Looking for a scaled down MIS system

[steele_uk]

Apologies if this is in the wrong forum, but this may be where the most experience lies.

 

We have a small barding facility (about 80 students), and we would like to get a system that records students details, reminders for student appoinments, medical information etc.

 

The system needs to have some sort of diary functionality. has anyone come across anything that would do this? I have been looking at sharepoint, but i would imagine i would need to do a lot of customisation, and i do not have an extensive sharepoint skillset. Anyone suggest anything?

 

cheers

[pritchardavid]

Not sure if this has a diary feature you want

 

ScholarPack - The Free MIS for schools

[steele_uk]

Great stuff. I will take a look at this tomorrow.

[Ketlane]

May initially seem like overkill to get a full system. Try SchoolBase (which isn't free) - what we have found is that the more we have a MIS the more we use it and the more demand and ideas we have for using it. Boarding particularly needs communications features which day establishments would only use rarely. Welcome

[PhilNeal]

I completely agree with Ketlane (apart from his choice of MIS of course )

 

I have been into tiny schools that make really good use of their MIS.

[Ketlane]

I completely agree with Ketlane (apart from his choice of MIS of course )

 

I have been into tiny schools that make really good use of their MIS.

 

We could argue over MIS (and I'd win in the end...) but there is no doubt that the more features and tools (some colleagues refer to them as toys, but there you go) you have the more these features will make your life easier.

 

My prejudice is that the MIS is primarily for staff dealing with children and parents, and that therefore it should be as simple to use as possible and should require no technical skill at all to use it. Maintenance and support should be far behind the scenes.

 

But an absolutely critical factor is the level of support. Whom do you phone - do they make a point of knowing who you are? Are they always helpful - and with answers? Do they ring back, or email, as promised? Do they admit they don't know and answer - and then go and get the answer from a colleague who does? All of this (or rather failure in all this) is why we left our previous provider. As that was four years ago or so, it wouldn't be fair to name them here.