SIMS > SIMS Next Gen - How's Life?

[JRA]

Quick PSA - notified another round of redirects (migrating functionality from SIMS to the web-based SIMS NG) in Admin Console > SIMS 7 Redirects.

 

Slightly happier at least these are at the moment options and timeframes rather than enforced moves, and with a decent bit of notice too. So fair play to them on that front.

If like us you're not ready for some/all of those might be a time to check that section out. And keep half an eye on it now and again.

 

Looking at getting training in place for key staff and managing the feeling of lingering dread around the upheaval that's coming... but I am grateful for the softening of the approach around this and the chance we have to actually manage this transition.

[willtech]

The notification:

 

Dear Colleague, 

 

We're pleased to let you know that your school's proposed Stage 3 permanent redirect dates will be available in your SIMS Next Gen Admin Console by 23 November 2026. 

 

The target date has been determined using factors such as your school's current use of SIMS Next Gen and the ParentPay products in use. Until this date is reached, you will continue to have full control over your redirect settings and can make changes as needed. 

 

Please note: Stage 3 permanent redirect dates are not being applied for Pupil Profile, Census (except for schools completing the autumn 2026 Census in SIMS Next Gen), or where specific product interactions make a permanent redirect currently unsuitable.

 

Wherever the date is set to a date in March 2026, no permanent redirect will be applied at this time. You can of course turn on stage 2 (temporary redirects) or try functionality directly in SIMS Next Gen. 

 

If you need any further guidance, please contact your usual service provider in the first instance.

 

We've also made some improvements

 

As we continue the redirect programme, from SIMS 7 to SIMS Next Gen, your feedback has shaped every step. We've listened. We've taken action. And we've improved the Timetable experience as a result. 

 

As part of this work, we've made the following improvements to Timetables: 

 

Improved navigation to individual student timetables, rather than landing on the top-level view. 
Improved two-week Timetable printing. 
Accepted applicants can be included in the Print Timetable feature. 
 

You can choose to turn on redirects at any time via the SIMS Next Gen Admin Console. We'd encourage you to set your own date so you can choose a time that works best for your school. 

 

It's also worth exploring some of the other features now live in SIMS Next Gen, including Attendance Management, Exam Seating, Free Breakfast Club Attendance and enhanced Calendar events – see further below. 

 

If you need more information, visit our resource page, where you'll find step-by-step guidance, FAQs, and everything you need to complete the process. 

 

More to explore in SIMS Next Gen 

 

SIMS Next Gen continues to grow well beyond these updates. A few highlights already live and ready to use include: 

 

Attendance Management – a simplified attendance hub for managing expected attendance patterns, with grid-based editing, bulk updates, and built-in insights to support statutory returns and safeguarding. 

 

Exam Seating – manage room layouts, candidates, clashes, and access arrangements in one place, then generate seating-related reports, from candidate labels to exam timetables, directly in the platform. 

 

Free Breakfast Club Attendance – supports schools participating in the Government's breakfast club programme, simplifying attendance recording and DfE reporting. 

 

Calendar events – create, edit, and manage school calendar events fully within SIMS Next Gen, with no need to switch back to SIMS 7 for routine calendar administration. 

 

Kind regards 
The SIMS team 

 

More info: https://www.parentpaygroup.com/sims7-redirects/

 

Area	Stage 2 begins	Stage 3 not before date
Timetables	From 8 June, 2026	01 November, 2026
Attendance Registers	From 22 June, 2026	01 November, 2026
Conduct and Custom Groups	From 13 July, 2026	01 November, 2026

 

 

 

Edited Thursday at 11:13 by willtech

[ITGuyNW]

Mine currently says this

 

[SL_Thing]

1 hour ago, ITGuyNW said:

Mine currently says this

 

Mine only the top two are planned.

[JRA]

We've just done census, I'm putting off the rest until staff get a chance to get some training in: