Changing MIS

[GNewnham]

We are a large independent school and we are currently evaluating our MIS against other products out on the market, namely Isams.

 

We are now at a stage where we have complied a document of expectations / concerns / things we want to achieve etc etc and comparing our current MIS against ISAMS.

We are also in contact with a number of schools to see how effective their use of ISAMS is and their feedback about it. I am however always cautious to speak with schools that the company themselves recommend as they can be slightly biased. We therefore are speaking to a mixture of schools, using ISAMS, are about to move to it, and those that have left it etc.

 

We use iSAMS. I would be happy to chat about it. I will send you a message with my phone no.

[scholarpack]

We are a large independent school and we are currently evaluating our MIS against other products out on the market, namely Isams.

 

We are now at a stage where we have complied a document of expectations / concerns / things we want to achieve etc etc and comparing our current MIS against ISAMS.

 

I think my colleague sent you a PM a few weeks ago - not sure if you saw it but I'd appreciate seeing what your requirements/concerns are as an independent school. We have several independent schools using ScholarPack but it would be great to make sure we are covering all the bases with regards to initial implementation then day to day functionality. Thanks.

[chrissifi]

In terms of numbers of schools, fairly small - in the teens, with schools coming from no MIS, as well as Serco and WCBS Pass. One school in the last 3 years has gone from SIMS to Serco to ScholarPack.

 

In terms of interest we are generating plenty, especially at LEA level, which is our primary market, where we are presenting to 5 or 6 within the next month or so (tighter budgets etc - see Norfolk council strikes yesterday, didn't they just sign a £7m contact for MIS which I believe one of the protesters complained about on Radio 4?). Many LEAs are conscious of the Becta report which essentially stipulates they have to follow EU tendering requirements, so we expect a much more open market in the near future. Long, long overdue.

 

But it's early days yet and we are in this for the long haul

 

Is this implying that Serco and WCBS have under 20 schools using their systems or is it just the way it's written? WCBS quote over 200 using their admin/academic modules!

[scholarpack]

Nope not implying that - not sure where you got that from?