“Great bang for your buck” - A headteacher’s verdict on Tassomai and its impact
Horsforth School has embraced Tassomai to improve student engagement, reduce teacher workload, and drive better results. Headteacher Dr Paul Bell shares how the platform has transformed learning across multiple subjects, helping students form positive study habits and boosting confidence.
Horsforth School, a large secondary school with a thriving sixth form in Leeds, has been using Tassomai to enhance student learning and improve academic outcomes. Dr Paul Bell, the headteacher, has experienced the platform from three perspectives: as a school leader making strategic decisions, as a classroom science teacher observing its impact firsthand, and as a parent seeing its influence on his own son’s education. This unique perspective allows him to speak with authority on how Tassomai works in practice—and why it has become such an integral part of the school’s approach to learning.
The Challenge:
Student Motivation & Teacher Workload
Before adopting Tassomai, Horsforth School had been using various retrieval practice tools, but engagement levels remained inconsistent. Teachers faced significant workloads in setting and marking assignments, while students struggled with motivation and independent study habits.
Dr Bell, reflecting on the school’s initial approach, noted: “We had systems in place for retrieval practice—structured routines, commercial platforms generating questions—but the engagement just wasn’t strong enough. We needed something that really hooked students in and made them want to learn.”
As a parent, he also witnessed these struggles firsthand with his own son, a Year 11 student preparing for GCSEs. “Getting my son to engage in independent learning was always a struggle. That changed when we introduced him to Tassomai.”
The Solution:
Implementing Tassomai Across Key Stages
The school’s new head of science, Neil Weedy, had previously used Tassomai at another school and was highly enthusiastic about its potential. His advocacy led Horsforth to trial the platform in science for Years 9–11, where it quickly became a core learning tool, praised for its habit-forming nature and ease of use.
The success in science prompted Horsforth to expand Tassomai’s use into other subjects, including English, history, geography, and computing. “We saw such a strong impact in science that it made perfect sense to bring it into other subjects,” says Dr Bell. “We’re now using it across multiple areas of the curriculum, and the results are looking just as promising.”
A Game-Changer for Student Engagement: Tassomai’s structured daily quizzes encouraged independent learning. Dr Bell’s son, for example, began using Tassomai daily, setting personal goals and forming positive study habits—something he had struggled with using other platforms. “He set himself a daily alarm for 4:30pm, and that was it. No more nagging. He just got on with it.”
Data-Driven Insights: The diagnostic tools provided teachers with detailed performance analytics, allowing them to identify knowledge gaps and tailor their teaching more effectively. “It’s not just about knowing which students are struggling—it’s about knowing exactly what they’re struggling with,” Dr Bell explains. “That allows us to intervene in a much more meaningful way.”
Reduction in Homework Conflict: Parents benefited from clear insights into their child’s progress, making it easier to support their studies without constant arguments. “As a parent, I’ve been able to say, ‘Let’s look at your Tassomai Tree together,’ rather than just asking, ‘Have you done your homework?’ It’s transformed the conversation at home.”
Impact:
Measurable Improvement in Science Outcomes
Since implementing Tassomai, Horsforth School has observed a significant improvement in science progress, counteracting an overall decline in school-wide progress trends. Science progress scores increased from +0.3 to +0.53, highlighting the positive impact of the platform.
Dr Bell emphasises that while no single tool can take full credit for an improvement, Tassomai has played a huge role. “If you ask me what’s changed in our approach to science over the past year, the biggest difference is Tassomai.”
Beyond academic results, the school has seen a significant reduction in teacher workload. With automated marking and centralised assignment setting, teachers have more time to focus on complex problem-solving and higher-order thinking skills in class. “It’s virtually workload-free,” says Dr Bell. “No more collecting worksheets, no more ‘I lost my homework’ excuses—just instant, reliable feedback.”
The school has even introduced the Golden Bunsen Trophy—a spray-painted Bunsen burner mounted on wood—to reward students with the highest engagement and success rates in Tassomai. “It’s a bit of fun, but it’s also a serious motivator,” Dr Bell laughs. “The kids love it.”
Why Tassomai? A Headteacher’s Perspective
When asked why he would recommend Tassomai to other school leaders, Dr Bell summarised:
“Great bang for your buck.” Tassomai delivers high impact at a reasonable cost.
Improved student progress and confidence. It helps students build foundational knowledge and tackle more advanced concepts with confidence. “My son’s confidence in science has skyrocketed—he’s getting 80-90% on his quizzes now, compared to 60% when he started.”
Reduced teacher workload. Automated setting and marking free up time for educators. “Ask any teacher if they want a tool that sets homework, marks it, and gives instant diagnostics—and watch how fast they say yes.”
Data-driven teaching. Tassomai’s diagnostics provide actionable insights for curriculum planning. “It’s helping us refine our teaching in ways we hadn’t anticipated.”
Less homework conflict. Teachers don’t have to field excuses, there’s no more “the dog ate my homework”. Parents gain clear oversight of their child’s progress, reducing study-related stress at home. “It’s turned homework from a battle into a habit.”
Conclusion
Horsforth School’s success with Tassomai demonstrates the platform’s ability to enhance student engagement, improve academic outcomes, and ease teacher workload. With the platform now embedded across multiple subjects, the school continues to see positive results in student progress, engagement, and teacher satisfaction.
As Dr Bell puts it: “Tassomai isn’t just another online learning tool. It’s a culture shift. It’s changed how our students engage with revision, how our teachers approach workload, and how our parents support learning at home. If you’re a school leader wondering whether to try it—just do it.”
For more information on how Tassomai can support your school, visit www.tassomai.com/teachers or download our factsheet for Senior Leadership Teams. You can also view more case studies here.