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Hello and welcome!

It's the last stretch of the academic year, exams are in full swing, and there's no let up here at Scomis as we launch our new MIS partnership with Bromcom, prepare to release the pilot next week of our upgraded Managed Reporting Service, and help customers prepare end of year procedures to be fully ready for the start of the new academic year.

We know that energy can begin to fade around this time, so we've listed below some of your key procedures for the last few weeks of term. If you want to double-check you've got everything covered, just contact our award-winning Service Desk and they'll connect you with one of our hugely experienced consultants who can talk you through best practice for your establishment. We're here to help you, always.

Scomis and Bromcom announce partnership

Scomis and Bromcom have begun a wide-ranging partnership to support trusts and schools nationally. Bromcom joins Arbor and SIMS in the Scomis family, and we now support three market-leading MISs.

As our customers and partners will be aware, the MIS market in England is changing. Last month we shared a strategy update stating that Scomis is becoming an MIS-agnostic service provider. Our goal is, as always, to ensure our customers get the best out of available education technology. If you'd like to find out more read our strategy update statement.

So we are delighted to announce that Scomis has full accreditation to support Bromcom’s MIS and Finance applications nationally via our award-winning service desk. Further Bromcom-related services offered by Scomis will include application hosting, managed reporting, user training, and leadership consultancy. For more information read our Bromcom partnership announcement.

Year 1 Phonics Screening 2023

From 12th to 16th June 2023, the Year 1 Phonics Screening Test is scheduled to take place for all children in Year 1 in England. Find out more about Year 1 Phonics Screening.

Calling all secondary schools

Tutor-led SIMS Course Manager training on 20^th June - and there's still time to book yourself in. The tutor will cover how to ensure course information in SIMS is always up to date across your MIS. As part of the morning session we explore the links between the accuracy of course manager and Exams, Nova T6 and Assessment. Book Course Manager training here. There are only a couple of spots left for the morning session.

The afternoon Course Manager session is aimed at Post-16 schools only. It carries on from the morning and covers all elements of Post-16 information needed for the Autumn Census and includes all of this year's new elements.

Keep on track with key actions to the end of the academic year

Key actions for June

Export KS1 Results to Local Authorities (LAs)
Ensure all Year 6, 11 and Year 13 Leaver details are up to date in the Management Information Systems (MIS)
Record Leavers in Management Information Systems (MIS)
Create Common Transfer Files (CTFs)
Prepare the MIS for the new Academic Year – Create the new academic year; promotion of students; maintenance of staff records; housekeeping and much more!

Key actions for July

Import Common Transfer Files (CTFs)
Export CTFs for Leavers
Export KS2 Results
Export KS3 Results
Produce/distribute Reports to Parents/Carers

Cyber Security

Is your IT Network secure and protected from loss of data, accidental damage, and malicious activity such as cyber attacks? And are your staff aware of the steps they should be taking to ensure their safety and your schools security from Cyber Attacks?

Review the National Cyber Security Centre's advice on Cyber Security for Schools.

Emergency Planning & Response

We'll start with the good news that everyone is safe and well, but last week tragically there was a fire at Yatton Infant School. We send our love and a virtual hug to all the staff and students there and wish them all well as their school is rebuilt. And we wanted to share our admiration for how quickly and smoothly the school and its trust, Lighthouse Schools Partnership, have ensured continuity of teaching and the wellbeing of everyone involved.

It's a reminder to refresh your emergency planning. Do your staff have the correct user access and privileges to use your IT Network? Is your data being backed up safely, securely and can the data be restored? Have you created, implemented, and reviewed a ‘System Recovery Plan’, and has it been tested? Check the Emergency Planning and Response advice from the DfE.

Have all staff leaving the school had their access to your school’s network and third-party cloud solutions (for example MyConcern, CPoms) disabled/removed? You can contact Scomis for impartial and objective advice on:

Infrastructure Services
Network Solutions and Services
Remote Back-up

If we can help you, let us know?

Training courses for next month - book now!

July

4^th Examinations Results and Analysis
5^th Managing Examinations Results Day Excluding Analysis

6^th Assessment – Presentation

13^th Using Discover – Analytical Graphs in SIMS

14^th Advanced Reporting with Excel Analysis session 1 of 2

21^st Advanced Reporting with Excel Analysis – session 2 of 2

Hey Rachel!

How do I find the latest guidance regarding the 2023 Key Stage return?

I'm glad you asked! Check out our FAQ on Key Stage Returns for all the latest information, or read our MyScomis article.

Customer feedback corner - thank you 😊