Leisure trust GLL has launched new software to simplify the management of the 68,000 people taking part in lessons and courses across its 115 centres.

CoursePro, devised by Cap2 Solutions, was originally designed to support swim-schools and has been endorsed by the ASA, but now the programme management software is being used by leisure companies to administer a wide range of activities.

CoursePro removes paperwork processes from teachers and coaches, who log activity in real-time using an iPod. It simplifies the administration process, reduces pressure on staff, improves customer service and aids retention.

"Implementing CoursePro was an enormous undertaking, encompassing over 7,000 lessons and courses a week in 27 different sports and activities, including swim school, football, gymnastics, judo, athletics, dance, drama and Nordic walking," said Daniel Haywood, Commercial Brands Manager at GLL.

"But the transfer from paper to iPod has made lessons and courses far easier to manage. The register is simple to use, testing sheets are simple to use and even the movement around class levels is easy to use."

The software enables fast and accurate administration, course co-ordination, up to date reporting and parental interaction via a HomePortal, where customers can view teacher feedback, re-enrol and pay for future lessons.

"There have been massive benefits from the reorganisation of re-enrolments, which are now weekly," added Haywood.

"We no longer have peak repayment times, which were an administrative headache, and we've seen a 25 per cent increase in online traffic since embedding the booking flow in our website."

Reporting is easy to understand as information on joiners, leavers, the movement of pupils between classes and class occupancy can be viewed in a graph or table, and set against monthly targets. 

Haywood says GLL has also seen a very positive response to the pupil history, which enables teachers to note and store much finer detail than previously capable with its sports courses.

"With more than 21,000 of our customers creating a HomePortal account we are seeing great feedback from them, especially with regard to monitoring their child's progress. We also held review sessions with our 400+ swimming teachers and received great feedback on the software from them too."

GLL will be using the software at one of its most prestigious sites, the London Aquatics Centre, which was built specifically for the Olympics.

The Aquatics Centre, which reopened for the first time since the Games on 1 March, will host a series of events and galas as well as regular public swimming and diving sessions.