MIS for Free school

[rpettit]

Currently looking at SIMS, ScholarPack and iSAMS...

 

Looking at pro's and con's of the 3. Or is there an alternative for a free school that would be better?

 

Looking for a cloud based system - simplicity is key.

 

SIMS - costly for 78 students

ScholarPack - More of a primary school product?

iSAMS - Less intuitive interface?

 

What are your thoughts? Anyone been in the same boat?

 

I know there are similar threads but I am focusing on a product for a free school.

[NotSoFast]

How does being a free school change your requirements? I would have thought you still need to do everything other schools need to do, just cheaply if there are only 78 students!

[elsiegee40]

I'm not sure how your requirements differ. Independents have fees to collect, but that's not the case with a free school. Basically a free school is an academy that is not converted from a predecessor LA school. What's important is whether you are secondary or primary.

[bobsmith]

RM's Integris G2 would tick those boxes too, and no, I don't work for RM

 

Presumably the school is going to expand? more info (Primary/Secondary - planned roll numbers) would help focus our suggestions for you.

[PhilNeal]

Ask a FOI question of the DfE - how many free schools use each system? How many have changed and to what.

[CAM]

@GREED Did your FOI request distinguish between free schools and other institutions?

[GREED]

@GREED Did your FOI request distinguish between free schools and other institutions?

 

Yes it does. Current as of Autumn 2014

[CAM]

Might pick the stats apart then if I get time at the weekend now I have proper Office and SQL.

[Oaktech]

I can also suggest that Progresso will do what you are requiring.

[matt40k]

If I was you @rpettit, I'd go for @scholarpack, assume it does everything you need ( ie your deemed to be a primary). SIMS is rather overkill for such a small school, I can't see how you could justify the bloat. Didn't like the look of iSams when I looked at it, looks very good for a Independent. Also like @PhilNeal has pointed out, no-one has left @scholarpack.

[PhilNeal]

@matt40k not so!!

[GREED]

I also didn't see Mr Neal say such a thing lol... unless he is looking for new employment!

[matt40k]

You referring to what you meant? Yer, I was trying to avoid the comparison to death and taxes when it comes to SIMS, really it comes down to best product winning out really. Or you referring the few people who have left ScholarPack? Ie the high school they kicked out when they switched the business model and focused on primary schools. Or the SIMS bloat? Cause even with SOLUS3 automating everything techy there is a still a lot of faff that could be avoided.

[Achandler]

Being the biggest provider doesn't actually make you the best provider either. MIS are all very similar really at the end oft he day, it is very much to which one you prefer, which is best value. If SIMS for example was so much superior to the rest, then why do the others even exist? The answer is simple, it isn't superior to all the rest. Some bits of SIMS are better, some bits of CMIS are better, some bits of Progesso are better, same with Scholarpack and iSAMS etc. You choose the best one for you. Edited June 26, 2015 by Achandler
Typos

[CAM]

TBH I have found SIMS has improved over the years I've used it. Visibly different to the nightmare it was in late 2007. But with squeezing school budgets, it's high price could be a downfall and doing it no favours.

 

But just like they used to say "No-one was fired for buying IBM" in the 80s, you could apply the same to SIMS in the education market. It is the safe option that is well supported and likely does what you need (unless you are aiming to do something absurdly complicated with data integration!). My wishlist would be better direct access to the data held using SQL and a lower licence cost with degrading school budgets!

[NotSoFast]

Both your points are addressed with Progresso.

[SimonRushton]

Hi,

 

We are a free school that has recently chosen Progresso. Would be very happy to talk through the reasons why if you would like to contact me directly.

[chinesewhispers]

Why are you not looking into Bromcom?

[DGardiner]

+1 for integrisG2 0 Management on my part and its cheap, and not on a server that you have to maintain and keep alive

[EssexShep]

I hear a lot of new schools are taking up Progresso for its flexibility, simplicity and very quick implementation time.

[elsiegee40]

Funny how yet another very new poster resurrects this thread to mention Progresso Edited July 14, 2015 by elsiegee40

[GREED]

Noticed that this morning, and with very sales talk too!

[michael2k6]

He / she is no one i know and with a join date of 2012. We do have fans out there, maybe they're just being vocal!

[rpettit]

So far it has been a very negative experience with Progresso...they don't seem to want to give me a demo of the product!!

[michael2k6]

If I'm breaking any rules here, please let me know - but rpettit I'm sorry that's your experience, and I can assure you that's not the case. You're welcome to PM me to resolve that and I'll get you a demo sorted at your convenience. I can assure you we're actively selling it, and that's not our usual method!

Mic @ Advanced