[sims] SIMS Partnership Exchange (PX) - Does anyone use it / alternatives?

[zzyzxuk]

I'm working in a partnership of schools that have had a long-standing bad experience with SIMS PX, and we are trying to find out:

 

-Are there any schools out there that have successfully got this working, and...

-Are there any competitor products out there that would allow schools to share assessment results / attendance information between each other?

[GREED]

In answer to Q2: Yes, there are

[mukz]

I'm working in a partnership of schools that have had a long-standing bad experience with SIMS PX, and we are trying to find out:

 

-Are there any schools out there that have successfully got this working, and...

-Are there any competitor products out there that would allow schools to share assessment results / attendance information between each other?

 

Hi zzyzxuk,

 

Dont worry, you/they are not alone.

The product doesn't work how its meant to work - mainly because data takes so long to transfer causing syncing issues.

We use it because it allows us to do attendance for students who we teach but are based elsewhere. otherwise we would not, simple as.

 

The Sixth Form use DataSec to amalgamate data across the Sixth Forms which does all the reporting of assessment and attendance. - cant tell you how good it is, the interface for end users is simple though

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

In answer to Q2: Yes, there are

 

Hi Graham,

 

Is it something you do? i would be interested if so.

[GREED]

Hi Graham,

 

Is it something you do? i would be interested if so.

 

It is something Groupcall does, yes. Unfortunately we'll probably have to speak via PM or elsewhere for any details, as a non-sponsoring supplier I'm barred from saying much more.

[mukz]

It is something Groupcall does, yes. Unfortunately we'll probably have to speak via PM or elsewhere for any details, as a non-sponsoring supplier I'm barred from saying much more.

 

I will send you my Number by PM - thanks!

[Bromcom_Marketing]

I'm working in a partnership of schools that have had a long-standing bad experience with SIMS PX, and we are trying to find out:

 

-Are there any schools out there that have successfully got this working, and...

-Are there any competitor products out there that would allow schools to share assessment results / attendance information between each other?

 

 

Yes to the 2nd question. With excellent reference site with circa 10 schools sharing 6th forms in London.

 

Similarly - Unfortunately please PM, as a non-sponsoring supplier I'm barred from saying much more.

[eddyc]

We have PX and have done since before I arrived here.

 

I've been here 6 years and it's worked for atleast one whole week in that period.

 

Shocking product. Capita aren't interested in fixing any of the problems. They take countless copies of booths schools and the px data and still can't make it work properly!

[deshills]

We (Harris Federation) have developed a solution with Bromcom where we have a virtual 6th Form MIS system that draws and aggregates data from 10 sixth form academies. The solution has been a labour of love (on both sides!!) but now we have a really really great solution that has removed all double entry from our MIS solution.

I am not sure that this product is being sold in the market at present, but i know that it is in a position to be marketed as we have demonstrated this solution to a number of schools. If you want more details, please contact either myself or Bromcom themselves.

[rssnfrssn]

Sorry for resurrecting this thread...

 

My school is sharing others' woes with SIMS PX, using it for a jointly managed sixth form.

 

I'm interested in what options other 3rd party solutions might offer to solve the problem, without throwing out SIMS on both sites in favour of another MIS. Could anyone with a solution to offer PM me, please?

 

I'll share any positive results...

[mukz]

Rssnfrssn what issues are you having? We have managed to fix most of our issues this year. I took over the management of it and saw that infact most of the issues were because of the way admin did things.

[rssnfrssn]

I'm actually a governor with an IT day job, rather than school IT. I'm offering a fresh pair of eyes on the problem, as it's having such an impact.

 

The basic issue is that class data isn't synchronised as desired, and in an extreme case random class data was transferred to the other school's MIS.

 

Capita haven't been able to solve or root cause it, despite plenty of attempts.

[zzyzxuk]

9 months on, we actually now have everything working correctly as well. Capita had a period where there support offer for PX was a little short-handed, and the manuals for PX aren't detailed enough IMHO, but we've worked through the issues, and have a better understanding of how everything fits/works together.

 

The key is making sure that everyone in the group is using the same 'GUID' codes for their classes, but there's also a few other things that need to be lined up that the manuals don't always explain clearly. I'd be happy to help you diagnose some of the issues if you want to PM me...

[mukz]

I second zzyzxuk