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Arbor

Connect 4Matrix to Arbor MIS. In this topic:

  • Approving 4Matrix as a Partner App
  • Notifying 4Matrix to complete the connection
  • Next steps
  • Additional Setup Notes
If your school has used 4Matrix Desktop

If your school has used 4Matrix Desktop and connected this to Arbor, you do not need to approve the connection again for 4Matrix Cloud. Skip to: Notifying 4Matrix to complete the connection

Approving 4Matrix as a Partner App​

4Matrix must be approved as a Partner Application before the 4Matrix Arbor MIS data import can be used.

  1. Go to the Arbor App Approval page and login using your Arbor credentials.

Note: If you use SSO and/or 2FA at your school, you'll need to switch these off first. Disable these, login at the link provided, approve 4Matrix and then switch SSO/2FA on again.

Arbor step 1

  1. Scroll to the bottom of the page and press Approve to grant the connection between 4Matrix and Arbor.

Arbor step 2

If an error occurs...

If you receive an error message stating you are not authorised to approve apps, it is because only members of SLT and the school admin team can complete this step.

The approval process is complete. You must now notify 4Matrix to complete the connection between your 4Matrix database and Arbor.

Notifying 4Matrix to complete the connection​

Visit our support portal and create a ticket. Please include:

  • Your school’s full name
  • Your school’s DfE URN and/or number

We will contact you to confirm the connection is complete, usually within 24 hours.

Next Steps​

Once you have received confirmation from us that the connection is complete, you can check this in 4Matrix:

  1. In 4Matrix, go to Admin > Data Connections
  2. A green Configured label should appear next to the Arbor logo.

Arbor step 3

Try the 4Matrix Arbor import!

It is now possible to import data into 4Matrix from Arbor. This includes contextual data for any year group (classes, photos, demographics), and KS4 and KS5 exam results.

  1. In 4Matrix, go to Admin > Import Data
  2. Select Arbor and choose either Contextual or Exam Results
  3. Follow the prompts to create a new series or add data to an existing series.

Arbor Step 4

If you require further help or advice, please contact us via the support portal.

Additional Setup Notes​

Importing Classes​

In Arbor, link courses to Year Groups. This must be completed for classes to pull through on the 4Matrix data extract. In Arbor, complete the following steps for all year groups you wish to import classes for:

  • School > Programmes > Select AC year e.g. 2024/25
  • Under Courses select Table View.
  • In the search box enter year group e.g. Year 11. Now only Year 11 courses should be listed.
  • Click on the tick box at the top to Select All
  • Click on the pencil icon to Bulk Update Year Group
  • Select the year e.g. Year 11

In addition to allocating a Year Group to each class, you must also allocate an Academic Lead to each class to enable 4Matrix to pull the subject and teacher through to your database. You can do this in the same screen as above, selecting 'Copy Timetabled Staff to Academic Leads' from the Bulk Actions dropdown.

Exam Result Dates​

4Matrix will import the date that each exam grade was added to Arbor. This is significant because it means that 4Matrix may not be able to automatically apply correct discounting where a pupil has entered more than once for the same qualification, or has studied 2 subjects from the same 'family' (as defined by a subject's discount code) in the same season.

Further information​

Additional notes from Arbor are available from the Arbor Support Site.

  • First published: 11/02/2025
  • Last revised: 07/03/2025