MIS movers and shakers

[Aftab_Ahmed]

With regards to Suffolk County Council and primary schools - why have they gone separate ways? is it because of the direction the council took or anything else. Would be really interesting to know.

[supportman]

With regards to Suffolk County Council and primary schools - why have they gone separate ways? is it because of the direction the council took or anything else. Would be really interesting to know.

 

I guess there is no real need to mandate an MIS centrally any more. All the MIS's can transfer data in the same way so it really is up to what best suits a school.

 

The only real exception to that is a MAT who might want to centrally check data on dashboard.

[Rob_D]

I guess there is no real need to mandate an MIS centrally any more. All the MIS's can transfer data in the same way so it really is up to what best suits a school.

The only real exception to that is a MAT who might want to centrally check data on dashboard.

 

I suppose economies of scale, is the main argument for schools sticking with the LA. LA with the buying power of dozens of schools could potentially cut a better deal than a single school on it's own.

[supportman]

I suppose economies of scale, is the main argument for schools sticking with the LA. LA with the buying power of dozens of schools could potentially cut a better deal than a single school on it's own.

 

Maybe but each school can negotiate just as much, especially when they get quotes from all the providers.

 

My experience was always that LA's overpaid in the past and tried to subsidize primary school fees at the expense of secondaries. That was a long time ago though and goes back to the times of BECTA and national roll outs....

[PotNoodleTech]

Maybe but each school can negotiate just as much, especially when they get quotes from all the providers.

 

My experience was always that LA's overpaid in the past and tried to subsidize primary school fees at the expense of secondaries. That was a long time ago though and goes back to the times of BECTA and national roll outs....

 

Your exprience is still accurate.

 

Centralised purchasing sounds good in principle and it does work better for schools with no IT expertise (often primaries etc) but sadly 90% of the time for secondaries with good IT teams it ends up working out more expensive as the IT teams can negotiate much more flexibly with many suppliers - there's been no centralised purchasing in Wales at least in the last 10 years where I couldnt have got the devices for roughly the same price or soemtimes even cheaper being able to bat a quote out to 5 suppliers and pick the best value one there and then.

 

The potential cost savings from mass purchase frameworks always seem to be eroded by the cost of the actual procurement itself in terms of staff time/consultants/etc.

[willtech]

Interesting but not surprised 

 

MIS MARKET MOVES SUMMER 2025: Overnight success takes time

 

Edited July 15, 2025 by willtech

[ITGuyNW]

Are there any videos that show how Arbor works and runs?

[PotNoodleTech]

Intersting that arbor seems to be taking quite the lead over brombom the last couple of years.  I estimate SIMS will be 10% of the market in 3 years, assumin they keep going.

[willtech]

[Ditto]

For secondary schools in particular, if you are still on SIMS, I would ask if you have even looked at the alternatives? If the answer is 'No', then you are doing your school a disservice. 

[supportman]

47 minutes ago, Ditto said:

For secondary schools in particular, if you are still on SIMS, I would ask if you have even looked at the alternatives? If the answer is 'No', then you are doing your school a disservice. 

We moved 5 years ago. It was clear back then and even clearer now.

 

I can't believe any decent IT strategy for a school would include legacy Sims.

[psydii]

Bromcom and Arbor remain pretty even if Secondary schools are your focus. Both having about a 6% growth this year.

 

SIMS' decline is considerably less that I thought it might be, but perhaps there are more schools with the option to leave next year than the initial 3-year cycle suggested.

 

The notes about Bromcom's profitability vis-a-vis the Private Equity backed competition, I think, will become an increasing point of interest over the next 10 years.

 

My prediction is that Arbor and SIMS will both need to  dramatically increase their prices to satisfy expectations of the PE investors/owners. While Bromcom does not,  and will likely keep a check on MIS inflation until such time as ownership of the business changes. (Anyone got any idea what the succession plan is for Bromcom Computers PLC?)

 

 

[jthompson]

19 hours ago, Ditto said:

For secondary schools in particular, if you are still on SIMS, I would ask if you have even looked at the alternatives? If the answer is 'No', then you are doing your school a disservice. 

Have been wanting to move on from SIMS for years, and we're finally in the process of doing so.

 

I don't really care what we move to, tbh: as long as it gives us an API, I'm sold!

[ScubaNick]

On 15/07/2025 at 12:33, willtech said:

SIMS is definately losing market share rapidly, another thing to note Arbor are migrating schools from ScholaPack and RM to Arbor, who they now own, which will skew the figures a little

[ScubaNick]

On 15/07/2025 at 16:01, psydii said:

Bromcom and Arbor remain pretty even if Secondary schools are your focus. Both having about a 6% growth this year.

 

SIMS' decline is considerably less that I thought it might be, but perhaps there are more schools with the option to leave next year than the initial 3-year cycle suggested.

 

The notes about Bromcom's profitability vis-a-vis the Private Equity backed competition, I think, will become an increasing point of interest over the next 10 years.

 

My prediction is that Arbor and SIMS will both need to  dramatically increase their prices to satisfy expectations of the PE investors/owners. While Bromcom does not,  and will likely keep a check on MIS inflation until such time as ownership of the business changes. (Anyone got any idea what the succession plan is for Bromcom Computers PLC?)

 

 

Hi, I think you are right whilst prices are very low this makes any business less attractive to a PE, but I cant see prices going down anytime soon, because the market dynamic, both Bromcom and Arbor are competing fast at growing customers and taking them away from SIMS whilst it's easier then ever before. But I also think you are right Bromcom can sustain the low margins easier not having to keep the pay masters happy. It's going to be a very interesting year or 2.

[mrbios]

On 15/07/2025 at 12:45, Ditto said:

For secondary schools in particular, if you are still on SIMS, I would ask if you have even looked at the alternatives? If the answer is 'No', then you are doing your school a disservice. 

 

"you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink" ... That quote sums up my situation. 

 

NEARLY had senior management on board to switch this year, and then the head decided to leave, and we're due ofsted next year, so they wanted to avoid too much upheaval....fingers crossed next year we can count ourselves in the Arbor or Bromcom numbers.

[ASA-Simon]

18 minutes ago, mrbios said:

fingers crossed next year we can count ourselves in the Arbor or Bromcom numbers.

Trouble with SIMS is it’s never just another year. It’s another 3 years you have to sign up for. Glad we are away from them now.

[ScubaNick]

2 hours ago, ASA-Simon said:

Trouble with SIMS is it’s never just another year. It’s another 3 years you have to sign up for. Glad we are away from them now.

I know that Bromcom will offer to buy you out of a contract, for others who are considering?