ESS SIMS 3 Year Contracts

[Primus]

Yet according to the latest marketing email from Arbor "We understand from public sources that schools who have pushed back have managed to get 1 year extensions". Are any of those schools represented on this forum?!

 

I've seen that from multiple competitors and I'm yet to find a school that's managed a 1 year renewal.

[DrCheese]

I've seen that from multiple competitors and I'm yet to find a school that's managed a 1 year renewal.

 

Yeah, I don't know where they're pulling this from either. I suspect it's a rumour that was created with no basis/proof.

[mthomas08]

Yeah, I don't know where they're pulling this from either. I suspect it's a rumour that was created with no basis/proof.

 

Will find out sooner or later, we've asked for a 1 year and no response yet after 2 days.

[pete]

There's a Stone King Webinar on 02-12-21 re the ESS SIMS Contract Renewal that it may be worth looking at.

 

Your headteacher/bursar/business manager should have had the email:

 

We are being contacted by schools and Academy Trust clients who are very concerned about how to respond to the contract renewal notices they are receiving from ESS, which propose a minimum contract term of 3 years going forward. Given what appears to be an automatic renewal in the event of no response, clients must urgently review their options. We have prepared this briefing to alert clients to this issue and to invite clients who might be affected to get in touch and to participate in a webinar we are arranging for 11am on Thursday 2 December, at which we will review whether the actions of ESS may be the subject of a legal challenge.

 

Whilst not all schools and Academy Trusts will necessarily be troubled by the new 3-year deal, it is likely to be of particular concern to those considering migration to another supplier. However, schools and Academy Trusts cannot simply renew with ESS without complying with the public procurement rules, which all schools and Academy Trusts therefore need to consider, along with securing best value for money.

[Scifigirl]

I'm hoping that KCC are getting all this, their deal with SIMs was up a couple of years ago and had limited renewal for 2 years so they could do a proper tender process (up April 2022 now).

 

Not heard anything but some schools have to sign up to 3rd party support by the end of Dec, and are now up a creek.

[RobFuller]

I've seen that from multiple competitors and I'm yet to find a school that's managed a 1 year renewal.

 

Our request for a 2 year contract was rejected.

[mthomas08]

Our request for a 2 year contract was rejected.

 

Well more fuel for our tender process - got iSAMS/Bromcom and Arbor so far. Arbor are offering a quick switch process dedicated for SIMs schools. Maybe the others will follow through with a ton of SIMs schools looking to switch.

 

On your marks.. get set....

[paulkerton]

We've notified them of our intentions not to continue with our one site we have left stuck with it currently.

Unlikely we will crawl back to them asking to be tied in till 2025. A simple running of figures that we've done, including allowing for licensing of a new server (which would be due considering the age of the current one) or cloud hosting costs for SIMS, and based on the features actually being used and the relevant alternative packaged being purchased because of that... we could save up between £2750-£3400 a year.

Not that best value is always largest savings... but £10k over three years to stay with ESS SIMS would be incredibly hard to justify.

[PrimaryNetMan]

We've notified them of our intentions not to continue with our one site we have left stuck with it currently.

Unlikely we will crawl back to them asking to be tied in till 2025. A simple running of figures that we've done, including allowing for licensing of a new server (which would be due considering the age of the current one) or cloud hosting costs for SIMS, and based on the features actually being used and the relevant alternative packaged being purchased because of that... we could save up between £2750-£3400 a year.

Not that best value is always largest savings... but £10k over three years to stay with ESS SIMS would be incredibly hard to justify.

 

Don't forget to factor in savings for 3rd pary services like messaging, clubs, payments etc that any new MIS could also cover.

[StephenPink]

FYI I did just get a call back from ESS - and the answer was as firm no 1 year contract. 3 years or go!

[Guest ZFarnworth]

FYI I did just get a call back from ESS - and the answer was as firm no 1 year contract. 3 years or go!

 

Hahah, very cheeky of ess to say that!

[DrCheese]

Hahah, very cheeky of ess to say that!

 

Yarp but they know they hold all the cards at the moment. We can only hope the DFE have enough clout to beat them back.

[Ditto]

Does the private equity firm behind ESS also have a stake in the main competitors? They've certainly light the touch paper! I've just emailed my governance trust to see what their plans are. I believe we (and the other trust academies in the MAY) get SIMS via their LA. Is it possible to have a 1 year renewal via that contract even if the LA are forced in to a 3 year renewal?

[dsmith8]

Our Local Authority is advising we do not commit to anything and looks like they are dropping LA combined contracts URGENT: Advice for all schools using ESS SIMS | Support Services for Education

[supportman]

Our Local Authority is advising we do not commit to anything and looks like they are dropping LA combined contracts URGENT: Advice for all schools using ESS SIMS | Support Services for Education

 

From the article

 

For Academies wishing to raise objections, please do so by requesting a discussion with ESS through the renewals portal. Changing MIS suppliers is a complex scenario involving many direct and indirect implications and we would strongly recommend that any school contemplating this change consults with SSE MIS for professional advice and support using the contact information below.

 

My honest opinion is this is not as "complex" as they believe.

 

We literally bought a new MIS system and were up and running in 2 weeks with all our Sims data. I would not call it complex at all, from a technical point of view anyway. I sent off the SQL file and that was it.

 

From a staff perspective it was probably even easier, they had a new system to play with for a while with full Single Sign on, before just switching over one tuesday morning.

 

There was nothing complex about our migration and we are a large high performing secondary with 10+ 3rd party tools attached to our MIS.

Edited November 26, 2021 by supportman

[enjay]

Don't forget to factor in savings for 3rd pary services like messaging, clubs, payments etc that any new MIS could also cover.

 

And potentially AD/O365/Workspace provisioning tools like Salamander, as some MIS systems do this now too.

[mthomas08]

Has anyone contacted the DFE direct? If so, have you got a contact name/number?

[LeMarchand]

I'm surprised that none of the competition haven't started very visible advertising campaigns promoting that they don't expect 3 year sign ups, can be up and running in a couple of weeks, can connect to x, y and z - and promise not to sue if you don't pick them.

[TechMonkey]

I'm surprised that none of the competition haven't started very visible advertising campaigns promoting that they don't expect 3 year sign ups, can be up and running in a couple of weeks, can connect to x, y and z - and promise not to sue if you don't pick them.

They have

 

I noticed them within hours of this being upgraded to a major FUBAR.

[mthomas08]

Our request for a 2 year contract was rejected.

 

Same - rejected. 3 years or leave and zero flexibility on that.

[enjay]

They have

[ATTACH=CONFIG]63767[/ATTACH]

 

I noticed them within hours of this being upgraded to a major FUBAR.

 

Arbor are sending out emails every few days as well. Their emails are saying us we can get 12-month contracts with SIMS, presumably hoping we'll renew for a year while we plan our move to Arbor.

[mavhc]

Not sure what Arbor's plan is there.

 

ESS's is simple, wait as long as possible before offering 1 year contracts, so as many people as possible are on 3 year contracts. If they get 50% of people, that's 150% of the money on the balance sheet.

 

The SIMS support people at the council were super positive about this new thing, as if their jobs depended on it. "scrapping sims 8 and starting again means it'll be the same as you're used to, but also it'll change"

[steven_layton_sl]

I'm just seeing this issue for the first time today, having been forwarded an email from the finance team. I am considering giving ESS our notice well before 31st December, even if we are still considering staying with them. This at least gives me 3 or 4 months to investigate our options, and start a procurement process with (bearly?) enough time to migrate to a new system before April. Anyone else doing this?

[mthomas08]

I'm just seeing this issue for the first time today, having been forwarded an email from the finance team. I am considering giving ESS our notice well before 31st December, even if we are still considering staying with them. This at least gives me 3 or 4 months to investigate our options, and start a procurement process with (bearly?) enough time to migrate to a new system before April. Anyone else doing this?

 

Us. Although we haven't handed our notice in just yet - like you we have until Dec 31st.

 

I'm reviewing the alternatives and seeing if they provide a like for like system. So far, the 1st issue is EduLinkOne only integrates with SIMs but it's on their list to change but they can't give a time frame.

 

BUT if the other MIS systems provide parents evening / homework and an app for parents. Perhaps we can walk away from EduLink OR they integrate in time.

 

I'm currently reviewing Arbor - they sync with everything else.

After today I'll spend a day researching other MIS systems - probably Bromcom and iSAMS.

[DavidYoung]

So far, the 1st issue is EduLinkOne only integrates with SIMs but it's on their list to change but they can't give a time frame.

 

I've been in discussions with them and they don't seem to be hanging around in response to this so may have something soon.

 

I'm currently reviewing Arbor - they sync with everything else.

 

We met with Arbor yesterday and they seem pretty set on their 17th December deadline to get the order in for a guaranteed April launch, do you think you'll be in a position to make the decision by then? It doesn't give us loads of time.

 

Bromcom wanted a commitment early-mid January but seemed confident they could make it work if timings slipped.

 

@supportman, was it Bromcom that moved you in two weeks?

Edited November 26, 2021 by DavidYoung