At the centre of Nelson, New Zealand, Victory Primary School reflects the richness of the community's multicultural learners and families. When Dan George (Principal) and the Victory team were evaluating options for a new School Management System (SMS), they were searching for something that would simplify processes, support their staff, and align with the diverse and changing needs of modern education. It didn’t take long to land on their system of choice – Hero.
An Intuitive, Streamlined System
Dan and his team's decision to transition to Hero was rooted in its user-first design.
“We felt that it was a really user-friendly model for an SMS… it had been designed by people with educational experience, which was evident in the software.”
Having had multiple subscriptions in place for various platforms, Hero offered a way to streamline tools and reduce costs - bringing everything together in one place.
“This was also a way for us to cut costs, by accessing a system that does everything!”
Seamless Onboarding & Support
Transitioning to a new system can feel daunting, but for Dan and his team, the onboarding experience was anything but.
“The onboarding process has been awesome. We’ve had a couple of in-person and Zoom meetings, which has been great and we feel really supported by the Hero team. Everything’s laid out step-by-step.”
Staff gained access to comprehensive teacher guides and support resources, and Hero’s dedicated Customer Support team provided timely assistance for any additional, specific requests or questions.
A Vehicle Designed to Have You Navigating Change, Successfully
Dan acknowledged that no change comes without its challenges - especially during a time of wider curriculum shifts, but Hero has made it easy.
“The time that we had chosen to move to Hero coincided with a number of ministry changes, which meant that it was a busy time… however the positives of moving to Hero and the benefits we see from that transition have far outweighed any initial reservations.”
The user-friendly design helped teachers adapt quickly, even amidst a busy term and once they explored the integrated curriculum-aligned tools, the reason for transitioning really clicked.
“When they saw the new curriculum all there in front of them… they were like, actually, I feel much better about the whole process - all the information we need is there.”
He also highlights the visual appeal and intuitive layout as a major win that resonated with students and whānau too.
“It is a great system. It looks nice and the layout is beautiful, which makes it so easy to use.”
Advice to Other Educators
Dan’s final message to schools considering Hero? “Do it.”
“Talk to people that have made the transition… every single principal I’ve talked to has said they have zero regrets.”
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Considering Hero for Your School? If you're looking for an all-in-one solution like Victory School, one which brings curriculum-aligned practices to life and makes transition feel seamless, book a demo!
