[sims] SIMS 8 Press Release 30th March 2017

[jdsa]

What's the deployment going to be like for all-through schools?

[zag]

Good blog from Philneil here, explains it really well and I am very positive about the way they are going.

 

The next generation of SIMS | Capita SIMS

[bigdannyb79]

Good blog from Philneil here, explains it really well and I am very positive about the way they are going.

 

The next generation of SIMS | Capita SIMS

 

Direction hasn't tended to be the issue its the speed were all questioning . . .

[GAdigital]

[h=2]How does your other software link to SIMS7?[/h]

Just a thought how many of the following do you have sitting there interacting with SIMS to make other systems work?

 

· Manual report run from the SIMS client and saved\sent to another system

· Command Line reporter? scheduled task (uses a SIMS.net account)

· Api\Business objects - relies on a SIMS7 client (uses a SIMS.net account)

· SIMS specific – SLG, SSM, other

· Direct SQL query (hoping not too many or any!)

· Connects somehow but I have no idea…

 

Which ones need to work from day one in the new Azure version and which ones might be less critical...

 

I think system manger can give a good insight into some of these, based on the account name. example: dataexportuserzxy

[vikpaw]

Good blog from Philneil here, explains it really well and I am very positive about the way they are going.

The next generation of SIMS | Capita SIMS

Honestly, didn't get much from that. I know the kind of thing they are talking about, such as you log in as a teacher and the system automagically takes you to the current lesson, ready to take the register; mark a student as present and it automatically puts a '/' , '\' , or 'L' based on the time, but I still feel there is a lack of detail which would be nice to have at this stage. I don't know if the current teacher app does any of these examples already, they were just things we discussed once at one of the Capita sponsored blog sessions.

[tben2505]

Been waiting for this for quite a few years now.

 

Not least to remove compatibility issues, but allowing staff to do everything on all devices - something I'm sure we've all wanted for a long time. I can't see value in restricting devices or platforms for users these days.

 

I'd be interested in the administrative modules, like how exams, cover, and assessment looks; setting up marksheets/reports etc - and the reporting side (exporting reports) - and exporting and importing assessment data...

 

Would love to have a look and play - is that possible, @PhilNeal, or do we have to be part of the primary pilot?

 

Cheers,

[PhilNeal]

@tben2505 - secondary schools will have Options 8 fairly soon. That will give you a good idea of the styling. We'll be doing demos later this year as tasters.

 

A nice enhancement to Assessment is that calculated columns can contain complex calculations - no need for loads of hidden columns!!

[Bill8]

@PhilNeal will we be able to interact with other schools directly, e.g. when a student moves to a new school will we be able to transfer their information directly to the new school or will we still need to use CFT's via s2s?

[PhilNeal]

@Bill8 - We haven't implemented this as there is a national standard which is CTF. We're not keen on implementing something that could become superseded by the DfE's data exchange project which is still going although its currently paused.

 

I'm very keen on a "file free" solution.

[Tefters]

So this thread has become a bit TLDR - New SIMS major version, improvements etc... - When's release date?

[PhilNeal]

Assuming the pilot is successful

• SIMS Primary - Jan 2018.
  
• SIMS Options - Autumn 2017.
  
• SIMS Secondary - Pilot Sept 2018.
  

[jdsa]

Phil, for all-through schools I assume we're going to wait until the Secondary is released as well before it's rolled out to us?

[PhilNeal]

Probably yes you'd wait. Although its called SIMS Primary the elements that are out are secondary ready. When you come on will depend on how much of SIMS you use.

[Tefters]

Nice and clear cut, like it! and FMS?

 

Also in regards to training and test setups for tech review and staff adoption/training are you planning on possibly setting up some Windows Azure VM rig's? *hint hint*

While I appreciate Capita training seminars will be the best course of action budgets will hamper this.

Handy to know for if we need to setup test rig's in house or whether you will provide demo cloud setups/interactive training like Microsoft's training portal.

[PhilNeal]

SIMS Finance is on pilot now. It will be ready for release Jan 18.

Training materials etc being worked on now which will include on-line tutorials.

[Tefters]

Are we able to grab pilot for testing purposes?

[Edu-IT]

Any images of SIMS Finance?

[PhilNeal]

@Edu-IT no images yet; we're in the process of simplifying some of the processes. @Tefters - registered support units already have access to a sandpit; at this stage we won't give further access.

[Edu-IT]

With SIMS8, is OMR support going to end? @PhilNeal

[PhilNeal]

Edu-IT I'm no longer at SIMS on a daily basis so hard to be sure. It wasn't part of the thinking in 8 when I was there!!

[CAM]

Edu-IT I'm no longer at SIMS on a daily basis so hard to be sure. It wasn't part of the thinking in 8 when I was there!!

 

Are you retiring soon?

[PhilNeal]

I'm not intending to retire at this stage!

[vikpaw]

I'm sure I saw a tweet, congratulating you on your retirement - at least from SIMS....

[PhilNeal]

I'm a non-exec at SIMS still. Now working p/t at Whizz Education too.

[Banjo]

@Michael the pilot is just expanding - we'll limit the uptake through to early next year - no more than 500-1000 schools to be sure that we've got the scaling right. I'd expect uncontrolled adoption from BETT18.

 

The press release is really about starting communications - up until now we haven't said much.

 

You'll get a good idea of the way it all looks from Options 8 which will be released to all schools this May.

 

@PhilNeal, I'm hearing rumours about Capita introducing mandatory annual hosting fee(s) being tagged on to the schools annual maintenance costs for Sims Primary?

 

I (we) were led to believe that SIMS8 would cost no more than SIMS7?