[isams] iSAMS for State Schools

[Techie-Tech]

Hi there,

 

does anyone know if iSAMS cater for State schools?

 

Thanks

[Netwacky87]

I believe their (IRIS) product is called Ed:gen https://www.iris.co.uk/education/school-management-suite/iris-edgen/ for state schools

[Caskerten]

I am considering BromCom vs Arbor Vs EdGen for a State boarding school.

Any comments/advice.

[Techie-Tech]

I am considering BromCom vs Arbor Vs EdGen for a State boarding school.

Any comments/advice.

Hi,

 

In order of preference we're looking at iSAMS V BromCom v Arbor v SIMS. I didn't want SIMS on the list but was overruled.

[2ilent8cho]

Yes, we are a state school and have used iSAMS since 2017.

[Ditto]

Yes, we are a state school and have used iSAMS since 2017.

 

What works well, what needs to improve?

[2ilent8cho]

What works well, what needs to improve?

We had SIMS/PARS before. The only part we found SIMS does better than iSAMS for us was Cover. But everything else we much prefer iSAMS, the Exam Manager found Exams in iSAMS vastly better than SIMS, the person who deals with Timetables and putting kids in Sets found the process much faster in iSAMS compared to SIMS. Reports/Assessment we much prefer in iSAMS. We like it has Apps (Teacher, Parents, Student & Report Writing) , all the pupils have the iSAMS Student App installed on their iPad for viewing their Timetable , Reports and Event/Conduct logs.

 

They introduced a new feature called Student/Pupil Registers a few years ago which we got the enterprise version of, it allows you to make your own module like sections to store data, which can be displayed and linked on the class register too as icons with links. We use this for all our SEN data now, if they have anything SEN they get a coloured Flag next to them on the take a register screen for that class and clicking it takes the teacher to more info on their special needs.

 

Sometimes the Helpdesk can be hit and miss, most the time you get somebody really knowledgable and helpful at the other end and other times you want to bang your head against the wall as they just don't seem to get the issue.

 

You would have to send us kicking and screaming back to SIMS, though.

[Ditto]

When I last reviewed MIS, probably 6 or 7 years ago, cost alone ruled ISAMS out. We were getting very good deals on Progresso (who we stayed with in my tenure), but how did pricing compare across the options for the ones you looked at?

[Caskerten]

Yes, we are a state school and have used iSAMS since 2017.

 

Are you able to email me.

[email protected]

[Techie-Tech]

Quick question, what methods are used now for MIS migrations?

 

A while back I done a migration from WCBS PASS to iSAMS and that was all done with data being dumped into .csv templates iSAMS provived.

 

Thanks