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SIMS 8 Press Release 30th March 2017

vikpaw

By vikpaw
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vikpaw

vikpaw

Posted
Posted (edited)

Thread started to discuss the imminent press release regarding SIMS 8.

Posts from other thread moved here.

Let's try to keep the discussion in this thread and not have lots of breakaways.

 

:mod: Please remember there are rules regarding suppliers who are not sponsors limiting their activity to technical responses and support :mod:

 

I'm sure this will be a hot topic which affects many, so we want to encourage and support discussion but please bear in mind it can't turn into a running advert.

 

We will post up links to any official news as and when we can.

 

EDIT:

 

Link to press release http://www.capita-sims.co.uk/resources/press-and-media/capita-sims-announces-major-refresh-their-award-winning-software-schools

 

Link to more info and FAQs https://www.simsnextgeneration.co.uk/ [updated 15/10/2018]

Edited by vikpaw
To put in first post text
  • Thanks 1
Michael

Michael

Posted
Posted
@matt40k - you're going to have to eat your words fairly soon!

 

The main concern I have with SIMS8 is I'm sure it'll be very good, but unfortunately it'll probably take Capita years to get through all existing customers to convert them to SIMS8.

 

In the meantime the whole Academy agenda is fast gaining pace and a cloud MIS of some capacity is a must yesterday. Surely Capita must acknowledge this?

PhilNeal

PhilNeal

Posted
Posted (edited)

@Michael it will take a while to move all customers to the next gen & we're not rushing to move customers at a rate that makes them feel uncomfortable. After a pilot period it will be up to customers when they chose to make the move - there is a portal that allows them to migrate in their own time.

 

First and foremost we are an educational company - the cloud is not our #1 worry - school improvement is. We can provide MATs with the data they need today through cloud solutions that draw data from local installations.

 

We have been working on getting the right solution in 8 for quite a while - we've thrown away a lot of approaches such as SSRS which has cost us time but we'd rather produce something that our schools love using. Proof will be in the pudding but I'm delighted with the reactions we're getting.

 

Press release tomorrow - although this is the start of the process.

Edited by PhilNeal
  • Thanks 2
Michael

Michael

Posted
Posted

Thanks for your response Phil - I thought the pilot was over? If you're launching/announcing a product, then surely it should be ready for whoever wants to adopt it in the next few months for example? Is it a fair assumption the additional pilot could be another 6-12 months?

 

I totally agree with you, this isn't just a shift to the cloud exercise, it's also about improving the existing provision. I look forward to the announcement. Some screenshots would also be advantageous for all concerned :)

PhilNeal

PhilNeal

Posted
Posted (edited)

@Michael the pilot is just expanding - we'll limit the uptake through to early next year - no more than 500-1000 schools to be sure that we've got the scaling right. I'd expect uncontrolled adoption from BETT18.

 

The press release is really about starting communications - up until now we haven't said much.

 

You'll get a good idea of the way it all looks from Options 8 which will be released to all schools this May.

Edited by PhilNeal
mjk

mjk

Posted
Posted
@Michael the pilot is just expanding - we'll limit the uptake through to early next year - no more than 500-1000 schools to be sure that we've got the scaling right. I'd expect uncontrolled adoption from BETT18.

 

The press release is really about starting communications - up until now we haven't said much.

 

You'll get a good idea of the way it all looks from Options 8 which will be released to all schools this May.

 

Would you mind confirming whether or not the new SIMS will require windows at our end? We are looking at migrating away now because the cost of upgrade from 2008R2 for the Autumn release is too high. Chromebooks are slowly replacing our windows 7 clients so it is extremely unlikely we will have a windows estate at all in a few years.

If (as with hosted SIMS) the recommended app is via IE this wouldn't work for us as we need a completely independent system, with a free API.

mjk

mjk

Posted
Posted

@PhilNeal

One other thing, about the API, are other third party vendors integrating already and will we (schools) get access to the API documentation?

It would be a shame if @matt40k point about next decade for maturation won't be SIMS fault, but the integrations!

Michael

Michael

Posted
Posted
[MENTION=452]The press release is really about starting communications - up until now we haven't said much.

 

At least you're honest, I appreciate that... but at the same time it tells me SIMS8 is still a long way off being adopted. Realistically it's still years away and I think ICT wise a lot will happen in the next two years - Academies being one and secondly reducing costs and improving provisions from the existing choice of cloud MIS systems available today.

matt40k

matt40k

Posted
Posted
Integration won't be the issue @mjk - these people have made a business out of moving fast. It'll be the missing "core" features that don't exist (yet). The problem with Capita testing is they pick the same schools for pilots - these tend to be edge cases and folks who will MacGyver it into working. When you hit the real world you'll hit problems with people using the system the way it wasn't intended to. Then you've got this is a whole new MIS system problem - this will all be new to your staff and you won't have experts in Local Support Units (LAs) to take the hit something Capita hasn't had to deal with for many, many years (like those folks are retired), then you've got the stand stuff like data migration, re-tendering\procurement. It's gonna be a interesting to watch as Capita bully it through, but I'll wager they won't have 1000 schools activity using it by BETT '18 who are (mostly) happy, I'll be surprised if you even get 400!
  • Thanks 2
elsiegee40

elsiegee40

Posted
Posted
Thread started to discuss the imminent press release regarding SIMS 8.

Posts from other thread moved here.

Let's try to keep the discussion in this thread and not have lots of breakaways.

 

:mod: Please remember there are rules regarding suppliers who are not sponsors limiting their activity to technical responses and support :mod:

 

I'm sure this will be a hot topic which affects many, so we want to encourage and support discussion but please bear in mind it can't turn into a running advert.

 

We will post up links to any official news as and when we can.

 

......

vikpaw

vikpaw

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Integration won't be the issue @mjk - these people have made a business out of moving fast. It'll be the missing "core" features that don't exist (yet). The problem with Capita testing is they pick the same schools for pilots - these tend to be edge cases and folks who will MacGyver it into working. When you hit the real world you'll hit problems with people using the system the way it wasn't intended to. Then you've got this is a whole new MIS system problem - this will all be new to your staff and you won't have experts in Local Support Units (LAs) to take the hit something Capita hasn't had to deal with for many, many years (like those folks are retired), then you've got the stand stuff like data migration, re-tendering\procurement. It's gonna be a interesting to watch as Capita bully it through, but I'll wager they won't have 1000 schools activity using it by BETT '18 who are (mostly) happy, I'll be surprised if you even get 400!

I always said that it would be so long in the making that it would be outdated and the goalposts would have moved.

 

There's a lot to be said for us MacGyver's, many of us have made careers out of ICT Bricolage ;)

 

I'm interested to hear what they have to say, it's been a long time coming. I can't believe it's going to be SIMS 8, I was hoping for SIMS X...

CAM

CAM

Posted
Posted
@mjk - it runs on a variety of browsers.

 

But will the various plugins and scripts be compatible with a non-Windows OS? Can we expect, for example, Individual Reports to work just as well in Chrome on a Linux workstation running OpenOffice as it does on Microsoft Edge in Windows 10 with MS Office?

 

Will out of date technologies like Flash and Java be required or are you using HTML5 and other current non-plugin based technologies?

 

How will Capita react to changes in browser technologies and usage habits? Example: The introduction of Edge which will be the default on end-user home computers and cross-compatibility with not just desktop browsers but the rising popularity of mobiles and tablets?

  • Thanks 2
bigdannyb79

bigdannyb79

Posted
Posted
just to clarify there is a communication out today then ? And 'works on a variety of browsers' worries me ! If your building a product for the cloud I would hope for it to be browser/device agnostic
vikpaw

vikpaw

Posted
  • Author
Posted
just to clarify there is a communication out today then ? And 'works on a variety of browsers' worries me ! If your building a product for the cloud I would hope for it to be browser/device agnostic

That is what we have been led to believe.

I think the browser comment is a non-technical way of saying it's agnostic, but they probably won't want to give a 100% testing on all browsers/devices guarantee.

PhilNeal

PhilNeal

Posted
Posted (edited)
It's an HTML5 front end. It already works on Edge. It doesn't rely on any MS products at the front end. Edited by PhilNeal
  • Thanks 2
Michael

Michael

Posted
Posted

To be fair, all major browsers now support HTML5, so I don't consider this the issue - IE, Edge, Chrome, Safari (iPads) and Firefox.

 

The issue is definitely time scales in my view.

mjk

mjk

Posted
Posted
I wonder if the API has *full* access to all the data at no additional cost. If we put our data into hosted SIMS will we be able to remove it when something better comes along.
vikpaw

vikpaw

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)

Capita SIMS announces a major refresh to their award-winning software for schools | Capita SIMS

 

The changes will start with the release of a redeveloped version of SIMS for primary schools in Spring 2018. The company will then follow with the MIS for secondary schools, independent schools and a revised school finance solution.

 

“We went back to basics and looked at every task a teacher or school leader had to carry out in school and what information would help them complete these tasks easily. We then went about designing these features into the software so teachers would not need to spend time pulling data out of systems. Instead, SIMS will present teachers automatically with what they need to know about their pupils, and heads will instantly be able to access all they need to know about their school without having to go looking for it. Our aim is to help schools have all the information they need to improve pupil outcomes.”

 

The reimagined versions of SIMS will be developed in the cloud meaning they also offer schools the ability to access the system from any device, with automatic data back-ups and upgrades. In addition, using the cloud removes the need for onsite servers and maintenance, saving time and money.

 

Further details relating to new features and enhancements will be released to schools over the coming months. Schools can register to receive these updates at http://www.capita-sims.co.uk/reveals

Edited by vikpaw

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