Integrated MIS system for new school start-up

[amg]

Hi all,

 

My first post here - apologies if I do not follow convention, but here is my query: Straw poll, recommended one-stop-shop MIS systems for private post-16 provider. Must include all of the following modules/functionalities:

 

Standard MIS

Applications

Fees/Billing

exam entry

user-built reporting (ie customisable data extracts)

arr reporting (written ones to send to parents) plus ability to email reports home

cover

timetabling

rooming

HR record/staff illness

sms and email messaging - integrated NOT simply compatible with other software

native apple and/or android app

cloud based

 

I am very conversant with SIMS (awful) and facility (miss it dreadfully) and fed up mating god knows how many third party bolt ons. I want one system to do everything apart from the statutory local authority and government returns which will not be required. Oh, and telephone support.

 

Thanks!

[zeezoo]

Hi, good morning.

 

Firstly, this is my opinion. I am a user of SchoolBase, not an employee.

 

Looking through your list of requirements, I would recommend Furlong SchoolBase. From what you have listed, I am 99% sure that they cover all of your needs. One of the things you haven't mentioned is customer support. SchoolBase has the best customer support I have ever come across.

 

I do believe it would be worth getting in contact with them and having a chat. No harm is taking half an hour to see if it fits your needs.

 

Let me know how you get on.

[TechMonkey]

iSAMS does all of that, to varying degrees. I say varying degrees as things like HR can be done but if you want fancy features, they aren't there. You can record information, like absences, but there aren't other HR functions. So check it does what you want. Academic reporting can be done by paper, email or publish to their own and other portals.

The only thing you will have issue with is Timetabling. Ignoring SIMS, timetabling is mostly done with an external program to create and then imported to do the final steps. iSAMS has a timetabling module, and you could create everything in it, but it would be laborious and you would miss out on all the features of a full timetabling solution.