Summer school MIS

[DanRowley]

Does anybody use or know of any dedicated MIS software for Summer schools? Which can be easily separated from their main term data.

We would like it to do the following:

• Except admissions data in the following way: application, pending, approval then live in database

• Store previous years data

• Pupil data to be shown per individual

• Notes based on student, for example allergies

• Timetabling for class groups

• Allocation of teaching rooms

• Allocation of boarding rooms

• Staff data

• Trips to be created and pupils assigned

• Allow creation of reports based on student, course, age, class, trip

• Behavioural reports and end of term reports (progress reports)

• Preferably separate way for staff to write end of term reports

• Preferably web based

• Logins dependant on security level

• Easy to use with minimal training

 

We currently use SIMS in the main term and a in-house made database for summer school. This has worked so far but the in-house made software is getting a little old and unstable so needs an upgrade soon. Also we do not want to use SIMS for summer school because of the staff training required for such a short period (we run two summer schools which are only 4 weeks) and the complicated way SIMS creates reports (not a dig at Capita).

 

Any feedback will be greatly received

[GREED]

I would expect that the revenue from a system that is used for 5 months of the year is so small to as not be worth while for any decent sized organisation, which is why I don't believe there are any decent products to point you to.

 

Have you considered using a second copy of SIMS (i.e. a second separate SIMS database) as you already have this? Totally separate from the main system.

[DanRowley]

Thanks for the reply. I am thinking the same but I am interested to see what other schools do.

The bursar at the school would like to see a completely separate system. So a second SIMS database would be a non-starter. Plus the training involved for the teachers (different set of teachers to main term) would be too much for them to use day to day.

[GREED]

So the fact that the front end interface being the only 'same' thing about it still makes it a non-starter for him?

 

Surely too there would be traning for any system (and more if you as the support for it have to know it too, let alone any other supporting staff!).

 

Not having a go at you at all, just working through the points

[DanRowley]

Yes; SIMS would be far too complicated for what the teachers need to do. The in-house system currently only lets teachers input the end of course reports so it is extremely user friendly. As you probably know it is a far more complicated process in SIMS and needs setting up with teaching groups etc. The teachers in the summer course are only with us a day before the course starts and usually have never worked with SIMS.

The summer course directors are the only users of the 'main' data. For example student records, parents contact details etc. These users could be trained in using any system as their knowledge of computer systems is usually greater and we have more time with them.

SIMS would be perfect if it had a separate easy to use module for academic reports.

[GREED]

Completely get what you are saying there.

 

However, you mention a few things there that are the classic 'I just want it to do this'. Yes they only know a day before who the kids are (or rather the teachers have access to the database for), but for a data system to manage 'courses' and do assessment reports and what not, there is an amount of setting up that is needed. OK it is vastly overcomplicated in SIMS but still, it is a process. Almost the more stuff you want a system to be able to do, or automate or anything, undoubtedly the more completed it will become to administer, it almost has to.

 

I'm not saying SIMS or any current MIS is your answer, I just don't think there will be a non-bespoke product off the shelf to meet your needs.

[DanRowley]

Thanks for your reply. I agree, the more I research the more I am thinking of staying with a bespoke database.

However I have found one provider which seems to meet our demands, ISams. But like you said the training and setting up of the courses is the problem here.

[matt40k]

I think 'how big your pockets are' is the main factor. Pretty much any supplier will meet your requirements for the right price.

 

There is a interest in building something as a community - http://www.edugeek.net/forums/mis-systems/143660-open-source-mis-ideas.html - ironically @zag idea isn't actually open-source (at the moment anyway) - if its open source, the source code should be in the public domain - ie github. If you don't have the budget, might be an idea to open-source what you've got and see what help you get.

[jamesfed]

If time allows have a look at Microsoft Visual Studio Lightswitch - its kinda like MS Access but 150% better (HTML5 web based with SQL server in the back ground).

 

Easy enough to learn over a week and it could tick all the boxes that you have listed.

[pcstru]

Thanks for the reply. I am thinking the same but I am interested to see what other schools do.

The bursar at the school would like to see a completely separate system. So a second SIMS database would be a non-starter. Plus the training involved for the teachers (different set of teachers to main term) would be too much for them to use day to day.

With that set of requirements, there will be surely be training involved for users regardless of what you choose. If you already have a licence for a Schools MIS then I don't see why it shouldn't be press ganged into doing the job. If you buy in another system, it will probably be many thousands every year. Could you write your own web based system? In theory yes ... but I struggle to imagine that it could happen in practice. Schools MIS systems are really services. They can't survive without active support and development. Schools really aren't and shouldn't be in the business of building software and support and development services for that software, not at that kind of scale (meeting the requirements implies a large and complex schema - not trivial).

[elsiegee40]

I suggest that you look at the MISes targeted at independent schools as the independents have all sorts of weird and wonderful requirements regarding students attending extra curricular time.

 

We are independent and have a Saturday Academy that's attended by non- pupils. We have Holiday Clubs. Our PreSchool and Main School operate different term dates, etc.

 

Most if not all of the independent school MISes should be able to handle what you need.

[DanRowley]

Many thanks for all of your replies. It has given me a lot of ideas and insights.