Decision details

Background Information:

Every school has a management information system (MIS) that handles key attendance and performance data on its pupils, and a Financial Accounting System (FAS) that supports effective financial and budget monitoring. These systems support the day-to-day running of the school and produce statutory returns throughout the school year. Most schools manage their finances and budget within the same system/supplier, but this is not obligatory.

A previous SIMS contract was in place 2014 to 2021. The current contract for maintained schools has been in place since 01/04/2021. The core contract term of three years ends on 31/03/2024. During this contract, the LA has paid for SIMS and then this money has been recouped from schools through de-delegation. 

ESS, the supplier of SIMS, are no longer issuing or extending LA contracts, as they are moving to more cloud-based systems and the data storage and information governance requirements change with this, meaning that they will only contract directly with schools.

Over the last few years, the MIS and FAS market has changed significantly. Nationally, SIMS have dropped to a market share of 55%, down from 75% in 2020. In Kent, some maintained schools have already opted to move away from SIMS to an alternative MIS provider. Academies often use alternative providers. The MIS market is therefore splintering in Kent, and some schools are currently paying for two systems, which is not a sustainable position for stretched school budgets. With this backdrop schools need to make their own decision about what they pay for.

Risks if the decision isn’t taken:

It is vital that schools are supported to have a valid contract for their MIS and FAS, with a DfE-accredited supplier, to ensure they can continue to fulfil their statutory obligations to both the LA and central government.

If Kent doesn’t sign the Facilitation Agreement schools would have to pay significantly higher prices, which would be reputationally damaging. We know quite a lot of schools want to stay with SIMS and are relying on continued low prices, guaranteed for this next 3-year term.

Kent does not want to seek to enter another LA contract with a different supplier as the market has splintered and different schools want different systems. It would be reputationally damaging if we tried to force schools down a particular route.

As Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, I agree to:

1) No longer purchase MIS and FAS for maintained schools

2) To support schools to contract directly with their supplier of choice with competitive pricing negotiated by Kent (including signing the Facilitation Agreement with ESS to enable this for SIMS)

3) Delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Children, Young People and Education, to take necessary actions, including but not limited to entering into contracts and other legal agreements, as required to implement the decision