SIMS 2018 Spring Upgrade

The Spring upgrade should be with schools at the beginning of April. Release dates will be confirmed in our Upgrade Bulletin which will be published on the Scomis website at the beginning of February.  As usual the upgrade contains a number of new features as well as some long awaited changes requested by schools and local authorities.

Remember you can receive all this information if you subscribe to our bulletin

Here are the headlines:
 
New Features:
 
Statutory Returns
• School Census Summer 2018 files are included in this release.
 
Examinations Organiser and SIMS
• Reports to identify QNs missing from the Manage Performance Indicator screen
• Ability to record Level 2 Technical Qualifications at 16-18
• Update Performance Indicator Gradesets for multiple QNs
 
FMS/Resources
• Statutory FMS Consistent Financial Reporting (CFR) 2017/2018
• National Insurance calculations for salary projections 2018/2019.
 
GDPR
• NEW Report! Enhanced Person Data Output (PDO) routine to include the export of staff data
• Additional PDO output option (XML) to support data portability.
 
Assessment
• Early Years, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 assessment resources, reports and CTF updates
• Phonics updates (England)
 
Change Requests included in the Spring Release

• Improvements to memory leak in PULSAR.exe
• Highlighting inactive lookups in the user interface
• Enable the print button in pupil bulk update screen
• Bulk update of the completed flag in a staff training event
• Warning to the user when adding a student as a contact
• Addition of Staff Performance Objective Details sub report (School Objective Summary and School Objective Detail fields added)
• Record the history of enrolment status
• Printing student's timetable selection by class
• Option to hide National Identity
• Updates to Assessment Manager Exam JC Gradesets (more information...)
• Better handling of email links when no local email application is installed
• Administrator access for Staff Performance records
• Student Communication, ability to record the name of the person who dealt with the communication
• Ability to identify duplicate UPNs and manage them in the user interface, removes the need for the Reallocate UPN Tool
• Additional information on the Registration Certificate to make it clear who the displayed address belongs to
• Users can now manage linked document types in Tools | Lookups | Maintain.
• Additional fields available in the Student List reports
• Improvements to the Line Management Structure screen for Staff Performance
• Staff sign off area on objectives, observations and reviews
• Additional fields in the reporting dictionary to assist with Data Protection i.e. Student Forename and Initial of Surname (e.g. Karen P, Karen T) or initials (e.g. KP, KT)
• Pupil details warning message when changing the Date of Admission
• Bulk update of User Defined Fields

 

SIMS Parent App and Parent App Lite

The SIMS Parent app allows schools to easily communicate with parents. Whether it's sharing information such as attendance, or school reports, or sending reminders for homework tasks, all of the information is easily accessible from the convenience of their phone, tablet or PC.
 
Find out more here

SIMS Primary

SIMS Primary is Capita's new cloud-based version of SIMS.  It builds on the success and functionality of SIMS, while providing tailored interfaces for each type of user.  Whereas SIMS has traditionally been installed on a Database server with clients accessing data, the new version will be accessed via a web interface on a variety of devices.

Click here to find out more about Scomis and SIMS Primary

SIMS Finance

SIMS Finance is the next generation of finance software which will replace FMS for schools which are part of a Multi-Academy Trust and provide an alternative to other finance systems currently being used in schools.

Click here for more information

Are you confident that your critical data is secure?
 
What would your school do in the event of losing critical data?  
Would your data be fully protected in the event of the ever present threat of ransomware attacks?
Do your backups comply with General Data Protection Regulations?
 
Click here to find out how Scomis can help

Do you know that most social media sites have an official AGE LIMIT of 13 years?
 
'Children unprepared for social media 'cliff edge' as they start secondary school.'
The Children's Commissioner for England warns in a new report!
(www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk 4/1/18)
 
The report examines:

• The effects of social media on 8 to 12 year olds
• The way children use social media and its effects on their wellbeing

'Life in Likes 'shows how younger children use platforms which social media companies say are not designed for them.
Read the report in full and find out more:
https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Childrens-Commissioner-for-England-Life-in-Likes-3.pdf

STOP PRESS
The report also identified the popularity of Roblox with Year 4 boys
 

REMINDER!
 
Scomis delivers training for schools in the following formats:

• Formal classroom style
• Webinars and Webtrain
• Be-spoke delivery On-site
• Desk-top remote sessions

 
Details of how to access any of our training services and our programme of scheduled courses for 2017/18 can be found here.

Or contact us at:
Tel: 01392 385300
Email: scomis@devon.gov.uk