Modernising admin with ClassForKids

For more than 27 years, Academi Westend Academy has been at the heart of Bangor’s community. What began as a small ballet school has since grown into a vibrant performing arts centre, offering young people a chance to build their skills and confidence in the performing arts.

Led by Principal & CEO Natalie Robb, the academy has become a second home for generations of local families. “We’re very much a family here.” Natalie explains. “The children grow up together, sharing their passion for dance, drama and singing.”

But running a busy performing arts school isn’t just about teaching. It also means managing admin, keeping parents informed and making sure every child is fully supported. And for Natalie, juggling those responsibilities on paper systems and spreadsheets became overwhelming as the school grew - until she discovered ClassForKids.

From pen and paper to digital simplicity

For years, Natalie handled registrations, payments and parent communication using a notepad, a pen and a customised spreadsheet. As the academy grew, the manual admin tasks also grew and encroached on her time in the studio. 

Switching to ClassForKids changed everything.

With automated processes, easy class management and accessible parent information, Natalie gained hours back in her week. The system now supports every part of running the academy, from class booking to parent communication.

Effortless Communication

One of the biggest transformations for Academi Westend Academy has been the ease of staying connected with parents. “Being able to send out emails and text messages is fantastic.”

Whether it’s sharing updates, sending reminders or contacting a parent during a class, clear communication is now just a click away. And since all parent and pupil details are stored securely in one place, the team can find what they need instantly.

Natalie especially values the ability to access medical information quickly and safely, allowing her and other teachers to have peace of mind while taking classes.

Support when its needed most

Just like the environment she’s created at the academy, Natalie says the support she receives from ClassForKids is warm, fast and genuinely helpful. “You just drop them a message and they respond really quickly. They sort out any questions or queries right away — they’re really helpful all the time.”

Having a reliable team behind her has allowed Natalie to easily get to grips with ClassForKids software and quickly address any queries to free up her time for managing the academy.

What’s next for Academi Westend Academy?

With strong systems behind the scenes and a thriving community in front of them, Natalie and her team are continuing to excel and shape the next generation of performers, creators and confident young people.

What other performing arts academies can learn from Academi Westend Academy

Academi Westend Academy proves that when you cut out the admin chaos, you free up time to grow your business and deliver an exceptional experience for young performers.

Here are the key takeaways:

• Replacing spreadsheets and other manual admin with automated processes frees up hours every week
• Parent communication becomes smoother with fast and reliable integrated email and text messaging
• Safeguarding is improved when all essential information including emergency contacts and medical notes is stored securely in one place
• Reliable and responsive support empowers academy owners and staff to focus on teaching and business growth