Setting Up the School

Before anything else can happen, an administrator needs to configure the school's academic structure. This is done once at setup and updated at the start of each new academic year.

Academic System

An Academic System defines the rules by which a group of students are assessed. This includes the types of assessments used (class tests, exams, practical work), how each type is weighted, and how final grades are calculated. A school running both GES JHS and Cambridge IGCSE programmes would have two separate academic systems.

To create an Academic System:

1. Go to Admin Portal > Academic Systems
2. Click New Academic System
3. Enter a name (e.g. "GES JHS") and configure the assessment types and their weights
4. Set the grade boundaries -- the score ranges that correspond to grades (e.g. 80--100 = Grade 1)
5. If applicable, configure the aggregate rule (see the Glossary for Best-N Aggregate)
6. Save the system

Academic Year and Periods

Once an Academic System exists, set up the current Academic Year and divide it into terms or semesters.

1. Go to Admin Portal > Academic Years
2. Click New Academic Year, enter the name (e.g. "2025/2026"), start date, and end date
3. Add the periods within that year -- e.g. "Term 1", "Term 2", "Term 3" -- each with their own start and end dates
4. Mark the current year as Active