ESS SIMS 3 Year Contracts

[mthomas08]

Although I'm not sure why you'd need it with Bromcom, other than service continuity.

 

Only one function missing from both - ease of virtual meetings. They auto rollover to the next parent or teacher and the entire thing is very easy to setup.

 

We're still in contract anyway and can continue to use EduLink, we're hoping the parent evening systems are developed enough to walk away from it.

[enjay]

Not really ... I'd hazard there are a significant number more jumping who just don't use Edugeek.

 

Agreed. Wasn't it something like 400 schools who were signed up to Stone King's legal action?

[localzuk]

Agreed. Wasn't it something like 400 schools who were signed up to Stone King's legal action?

Yup.

 

It wouldn't surprise me if the real number of schools leaving was 10x what's been discussed on here tbh.

[Theblacksheep]

Only one function missing from both - ease of virtual meetings. They auto rollover to the next parent or teacher and the entire thing is very easy to setup.

 

We're still in contract anyway and can continue to use EduLink, we're hoping the parent evening systems are developed enough to walk away from it.

 

Ours have adopted school cloud parents evening for that.

[supportman]

Only one function missing from both - ease of virtual meetings. They auto rollover to the next parent or teacher and the entire thing is very easy to setup.

 

We're still in contract anyway and can continue to use EduLink, we're hoping the parent evening systems are developed enough to walk away from it.

 

We also moved to school cloud's 'parents evening system'. Works very well for virtual meetings and very good value.

[DavidYoung]

So from what I can tell, just from the few posts on here, ESS seem to have lost at least 65 schools through this. More than likely more (those that don't post on Edugeek).

 

How are you counting this as I represent 5 schools and I imagine there may be more MATs represented so that number could be a fair bit higher even from EG members.

[paulkerton]

Interesting curve ball thrown here, as the Deputy Head is on the verge of signing with Edulink who currently only feed data from SIMS.

The vast majority of the functionality in Edulink is in the MyChildAtSchool functionality in Bromcom. They have virtual parents evening coming too, but there is School Cloud, which is probably a cheaper combo as Schoolcloud/MCAS/Bromcom than Edulink/SIMS.

Edited January 7, 2022 by paulkerton

[enjay]

The vast majority of the functionality in Edulink is in the MyChildAtSchool functionality in Bromcom. They have virtual parents evening coming too, but there is School Cloud, which is probably a cheaper combo as Schoolcloud/MCAS/Bromcom than Edulink/SIMS.

 

Perhaps true, but if we move to EduLink now and then decide to change from SIMS to Bromcom, everyone would have to re-learn twice in quick succession. We already have School Cloud for parents evenings; we were using it pre-pandemic, so the move to virtual meetings was pretty smooth.

[localzuk]

How are you counting this as I represent 5 schools and I imagine there may be more MATs represented so that number could be a fair bit higher even from EG members.

I went by the numbers of schools people had listed on this thread confirming they've jumped. I counted those who didn't specify number as just 1 school. So it was at least 65.

[Andycat]

OK, a couple of questions if I may...

 

Our quote includes FRS, at under £300. There's no mention of FMS. Is it a typo? Name change? Is it that cheap?!

 

Also, last year we had 1501 on roll, and we understand that 1500 is a threshold for price. Can anyone tell us the price for under 1500 without us having to engage with the website/portal!? We're under 1500 currently.

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Andy

[jmak]

OK, a couple of questions if I may...

 

Our quote includes FRS, at under £300. There's no mention of FMS. Is it a typo? Name change? Is it that cheap?!

 

Also, last year we had 1501 on roll, and we understand that 1500 is a threshold for price. Can anyone tell us the price for under 1500 without us having to engage with the website/portal!? We're under 1500 currently.

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Andy

It's a few years since I last looked at a quote, but if that's SIMS support for a year, I'd say there's a missing zero. At least. We had 350 pupils FTE and were paying about 10 times the figure in your post.

[malbox]

For whoever is keeping count on leavers - you can add a single secondary academy switching to Bromcom.

 

We started the review in the Summer term before any of the ESS contract changes - was disrupted somewhat by Covid issues. After initial first view of Arbor the deputy said we'd be mad not to change from SIMS. Gave staff from all areas a chance to view areas of systems relevant to them and give input - which I hope will get better engagement for the switch, as all are positive about it. Felt Arbor and Bromcom were the stand out systems, but Bromcom worked more as we wanted in certain key areas. Both offered good savings on SIMS (when looking at 3rd party systems/server costs etc).

 

Previously we've been SIMS for nearly 7 years (a "gift" to me when a new head started - was an improvement at the time) with Facility Administration before that.

 

Switchover will be for the start of the Summer Term, also in process of review of our Catering system (currently Cunninghams), staff/visitor sign-in system (currently CBSecurePass - nobody is fond of it) and Library system (currently Reading Cloud)

 

(I'm not sure if this is my first post or not - but I've lurked for an awful long time - hello and thank you to all I've picked up information from without acknowledging previously - apologies for not saying hello sooner)

[supportman]

Interesting graphic released on Bromcoms twitter today. I think its slightly scewed by some big Mats they have but interesting all the same.

 

 

[7777newgeek]

Hi Malbox,

 

Is the start of the summer term the earliest time you could start the migration and training? We are finding that some of the other MIS's we've spoken to, can't onboard us now until after March, which is when our SIMS contract ends, it's making our SLT nervous about switching this year.

[howartp]

Hi Malbox,

 

Is the start of the summer term the earliest time you could start the migration and training? We are finding that some of the other MIS's we've spoken to, can't onboard us now until after March, which is when our SIMS contract ends, it's making our SLT nervous about switching this year.

 

You can let your SIMS lapse (ie not tell them you're leaving), then go back to them in April/May/June if there's an issue and they'll backdate you as though you had signed your new contract.

[malbox]

Hi Malbox,

 

Is the start of the summer term the earliest time you could start the migration and training? We are finding that some of the other MIS's we've spoken to, can't onboard us now until after March, which is when our SIMS contract ends, it's making our SLT nervous about switching this year.

Not sure about Bromcom, but Arbor were suggesting (back in November/start of December) that we could onboard earlier and go live for the 2nd half Spring Term. Personally - if starting now (or even if starting in a few weeks) I'd be very wary about trying to do it by then - especially as you'll be held up by sorting P/O, payment etc to get started.

 

We (particularly I) felt various downsides to doing before Summer Term even starting a bit sooner earlier - from other work that needs my attention to other tasks for staff such as examination entries, end of term reports/data collection fairly soon on a new system (involving all the setup to be ready), a single week of "downtime" to get everything set up as wanted, no TE Day at the start to give time to cover the more basic teacher training (specific roles will be getting the Bromcom training, but we'll set up and then "train" teaching staff ourself so we're all (hopefully) working in the same way and know what the system is doing). Going live at the start of the Summer Term means we run SIMS unsupported for what I think is 5/6 teaching days - and we're quite comfortable with that.

 

We then close down the server at the end of term, send our data off again (having cleaned it up a bit after initial transfer and look at it on a test site), and teachers come back to a new system with a TE Day.

[mthomas08]

Not sure about Bromcom, but Arbor were suggesting (back in November/start of December) that we could onboard earlier and go live for the 2nd half Spring Term. Personally - if starting now (or even if starting in a few weeks) I'd be very wary about trying to do it by then - especially as you'll be held up by sorting P/O, payment etc to get started.

 

We (particularly I) felt various downsides to doing before Summer Term even starting a bit sooner earlier - from other work that needs my attention to other tasks for staff such as examination entries, end of term reports/data collection fairly soon on a new system (involving all the setup to be ready), a single week of "downtime" to get everything set up as wanted, no TE Day at the start to give time to cover the more basic teacher training (specific roles will be getting the Bromcom training, but we'll set up and then "train" teaching staff ourself so we're all (hopefully) working in the same way and know what the system is doing). Going live at the start of the Summer Term means we run SIMS unsupported for what I think is 5/6 teaching days - and we're quite comfortable with that.

 

We then close down the server at the end of term, send our data off again (having cleaned it up a bit after initial transfer and look at it on a test site), and teachers come back to a new system with a TE Day.

 

Bromcom/Arbor/iSAMS are willing to get schools switched over by March 31st.

You can also keep SIMs, it will have problems when it comes to the filesets (due to them needing SIMs updates to run). And course, any major problems with it... you're on your own. That gives a little breathing room to get switched.

[smarties11]

Well, this is an interesting development! Received just now by email....

 

Thank you for engaging with us regarding your new three-year Annual Entitlement (“AE”) agreement with ESS, that is due to commence on 1 April 2022. We have an action to respond to the query you have raised, and we will do so shortly.

 

To encourage schools, who currently receive AE services through their local authority, to contract directly with ESS we are offering these customers the option of a 6-month break clause in their new agreements.

 

In the interests of equity, we have decided that this option should be available to all customers entering into new 3-year AE agreements, including those who have already done so.

 

If you would like to take up this option, the break clause will allow you to terminate your new 3-year agreement on 30 September 2022, if you so choose, by giving notice on or before 31 August 2022. To take up this offer, you must do both of the following before 20 February 2022:

 

1. Visit the Portal and accept your new agreement, and 2.

2. Email us at [email protected] from the email address this email was issued to, providing:

a. School name

b. Postcode

c. DfE number

d. Quotation number.

If you take up this offer, you are still required to pay your annual invoice in full. However, should you subsequently invoke the break clause, we will refund you 50% of your 2022/23 charges within 60 days of 1 October 2022.

 

Please note, this option to request a break clause does not apply if: (a) your agreement is an existing multi-year agreement with ESS that expires after 31 March 2022; or, (b) your agreement is for a one-year term for SIMS Add-Ons or third party products.

 

We are confident that the changes we are making to SIMS and FMS will ensure that SIMS remains the UK’s best management information system for schools and look forward to you joining us for the journey

[LeMarchand]

We are confident that the changes we are making to SIMS and FMS will ensure that SIMS remains the UK’s best management information system for schools and look forward to you joining us for the journey

 

Whether it's currently the best is a matter of opinion.

[DrCheese]

oooo interesting - I suspect they completely screwed up by offering the 6 month break clause to just the LA schools & someone has pointed out that they could be accused of unfairness/taken to the cleaners unless they offered it out to everyone.

 

Has anyone else had this email yet? (Just to check!)

[Steve21]

oooo interesting - I suspect they completely screwed up by offering the 6 month break clause to just the LA schools & someone has pointed out that they could be accused of unfairness/taken to the cleaners unless they offered it out to everyone.

 

Has anyone else had this email yet? (Just to check!)

 

Or that most schools didn't reply in December as they were expecting

 

Steve

[DrCheese]

Or that most schools didn't reply in December as they were expecting

 

Steve

 

Yarp. I've had a letter sent out to us & my account manager is emailing fairly often "How's it going?" Each time it's a "We're reviewing our options & we'll be in touch" reply...

[Jace58]

I've had the email about the "break clause" too.

We had in fact sent notice of cancellation back in December, to be on the safe side - presumably in our case that's the "query" to which ESS's email refers!

[howartp]

Yes we've had the email.

 

I hit the "please contact me" button back in December, to which someone eventually rung me - but my renewal portal still says "your renewal is pending us getting in touch" so I can't actually accept/deny the renewal yet!

[mavhc]

Yarp. I've had a letter sent out to us & my account manager is emailing fairly often "How's it going?" Each time it's a "We're reviewing our options & we'll be in touch" reply...

 

Not "We hate you and if we're forced to we'll deliver the money in 1p coins to your front desk?"