benefit from our products and services in the face of stringent inspection regimes.

“We are also looking at international sales as well as creating opportunities for talented and skilled developers, who are keen to join a young and hungry business that has huge potential for growth over the next five years.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .