Overview
- How Cloud Design Box helped ENLUTC streamline coursework tracking
- Why traditional assignment tools fell short for long-term projects
- How Student Work Folders support student accountability, reduce admin, and centralise feedback
- First-hand insights from ENLUTC Assistant Principal, Claire Reet.
A Simpler Way to Manage Student Work
At Cloud Design Box, we collaborate closely with Engineering North Lincolnshire UTC (ENLUTC), a University Technical College in Scunthorpe serving students aged 13 to 19. We recently spoke to Claire Reet, Assistant Principal and Head of Engineering, about her experience of working with Cloud Design Box and, in particular, Student Work Folders.
Like many schools with project-intensive curricula, ENLUTC faced a key challenge: providing a structured, digital space for ongoing student work without creating extra administration or relying on disorganised shared drives.
That’s where Student Work Folders became the solution.
The Challenge: Supporting Long-Term Learning, Not Just Single Assignments
While Microsoft Teams Assignments are great for structured tasks, they didn’t provide the flexibility needed for sustained, evolving student work. At the same time, staff spent too much time chasing submissions, juggling links, and trying to keep digital project work from becoming chaotic.
Claire recounts what prompted the change:
“Introducing Cloud Design Box Student Work folders at ENLUTC has been a game-changer for both staff and students, especially in our project-based engineering curriculum. As Head of Engineering, I’ve seen firsthand how this system has streamlined our workflow, improved organisation, and strengthened the connection between teaching and learning.”
For a detailed walkthrough of Teams Assignments, see our blog on Setting Assignments in Microsoft Teams for Education (Jan 2018).
The Solution: Structured Digital Workspaces That Just Work
Cloud Design Box implemented Student Work Folders: secure, centrally managed folders provisioned automatically for each student within their Class Teams.
Unlike personal OneDrives, teachers have full visibility of each student’s work without needing to request access or chase links. They are especially useful for coursework-based subjects, long-term projects, or where students need to build up portfolios over time.
Teachers can view, monitor and leave feedback in one place, all within the Microsoft 365 environment they already use, while students benefit from a clear, consistent digital structure that supports independent learning and keeps their work safe, organised and accessible.
Claire comments:
“One of the most immediate benefits has been the clarity it brings to project work. Students have a dedicated space to store, manage, and submit their work, and they know exactly where to find teacher feedback. It’s helped instil a real sense of ownership and accountability in their learning. They treat their work folders almost like a professional portfolio, which aligns perfectly with the industry-focused ethos of our UTC.”
Watch this short flythrough of Student Work Folders in action to see how it supports independent learning and simplifies teacher oversight:
More Time for Teaching, Less Time Chasing Submissions
Because folders are created automatically, staff spend less time on admin and more time on teaching. Teachers can now monitor progress, give feedback, and upload marked work, all within Microsoft 365.
As Claire observes:
“From a teaching perspective, the ability to easily monitor progress, provide targeted feedback, and track submissions has freed up valuable time. We’re no longer chasing missing work or dealing with the chaos of multiple email submissions. Everything is in one place, and that consistency across the school is making a real difference.”
Mirroring How Students Work in the Real World
Student Work Folders complement Teams Assignments by offering flexible, collaborative digital workspaces suited to extended coursework and portfolios.
Claire highlights the impact:
“The integration with Teams has also enhanced collaboration. Students can work on documents in real time, and staff can drop in to support or guide without interrupting momentum. For engineering in particular, where iteration and development are key, this has helped simulate the real-world design process much more effectively. The use of Teams also helps students prepare for the world of work, as many of our linked employers use Teams, and ties in with the business mentality of the UTC.”
Helping Students Take Ownership of Their Learning
Student Work Folders encourage responsibility, organisation, and continuity in student work:
“Overall, Cloud Design Box Student Work folders have supported a more efficient, transparent, and student-centred approach to teaching. It’s helping us focus on what matters: developing confident, independent learners ready for the demands of further education and the engineering industry.”
Why It Works: Simplicity Meets Scalability
With over 10 years of experience implementing Microsoft 365 in education, Cloud Design Box helps schools unlock the potential of powerful tools already at their fingertips. Student Work Folders are just one component of this mission, reducing admin, increasing accountability, and ensuring secure digital learning.
About the Authors
Claire Reet is Assistant Principal and Head of Engineering at Engineering North Lincolnshire UTC. She oversees the delivery of the technical curriculum and champions the use of digital tools that bridge classroom learning and professional practice. Claire is a vocal advocate for student-led learning, innovative workflows, and practical skill development.
Andrew Mulholland is Chief Marketing Officer at Cloud Design Box. With a background in teaching English and a career in the education supply industry since 1999, Andrew combines classroom insight with strategic leadership. He helps schools, trusts, and colleges transform their digital environments to support better learning, communication, and compliance.
To learn more about Student Work Folders, or any other aspect of the Cloud Design Box solution for SharePoint and Teams, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
