Innovate

Thanks for all the replies everyone - ScholarPack sounds interesting (that's a decision beyond my control though and while I can do my best to influence ultimately I can't see it happening - too much training already been put into SIMS). Have contacted LA and they could provide us with SIMs in the classroom. They state in their email that... The price for Sims in the classroom is as follows: 1 x 5137 Checkpoint box @ £182 1 x 5138 Checkpoint licence @ £53 Configuration on Curriculum Side (installation of SIMS on workstations etc) - up to 4 Hours - £210 Does this sound good?

This would mean me ditching everything though through SWGfL Merlin wouldn't it?

VLE I think will only link with SIMs... agree with other comments stated also.

NorthernSands - thanks for the reply. Lots to think about. Will look into the spec of the machine and let you know.

Russ, Thanks for the reply. So attendance I assume already done via omr sheets. Attendance is done the old fashioned book and manual input way - would love to go electronic. Will definitely look into some excel templates - anyone got any good ones? Two things to ask does your Sims support via LA have any people can tap into to help you maximise your use of Sims.net and if not how about local upper school with a data manager who can help you... Not sure, I will see. Plan to send an email off to our LA IT team and see what they would recommend.

This is my first post on EduGeek so please bare with me.... I am an I.C.T co-ordinator at a small first school and we are keen to adopt a new VLE component which is being offered through SWGfL's Merlin. This new module will take data from SIMs and display it for parents/teachers to view. My problem is that we currently do not utilise the power of SIMs because we only have it on one machine in the office which is only ever used by our senior admin officer (and SIMs manager). What would others recommend as the next steps forward? I did have BromCom and Capita come in and show us their systems which I loved but the cost is unbelievable (in the region of £5000 a year) especially because we are small school of 180 pupils. I know about SIMs in the classroom but that would mean linking our curriculum and admin network which I am not keen to do. Is there other options? Free options? Does anyone import data into SIMs regularly using an online format perhaps? All suggestions welcome...