How one of WA’s largest schools transformed admin with Paperly
Many schools still find themselves juggling clunky systems that just don’t talk to each other. That’s exactly the situation Willetton Senior High School in Perth, Western Australia found themselves in.
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The challenge
Scaling admin in one of WA’s largest schools
With nearly 3,000 students, Willetton SHS is one of WA’s largest public independent schools. Managing enrolments the old-fashioned way just wasn’t sustainable.
Each student enrolment application involved:
Endless paperwork
Constant follow-ups
Manually entering data in multiple places
Wasted hours for staff who were meant to be supporting students
Something had to change.
The turning point
Saying goodbye to paper
Of course, these challenges are something our team at Paperly are very used to. In fact, it’s the reason why Paperly was founded in the first place. So when we connected with the team at Willetton SHS, the focus was obvious: help them simplify their enrolment process.
Using the Paperly Forms and Enrolments Modules, they transformed the way families interacted with the school and the way the school operated behind the scenes.
Instead of printing and posting paperwork, families completed Paperly online forms (in their own language if needed – thanks to a Google Translate integration). Instead of endless emails between departments, our system sent automated alerts when documents were missing or when applications progressed. Instead of chaos, there was clarity.
The Results
More time, less stress
From a multi-person process to just one enrolment officer: Before Paperly, the enrolment team were stretched thin. Now, a single staff member can manage the entire intake.
Less email ping-pong: Instead of back-and-forth chains, staff are automatically notified when tasks need action. Reducing email chaos and confusion.
More inclusive for families: The built-in translation features meant parents could complete everything without needing extra help, reducing admin workload and making the process smoother for everyone.
Fewer mistakes, more complete submissions: Parents are prompted when a form is missing or incomplete. No more guessing games.
What this means for other schools
Willetton’s experience shows what’s possible when schools stop fighting their systems and start simplifying them.
Whether you’re leading a large school or just looking for a smarter way to manage admin, the beauty of Paperly is that it’s completely bespoke to your school’s needs.
Plus, our system seamlessly integrates with all of your school’s existing systems, reducing the digital learning curve for staff, teachers and parents.
Final thoughts
We may not be in the year 2000 anymore, but a lot of schools are still stuck in that old, paper-based world. Willetton Senior High School proved that change is possible and that it doesn’t have to be painful.
With the right tools (and a little help from our team at Paperly), your school can simplify its systems, better support its staff, and start moving forward.
Schools like Willetton are not just improving their efficiency and systems, but they’re preparing their school with the technology foundations required to provide a competitive, and compelling learning environment for their students.
