buildingschoolsinthecloud.com

What It Is

Building Schools in the Cloud is an online/blended school-building service offered by The Novacene Ltd for schools, local authorities, alternative education providers, and international organizations. It is not a standard consumer-facing online course platform; instead, it helps institutions design, build, and operate “cloud schools” from the ground up, with an emphasis on neurodiversity-friendly design, scalability, security, and Ofsted-compliant provision.

Core Evaluation

The service coverage is fairly comprehensive: it includes full school builds, teacher training and CPD, on-demand expert consultants, technology stack selection, curriculum planning, platform integration, safeguarding protocols, staff onboarding, and the launch of the first student cohort. Its curriculum/training areas focus on online and blended pedagogy, educational technology, assessment, and learner engagement strategies. The website does not specify whether delivery is live, recorded, or 1v1; it appears closer to project-based training and consulting. In terms of credentials, the site mentions Approved Provider Registration, LA applications, and Ofsted-compliant provision, but does not state whether participants receive a certificate after training. Regarding expertise, the company says it has experience delivering online/blended schools and references The Haven Academy and Riverside Virtual College, while also offering access to a vetted consultant network.

Pricing and Value for Money

Public pricing is listed as starting prices: Teacher Training & CPD from £1500, On-Demand Expert Consultants from £250, and Full-Service School Builds are quoted on a bespoke basis. For institutional buyers aiming to build long-term online provision, a project-based service may be more aligned with operational needs than simply purchasing a standalone LMS. However, total costs, service boundaries, and ongoing maintenance fees are not disclosed, so these must be confirmed through Book a call.

Pros and Cons

The main strength is its clear positioning, especially for SEND, EHCP, off-site learners, and alternative education settings. The service chain covers needs discovery, design and build, launch training, and support for scaling. The downside is only moderate transparency: details on teaching language, certificates, payment methods, consultant qualifications, and measurable case outcomes are limited. For individual learners, there is little information about standard courses that can be purchased directly.

Who It’s For and Access from China

It is better suited to local authorities, school groups, alternative education providers, and international schools than to individual students. The website does not state anything about access from China, network stability, or payment methods, so these remain unknown. If deploying in China, it is advisable to assess local compliance, data security, child protection requirements, cross-border payments, and alternatives such as local LMS providers, online teaching training organizations, or school digital transformation consultants.