KK20 Posted March 28, 2013 Posted March 28, 2013 Inherited E1. I am convinced that E1 is endorsed by satan. Have the go-ahead to look for a replacement. Ive narrowed the choices to Engage, iSAMS and Schoolbase. Anyone use the above? Anyone loathe the above? Major prerequisite is that it is hosted by us and we have access to read the database independently (SQL would be ideal).
elsiegee40 Posted March 28, 2013 Posted March 28, 2013 Are you an independent school or an LA school/academy? The needs for both are a little different. We are an independent using Schoolbase. It's not quite as intuitive as I'd like and they do seem to pander to their overseas customers slightly more than the UK ones. However, it's basically a good system. If the system is designed right you should have no need to access the database independently and that would be my pre-requisite!
GREED Posted March 28, 2013 Posted March 28, 2013 http://www.edugeek.net/forums/mis-systems/76154-something-keep-eye-dfe-2.html Worth having a look at those listed on the IMLS framework, some I imagine you have already discounted as well as spoken to. Obviously, taking advantage of my sponsorship, Aspen is one to take a look at too. Interestingly, it meets both your requirements list... if you want it to.
KK20 Posted March 28, 2013 Author Posted March 28, 2013 (edited) we are independant. The database must be accessible as we have other programs that utilise the underlying data. Edited March 28, 2013 by KK20
GREED Posted March 28, 2013 Posted March 28, 2013 So when you say other programmes do you mean third parties or in house systems?
StacyLarkin Posted March 28, 2013 Posted March 28, 2013 I second looking at the companies listed on the IMLS Framework, as I know some can grant underlying database access (read only) if required.
PhilNeal Posted March 28, 2013 Posted March 28, 2013 (edited) I don't think being on the ILMS framework does mean that the software "does the job". It is possible to be on the framework with NO software! Edited March 28, 2013 by Dos_Box Removed company promotion.
GREED Posted March 28, 2013 Posted March 28, 2013 (edited) So Phil, giving advice when asked as we are here, how would you suggest the OP get an easy list of other suppliers on the market? I think we can assume they have spoken to other schools locally to them, leaving them with their current 3 so far. Interesting list then already... I don't think the OP would simply pick from the list without investigating... this list is a helpful aid to know what else is available. Like it or loathe it the DfE recognises the listed suppliers as meeting enough requirements for schools MIS. Granted you could be on the list without software based on how it was scored. Actually everyone on the list has what is considered an operational MIS solution. I think it is critical to say that the IMLS framework, completed now over a year ago, lists 8 suppliers (I think it is) and actually every one of them currently has customers operating their MIS. So every one of them has software. I would argue each one of them is 'doing the job' for their customers too. Perhaps not for all schools, but each to their own. In that respect, the IMLS framework list is a very good place to look at the major players in the market. Edited March 28, 2013 by GREED
LSt Posted March 28, 2013 Posted March 28, 2013 Does anyone know how many UK schools are currently using Aspen for their MIS?
KK20 Posted March 28, 2013 Author Posted March 28, 2013 (edited) written in house (by me too). Our SMS system, after school club scheduler, school bus timetable system (that the bus company updates for issues), exam seating planner (we have people who are not on our MIS but external local candidates etc), staff holiday planner, pastoral tracker for our commendations, merits, credits, house colours etc those sorts of things (they all integrate into moodle). As for our MIS it is primarily used by our admin and SMT. It would be unlikely we would be using a large amount of MIS "parent portal" type screens as we already do what we need in moodle. The above MIS were chosen due to the modular(ish) nature so we wont need to buy/pay for the bits we wont use. I only use "read only" data for my apps and am happy to use an intermediatory table (as I have to in E1. E1 is horrific to get data out of - but it is possible!) Just wondered if anyone had used the above and the pitfalls/strengths of them. Edited March 28, 2013 by KK20
Bromcom_John Posted March 28, 2013 Posted March 28, 2013 (edited) Does anyone know how many UK schools are currently using Aspen for their MIS? I suspect that Graham may! But I would suggest you either ask him direct or take it to a PM as that has "nothing" to do with the Op's original query. Edited March 28, 2013 by Bromcom_John
Bromcom_John Posted March 28, 2013 Posted March 28, 2013 Had a quick poke around int he archive. back in 2011 JStuttard stated they were using Engage. not sure if he is still active or still using it though. 1
KK20 Posted March 28, 2013 Author Posted March 28, 2013 Thats the thing, I can find very little information or people who are using it. When we have doublefirst in for a demo it looked quite good and based on the "demo data" it did everything we asked of it (and it is hosted on my existing SQL database server so no problems in getting data out). I have out found the name of one local(ish) school that uses engage so im going to try and book a visit to have a chat with them and see how they get along with it.
PhilNeal Posted March 28, 2013 Posted March 28, 2013 I'm pretty sure the ILMS framework didn't specify any Indy requirements!
GREED Posted March 28, 2013 Posted March 28, 2013 I'm pretty sure the ILMS framework didn't specify any Indy requirements! Maybe not, but that wasn't the requirement. Either here nor IMLS. IMLS was designed to assist maintained schools and LA in their procurement processes. Here, KK20 was asking for other providers of MIS, which the list gives them.
matt40k Posted March 29, 2013 Posted March 29, 2013 (edited) Does anyone know how many UK schools are currently using Aspen for their MIS? The DfE normally publish (not sure how public it is however), the no's of schools using what MIS based on the census returns - Been tempted in the passed to change a few hundred schools submissions to "Matt40k" from SIMS - but I've yet to win the lottery so I needed to keep my job. @PhilNeal normally quotes the figures, he (or one of his buddies) should know where the document lives in the maze that is the DfE I would guess Aspen would be growing in numbers - I've heard a few have gone over but I've not heard of any LA going over - I would guess 30 or so, otherwise I bet @GREED would be getting worried about losing his job. Integration wise I guess it’s like any cloud system – depend on the cloud provider – I’ve had to integrate some terrible things – Can I have it in XML? – No Can I have this column of data? - No Can you give me an API to automate the process? – No Aspire seems pretty friendly integration, SchoolBase was a well. Edited March 29, 2013 by matt40k
GREED Posted March 29, 2013 Posted March 29, 2013 Missing one word there Matt: yet. No LA yet has migrated to aspen. Watch this space. I'm not worried about my job at all! We're here to stay!
GREED Posted March 29, 2013 Posted March 29, 2013 I think that document is quite readily available if you know where to look Matt. Interesting...
matt40k Posted March 29, 2013 Posted March 29, 2013 Very true, would quiet like to sink my teeth into to that, but it won't happen overnight - which is a good thing as I've got enough on my plate at the moment. Let’s hope so! You’ve already lasted longer than your partner
KK20 Posted April 1, 2013 Author Posted April 1, 2013 After being burnt with E1 and their "cloud based" solution I would be extremely sceptical of another externally hosted solution. They claim to allow exporting of data through their report builder however they forgot to say that you can only export certain bit. Need the timetable? tough. Exam results based on something useful such as form/yeargroup (i.e. anything other than a single specified person per request?) no. Not saying it isn't possible but printing an internal report to a text based printer (as they wont allow saving off reports to csv for some of their inbuilt reports....) then parsing it is not my idea of robust or simple (but better than nothing). Running an SQL query and getting a record set is a much better solution (no E1's PI does not expose all the data either, you can PAY for a single query to be added to your PI repository that lives inside report builder anyway for £200 a pop and you can imagine my response to that).
Guest Guest Posted April 1, 2013 Posted April 1, 2013 I still use engage, happy to chat about it. My school are a case study for them so we get a number of calls
StacyLarkin Posted April 10, 2013 Posted April 10, 2013 So, how is the OP's hunt for a replacement system going, I wonder?
jamin Posted April 10, 2013 Posted April 10, 2013 We are independent and use iSAMS. It does 99% of what we need and the support is very reactive. They are also actively developing feature requests from customers. Onsite hosted and open database. I have not used many other school systems, so can't offer better than / worse than advice but when deciding on a major new piece of software I tend to look a lot at the company, and I don't hate iSAMS (-:
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