From paper forms to 50% growth
Bournemouth School for Girls' digital revolution

Welcome to our new Customer Spotlight series, where we shine a light on schools using Applicaa to revolutionise their admissions processes. This month, we're thrilled to share the journey of Bournemouth School for Girls.

From paper forms to digital success

When we met Toby Osborne, Deputy Head Teacher at Bournemouth School for Girls, in September, one statistic jumped out immediately: their sixth form enrolment has increased by 50% in just three years. While multiple factors contributed to this growth, the school credits Applicaa as playing a significant role in this transformation.

The challenge: An outdated system holding students back

Three years ago, BSG faced a concerning problem. Their sixth form numbers were dropping, and prospective students had to physically visit the school, collect a paper application form, complete it and return it in person.

"When I first joined the school three years ago, I realised they still did sixth form applications on paper," recalls Toby. "The sixth form had record low numbers."

For a generation of digital natives, this outdated approach created an unnecessary barrier to entry.

The turning point

The decision to implement Applicaa came at a crucial moment. With an important open day just days away, the team made the bold decision to launch Applicaa for their sixth form applications.

The results speak for themselves. Today, BSG's sixth form has grown from concerning low numbers to being oversubscribed, with over 100 additional pupils compared to three years ago.

"Applicaa enables us to reach out to these kids who don't have to come into school and pick up a paper form," explains Toby. "It just feels more modern and accessible."

Enrolment Day: From weeks to hours

One of the most dramatic improvements has been on enrolment day itself:

Before Applicaa:

• Manual checking of results on paper
• Multiple staff members required
• Approximately 10 minutes per student
• Total time: Over 36 hours of staff time

With Applicaa:

• One person processed 200+ applications
• Automated result checking for internal students
• Total time: 4 hours
• Time saved: A tenth of the original time - equivalent to at least one full working week

"I processed over 200 applications in four hours," Toby shared. "That's quite a difference."

Features that make the difference

1. Automated result checking

BSG can automatically transfer and check results from their MIS system, instantly identifying which internal students meet entry requirements before enrolment day begins.

2. Fair class distribution

With subjects like Biology having five different groups, Applicaa's auto-allocation tool enables BSG to create balanced classes with a mixture of internal and external students at various ability levels, without juggling multiple spreadsheets.

3. Preventing double-enrolment

Applicaa's notification system alerts schools when a student has already enrolled elsewhere. Toby said, "A parent was chasing us up about why we hadn't given an offer, and I said, well, according to the Applicaa system, you've enrolled at another place - that was very helpful."

4. Robust communication tracking

Applicaa's email tracking provides concrete evidence of communications for appeals. "They say, 'I didn't get such and such communication,' and I can say, not only did you get it, I can see you've opened it 15 times. That's really useful for our legal appeals process."

5. Events management

BSG has expanded their use of Applicaa to manage their annual Taster Day, with students signing up and selecting sessions whilst the system automatically caps numbers for each class.

The broader impact

The success with Applicaa reflects a wider digital transformation at BSG. Over three years, the school has modernised HR systems, digitised site access and eliminated countless paper-based processes.

Toby emphasised the importance of responsive support: "When I have had issues, Applicaa have fixed it really quickly."

Looking ahead: ApplicaaOne and beyond

BSG is now exploring ApplicaaOne to further streamline their admissions ecosystem. In an area with dozens of separate small sixth forms and colleges where students apply everywhere, the potential for a cleaner process is significant.

"It would be great if all the schools in the area did it too," he enthused.

The bottom line

For schools considering a move to digital admissions, the BSG experience offers compelling evidence:

• Efficiency gains: From 36+ hours to 4 hours on enrolment day
• Growth: 50% increase in sixth form enrolment
• Better data: Automated tracking and reporting
• Improved student experience: Modern, accessible application process
• Cost savings: At least 10 working days saved per year in admin time

When you factor in the enrolment growth, improved efficiency and enhanced reputation from a modern admissions process, the return on investment extends far beyond cost neutrality.

Interested in learning how Applicaa could transform your school's admissions process? Visit applicaa.com or contact our team for a demo.

Stay tuned for next month's Customer Spotlight, where we'll feature another school's success story.