rpettit Posted June 25, 2015 Posted June 25, 2015 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 Posted June 26, 2015 Posted June 26, 2015 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 Posted June 26, 2015 Posted June 26, 2015 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 Posted June 26, 2015 Posted June 26, 2015 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 Posted June 26, 2015 Posted June 26, 2015 Ask a FOI question of the DfE - how many free schools use each system? How many have changed and to what.
CAM Posted June 26, 2015 Posted June 26, 2015 @GREED Did your FOI request distinguish between free schools and other institutions?
GREED Posted June 26, 2015 Posted June 26, 2015 @GREED Did your FOI request distinguish between free schools and other institutions? Yes it does. Current as of Autumn 2014 1
CAM Posted June 26, 2015 Posted June 26, 2015 Might pick the stats apart then if I get time at the weekend now I have proper Office and SQL. 1
Oaktech Posted June 26, 2015 Posted June 26, 2015 I can also suggest that Progresso will do what you are requiring.
matt40k Posted June 26, 2015 Posted June 26, 2015 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.
GREED Posted June 26, 2015 Posted June 26, 2015 I also didn't see Mr Neal say such a thing lol... unless he is looking for new employment!
matt40k Posted June 26, 2015 Posted June 26, 2015 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 Posted June 26, 2015 Posted June 26, 2015 (edited) 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 1
CAM Posted June 26, 2015 Posted June 26, 2015 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!
SimonRushton Posted June 27, 2015 Posted June 27, 2015 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.
DGardiner Posted June 30, 2015 Posted June 30, 2015 +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 Posted July 13, 2015 Posted July 13, 2015 I hear a lot of new schools are taking up Progresso for its flexibility, simplicity and very quick implementation time.
elsiegee40 Posted July 14, 2015 Posted July 14, 2015 (edited) Funny how yet another very new poster resurrects this thread to mention Progresso Edited July 14, 2015 by elsiegee40
GREED Posted July 14, 2015 Posted July 14, 2015 Noticed that this morning, and with very sales talk too!
michael2k6 Posted July 14, 2015 Posted July 14, 2015 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! 1
rpettit Posted July 15, 2015 Author Posted July 15, 2015 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 Posted July 15, 2015 Posted July 15, 2015 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
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