the portal
Tools to enhance teaching, learning and operations in M365
Designed specifically for schools and Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs), the CDB Portal empowers staff with greater visibility, efficiency, and control over digital learning environments — without needing to be IT experts.
The Cloud Design Box Portal complements your Microsoft 365 and Teams setup by filling key operational gaps and improving how staff interact with digital classrooms, assignments, and collaboration spaces.
Class Drop-In
Efficient, flexible class cover without IT intervention.
Enables authorised staff (like Cover Managers or Heads of Department) to quickly add any teacher to any class team.
Ideal for lesson cover, quality assurance, mentoring, or team teaching.
Ensures teachers can support, observe, or coach colleagues in a secure and transparent way.
Cover Manager
Efficient, flexible class cover without IT intervention.
Student assignment search
Student-centred visibility for pastoral and academic support.
Student Assignment Search
Student-centred visibility for pastoral and academic support.
Teachers can search for any student and view all assignments set across subjects, including submission status, marks, feedback, and even the actual work (e.g. Word documents, videos).
Especially useful for form tutors, Heads of Year, and SENCOs to monitor academic workload and well-being.
Helps identify students who may be falling behind or overwhelmed.
Assignment analytics
Insight-driven improvement at subject and whole-school level.
See which subjects are setting the most and fewest assignments.
Drill down into specific classes and view individual assignments for deeper analysis.
Identify departments that may need additional support—or those excelling who can act as internal champions.
Exportable data allows leaders to use the insights in Excel, Power BI, or leadership meetings.
Self-service site creation
Empower staff to build and own digital spaces, securely.
Self-Service Site Creation
Empower staff to build and own digital spaces, securely.
Designated staff can create SharePoint communication sites (for sharing resources and updates) or collaboration teams (for working together on projects).
Offers structured templates aligned with school and trust priorities.
Ensures security and governance are upheld while reducing bottlenecks on IT.
Supported by Cloud Design Box consultancy for long-term site development and impact.
Staff toolbox
Located on the staff homepage, the Staff Toolbox gives quick access to all CDB Portal tools — removing friction and boosting adoption. Staff can get to what they need in just one click.
Why schools and MATs love the Cloud Design Box Portal
The CDB Portal gives schools and trusts additional visibility, flexibility, and control in the familiar, secure environment of Microsoft 365.
Reduces admin burden for teachers and leaders.
Supports safeguarding, workload monitoring, and departmental development.
Improves the quality and consistency of Microsoft Teams and SharePoint usage.
Designed with real school workflows in mind, and constantly refined.
Unlock new possibilities with the Cloud Design Box Portal
The CDB Portal gives schools and trusts additional visibility, flexibility, and control in the familiar, secure environment of Microsoft 365.