matt40k

If I was you @rpettit, I'd go for @scholarpack, assume it does everything you need ( ie your deemed to be a primary). SIMS is rather overkill for such a small school, I can't see how you could justify the bloat. Didn't like the look of iSams when I looked at it, looks very good for a Independent. Also like @PhilNeal has pointed out, no-one has left @scholarpack.

I'd use Express, easy enough to upgrade later if need, but to honest, primary schools should be OK. Also get rid of Exchange, move to Office 365.

An arm and a leg, looking at £2.5k/year to become a SIMS partner.

You have to buy it. Either by becoming a Capita partner or a Support Unit. Anything else results in Capita throwing legal action at you and whoever leak it to you.

That's a very unpopular choice at the moment - ICT business folds leaving schools in the lurch | Schools Week

Thing is, you never know, I've sat in meetings where managers have said it'll take months to do it, only for it to actually take 30 mins. You don't know how bad it'll be until you've actually done a bit of digging. It's pointless to just assume something without doing a bit of research first. It takes what a few hours to phone a few suppliers, maybe another few hours to look at each suppliers product, you never know, it might actually be easier then what you got. Staff might find it easier, you don't know. You shouldn't put up barriers of fear. I'm not saying ditch SIMS, just check it is still the best product for your school if you have to re-buy the license. If nothing else, it pushes Capita to give you a better price as they know they don't have you locked in.

Mmm... why ever would the organisation responsible for British government security want immunity from reverse engineer security software that is becoming popular within the British government from a Russian based company that has strong links to the KGB

You just need to add /MULTIINSTANCE to the end of the SIMS shortcut. Sorry it might be too late, but it might help someone else who stumbles across this post.

I have yet to see any procurement guidance that says you don't have to do due diligence for a many thousand pound purchase, especially for such as critical system. The specific framework point was more of a recommendation, but that said, from a external auditing point of view, I would be raising the question why you wouldn't be buying of a government framework for a MIS when your buying a MIS system that is required to meet government requirements that they have add layers of protection? If your answer is "its cheaper", I would be asking (from the point of view of the external auditors), why is it cheaper and what sacrifices has it become cheaper? I would assume at the cost of the layers of protection that the government has added in. Very odd for a MIS supplier to saying to avoid a framework, especially when they are on it already... unless I missed the marketing ads for Capita Legal Services

You've literally describe what our (any) HR system does. If you HR provider (LA?) doesn't provide you with access, then raise it. I know we're only now rolling out access based on feedback. Just seems stupid to setup yet another system to duplicate data because someone didn't create you an account on the main system that already exists. It also has the added bonus that if you add overtime/expenses, it actually results in your getting paid it!

Why reinvent the wheel? Its part of your HR software, use that. If you need extra rules such as only 1 out of 3 of you on holiday at once, then you could use outlook calendar and "holiday" as a resource or room booking with a room of "Home" and max capacity of 1

I think @bobsmith is right, I think they'll want you to buy a new license. Just remember, if they do, you have to (re) procurement a MIS system correctly, you can't just order another SIMS license. I would do it off the government framework - Information Management and Learning Services | Crown Commercial Service - its worth a look at the market even if you do end up keeping SIMS. If you do select SIMS, I think @Banjo idea would be the way forward, tho I suspect it'll cause some problems later down the line (can't think what exactly).

Can't you create the medical form within REMS ?

SharePoint is a bit of a beast, you need at least 24gb ram to run it on a single server. It's often a bit of a sledge hammer and a nut scenario for most folks.

I assume you've got permissions to add it into SIMS .net manually?

Update to 2.3.27.0, that should sort you out - download from https://simsbulkimport.uk/

Nope, just need SIMS .net installed on your client. What version are you running?

@SovietRussia - could do with some testimonials for the site really, or better yet blog posts detailing how folks are using it.

Try saving it as an Excel spreadsheet. What version you using? You can get the latest version from https://simsbulkimport.uk/. I assume Learning Mentor is a UDF? Is it a single-line text?

@andydis you'll need a new FMS database, the structure is very different as you have extra requirements as an academy - you might have to submit a VAT return for starters. Like @FN-GM said, you'll LA will be in touch with regards picking and taking over the db, they should at least leave you with a read only copy if you wish.

Avoid like the plague.

Yer, works laptop is 120GB and that's plenty big, still if your gaming then it doesn't take long to fill when games are over 40gb each and really games need to be on SSDs.

Just remember if your going to buy a Samsung SSD, you're limited to Windows, they've k-boshed the Linux implementation of TRIM in the latest fireware basically saying it can do something it can't - unless erasing random data is your goal - https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/fstrim/+bug/1449005

@jbunoomally - that looks cool (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cyber-essentials-scheme-overview) - just a shame none of the main players are on it - https://www.iasme.co.uk/index.php/companies-certified

Cheers @rpwillis. @howartp try https://github.com/SIMSBulkImport/SIMSBulkImport/releases/tag/2.3.27.0