From pages to platforms: inside the evolution of educational publishing

When I made the leap from educational publishing to edtech, I expected a change. What I didn’t anticipate was how transformative that shift would be − not only in terms of processes and workflows but also in how we approach people, timelines and resources. Here’s what I’ve learned along the way.

People: from outsourced to insourced

In traditional publishing, the reliance on an outsourced model is nearly universal. The internal team acts as a hub, commissioning and coordinating authors, editors and freelancers across different locations. While this can bring a diversity of perspectives, it often creates logistical hurdles. Delays are common, and the final product can sometimes feel like a patchwork of different visions.

At Save My Exams, the model couldn’t be more different. Our team is insourced, bringing a level of cohesion and ownership I hadn’t experienced before. Everyone − from the content creators to the platform developers − is aligned under one roof (albeit a virtual one), becoming not just contributors, but stakeholders invested in our success.

Having such a team fosters a shared understanding of our goals. As well as creating content, we’re designing an intuitive, targeted and effective student experience. It allows for real-time collaboration and pivots, ensuring that every piece of content fits into the larger puzzle. Initially, I was sceptical about having authors and content creators as full-time staff, but I’ve come to see the value they bring, enabling us to focus on quality in a way that rounds of copy-editing and proofreading can’t achieve.

Accelerating timelines: from years to weeks

Traditional publishing is synonymous with long timelines. Developing a textbook or supplementary educational resource typically takes several years from conception through to delivery. The process is lengthy because it’s built on a waterfall model: each stage must be completed before the next begins. By the time the final product reaches the classroom, the curriculum may have changed, or newer methods may have emerged, making the material outdated.

In comparison, my current Content team completes a full course in just 6 to 8 weeks. Instead of progressing through a rigid sequence, we embrace an iterative workflow. Content creation, platform design and user testing often overlap, enabling us to refine and improve our offering in real-time based on immediate feedback.

These shorter timelines mean we’re responsive to user needs. When we spot gaps in our content library or hear feedback from students and teachers, we can act on it almost immediately. What might take years in a traditional model, we tackle in weeks. Speed and quality aren’t mutually exclusive – they’re complimentary, and they’re redefining what’s possible in educational publishing.

Resources: from bundled content to targeted value

In traditional publishing, more is often seen as better. A single textbook might come with additional workbooks, teacher guides and online quizzes − creating a comprehensive package. In my experience, most of these supplementary resources don’t get used; the posters aren’t hung up in the classroom and the students never log on to the digital textbook. These materials are designed to have broad rather than specific appeal, meaning the publisher has spent a lot of time and money creating something that doesn’t drive value. 

At Save My Exams we take a more targeted approach. We create resources that solve particular problems for students, like concise revision notes, curated exam-style questions and step-by-step student-friendly model answers. The content is designed to be hyper-relevant, easy to navigate and instantly useful.

This approach allows us to avoid the inefficiencies of the traditional model. Rather than producing materials that may or may not align with users’ needs, we create resources based on direct feedback and data. By analysing how students engage with our platform, and using an experimental mindset where we test and refine our hypothesis, we can create content that has maximum impact. The result is a lean, value-driven library of content that helps students succeed.

Why this matters

Reflecting on my career transition, it’s clear that both traditional and digital models have their strengths. The former’s rigour and attention to detail often result in comprehensive resources that stand the test of time. However, that same rigour can make it difficult to adapt to the fast-paced demands of today’s learners.

Digital publishing, by contrast, thrives on speed, flexibility and focus. My team enables a collaborative, unified vision. Our compressed timelines let us respond to trends and user feedback in near real-time. And our targeted content strategy ensures that every resource we create drives value for our users.

For me, the move from traditional educational publishing to edtech has been more than a career shift – it’s been a mindset shift. I’ve learned that in a digital environment, success doesn’t come from doing more; it comes from doing better.

As I look to the future, I’m excited about the possibilities. The world of education is changing rapidly, and digital education platforms are at the forefront of that transformation. Whether you’re a student, a teacher, or someone passionate about the power of learning, one thing is certain: the best is yet to come.