South & City College Birmingham is a major further education provider offering AAT qualifications from Level 1 through to Level 4. John McFarlane, who teaches Levels 3 and 4, recently shared how adopting the Accountext+ package of systems and resources has helped the college streamline assessment delivery, boost student engagement, and enhance tutor efficiency.
The Challenge
Before implementing Accountext+, tutors relied heavily on paper-based resources and manual tracking for formative assessments. This approach presented several difficulties:
- Limited visibility into student engagement
- Time-consuming marking and feedback
- Difficulty identifying weak areas quickly
- Resource-heavy paper logistics
“We were doing a lot of formative assessment on paper, and it took time to make sure students had what they needed. There was no easy way to track who had done what. Accountext+ changed that.”
— John McFarlane, AAT Lecturer
The Solution: Adopting Accountext+
Previously using materials from another publisher, the college sought a more modern, intuitive, and data-driven solution. Accountext+ was chosen for its:
- Built-in formative assessments
- Real-time tracking and performance visibility
- Student-friendly design and clarity
- Alignment with AAT course structure
“Some students found the previous materials a bit wordy, so when the opportunity came up to try something new, we looked at Accountext+. The structure, assessments, and feedback were key selling points.”
Implementation and Impact
Accountext+ is now fully integrated into the AAT programme at South and City College. Tutors use:
- Question bank materials in class, to reinforce learning
- Formative assessments as homework, completed online
- Automated results to identify learning gaps and intervene quickly
For example, John described identifying weak areas in a student’s mock for Introduction to Bookkeeping and following up immediately with targeted support via Microsoft Teams.
“I saw straight away which tasks a student was struggling with. I could set up a call the same day and go through those areas. It’s made support far more agile.”
Student Response
Students have responded positively to Accountext+’s clear and consistent format:
- A logical, chapter-by-chapter learning journey
- Clear weekly expectations
- A familiar, easy-to-navigate digital environment
“It’s obvious what the plan is—from chapter one through to chapter eight. Students know exactly what they should be doing next.”
Final Thoughts
Accountext+ has become a central part of the college’s AAT teaching strategy. The integration of structured content, auto-marked assessments, and progress tracking has brought major benefits in terms of tutor efficiency and student learning.
“The entire course is now built around Accountext+. It helps us track progress, provide timely feedback, and support students more effectively—especially when it comes to exam readiness.”
About South & City College Birmingham
South and City College Birmingham is a large and diverse further education college offering a wide range of vocational and academic courses, including a full suite of AAT qualifications from Level 1 to Level 4. The college is committed to providing inclusive, career-focused education that meets the needs of learners and local employers.
Find out more about their AAT courses at: South & City College Birmingham
