Decision details

A School Information Management system (SIMS) provides the information necessary to manage a school effectively and provides an objective system for recording and aggregating information to support its operations. A school also has a Financial Management System (FMS) to manage its finances and budgeting.

The current versions of these systems have been in place for a considerable time and are consequently not as user-friendly or flexible as more modern systems, which also potentially offer improved functionality options that would support more efficient and effective working practices, which could benefit both schools and the County Council. 

The proposal is to replace the current system with a new solution hosted in The Cloud meaning that maintenance and upgrades are more straightforward. Schools opting in would pay for the systems through formal arrangements with the County Council.

The Cabinet Member for Learning and Skills has approved:

(1) The commencement of a procurement to provide a replacement information and financial management system for all West Sussex maintained schools

(2) The delegation of authority to the Director of Education and Skills to award the contract and implement the solution following the procurement process and to settle a service level agreement through which schools would reimburse the County Council for the costs of the system.

None