When Pūtahi Belfast School made the move to Hero, the leadership team were clear about what they wanted: one intuitive system to bring together communication, administration, and learning. The result? A smoother day-to-day for staff, greater transparency for families, and more time to focus on what matters - student learning and wellbeing.
With two campuses and multiple systems running in the background, shifting to Hero was the logical next step for Principal Jo Johnstone:
“We’d heard great things about Hero from other school principals. We wanted clear communication, everything in one place, and easy access to data. Hero fit the bill.”
Offering them one hub for everything - attendance, communication, PB4L, reporting and more, the transition to Hero was seamless. Staff were consulted early, their needs were mapped against Hero’s features, and confidence grew quickly.
“Our staff love Hero,” says Jo. “Everybody’s on board, it’s just been fantastic. If you ask any of [our staff] what they think, they’ll give it a double thumbs up.”
For school administrator Karen Loyd-Griffiths, the impact was felt straight away. Processes that once meant juggling notebooks, emails, phone calls, and multiple systems are now handled in one place.
“It’s very easy to use, even with very little tuition - basically just go in, and it’s there.”
Absences flow directly from caregivers to teachers and the office, eliminating paper trails and missed messages. Medication is streamlined and tracked automatically, reducing manual load. Even PB4L rewards, once managed across multiple spreadsheets, are now integrated into Hero saving hours of work.
“It’s the lack of paperwork. I don’t need to write things down, ring classes, or email parents - it’s all done via the Hero app and saves so much time,” explains Karen.
Hero has quickly become part of the school’s strategic goals. With the new curriculum and national focus on attendance, Pūtahi Belfast is using Hero to make progress in these spaces visible. From tracking attendance data to monitoring progress in key curriculum areas, Hero gives teachers and leaders the insight they need to meet goals and keep caregivers engaged.
“Hero makes it so easy to track and show attendance visually to parents, and we can track goals around reading, writing, and maths. It keeps everyone - students, whānau [families], and staff - on the same page.” - Jo
The same applies to PB4L. Teachers no longer email spreadsheets of rewards, parents see progress instantly, and leaders can report to the board with confidence.
A strong signal of success has been the trust families have in using the platform. With sensitive student information - from medical needs to attendance - Hero gives staff peace of mind that data is secure and shared only with the right people.
Even for students in foster or respite care, Hero ensures the right caregivers can access updates, are kept informed and stay connected.
“Their respite caregivers have even got access, so they know where their children are at,” explains Karen.
The move to Hero wasn’t just about admin and processes - it was about people. The school approached the rollout with creativity and heart. Leaders donned Hero capes at whānau hui (meetings with family) and road patrol to encourage app downloads, offered chocolate fish as incentives, and built Hero into everyday processes like teaching & learning meetings, and teacher welcome letters.
And the response from families? Overwhelmingly positive.
“Parents love it. They’ve said they feel well-communicated with, and they love the ease of messaging teachers or the office directly. It’s a one-stop shop,” says Karen.
With reporting, communication, and administration now centralised, the school is preparing to bring finances into Hero next. Jo is confident this will make life even easier for families, offering simple payment options directly through the app.
Hero at Pūtahi Belfast School shows what’s possible when technology is intuitive, secure, and built to support both learning and community. The resounding result is less admin, stronger connections and more time for what matters - supporting learners to thrive.
-
Considering Hero for Your School? If you're looking for an all-in-one solution like Pūtahi Belfast School, one which brings curriculum-aligned practices to life and makes transition feel seamless, book a demo!