Schoolbase or ISAMS - what would you decide

[scholarpack]

I'd be interested to know what attracted you to the small providers. Price alone, or other factors?

[Roguesooty]

Price is actually fairly similar to be honest. What attracted us to the smaller providers was that they are only for Independant schools and also other Schools that we know and are close to or have good links to have spoken of these 2 mains ones or are using them which then started us looking at them and finding that the list of customers for each of them are very extensive. We were also quite attracted by the flexibility and the "Can Do" attitude when it comes to modify the software package to fit our needs, which they both do within reason plus we need a system which can be housed on School site as we have lots of other databases/applications within School that require either information from the main database or actual SQL connectivity to the database.

[Max_Power]

Morning,

 

We are an independant school also preparing to look at MIS providers at the momoment

 

If possible could you share the types of things you were looking at from the MIS and the provider? What were the important things for you and how it swayed your decision of choosing either. Did you have a certain scope for comparing the two?

 

Is there a suggested framework anywhere which gives you ideas on how to properly compare what is on the market?

Thanks

Edited November 29, 2010 by Max_Power

[Ketlane]

To begin with the main driver for our choice was service, rather than functionality - which may seem strange but reflected our experience at the time. What I'd say now is that accessibility online for parents and staff; communications in-built such as email and mailmerge have hugely improved our connections with parrents, staff and even pupils; having assessment data readily accessible and processable has led to much better guidance, target setting, analysis etc; a confidence that things "just work" and that on the whole there is no tech support issue; getting all sorts of timetable data out in all sorts of ways; medical and SEN info accessible for those who need it; recording and sharing of concerns and achievements that lie below the threshold of school rewards and sanctions; how's that for a start? I'd recommend that you get potential providers to give you some names of schools and then you go and see the products in action and get a warts-and-all view on site (try asking some passing teachers?). We'd be happy to host you here if you like - PM me.

[JPS]

 

Is there a suggested framework anywhere which gives you ideas on how to properly compare what is on the market?

Thanks

 

Try the following, although it may be directed to state schools more so.

 

Becta Schools - Leadership and management - Strategy - Functional requirements for information management including MIS

[Guest MikeBostock]

The point I wished to make is a familiar one, but one worth revisiting. A school doesn't need to try to find one system that will do everything that a school will want to do with data. If data can easily be exchanged between applications then it makes sense to try to acquire the best products for the different tasks that need doing in a school.

 

Schools now have many additional choices in regards to using data for school evaluation, raising achievement, supporting teacher research, analysis, diagnostics and progress tracking.

 

BETT2011 will be a good chance to compare notes because we are expecting to see new data analysis approaches from the major MIS suppliers and small companies.

Edited November 30, 2010 by vikpaw
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