Census error 9999 – Module is missing

This error is caused when a Leaver does not have any ethnicity and/or language data recorded. The absence of this module appears to confuse the DfE validation rules.

How do I send a test page to my printer on Windows 7?

Please note – Microsoft will no longer offer security fixes for Windows 7 from January 2020, upgrade to Windows 10 as soon as possible. Click on the Start button. Click on Devices and Printers. Select the printer you would like to test by clicking on it once, using the right hand mouse button click over…

Can I delete old CTF Files?

When CTF files are exported, an XML export file is created and stored in the CTF Export Directory that was specified when you configured the CTF defaults (via Tools | Setups | CTF). Each XML file will have an individual file name when viewed through Windows® Explorer. The first seven digits of the file name…

Scomis Installation Services

Scomis can provide quotes for installation services for schools. These range from new workstations on schools networks right through to fully managed installations of whole school solutions including network infrastructure and multiple servers. We can provide services for both the curriculum and administrative networks within schools. Please contact the Scomis service desk on scomis@devon.gov.uk or 01392 385300…

Why is it important to know how many users connect to SIMS?

Capita recommend that a Windows workstation running Windows 7 is suitable as a server for up to 5 users, due to the load that this puts on the machine. Scomis recommend that SIMS is made available to all teaching staff in a school, as it provides key up to date information for these staff about…

What version of office am I using?

The following page tells you how to find out what version of office is installed on your PC http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-help/what-version-of-office-am-i-using-HA101873769.aspx   Reviewed 18/02/2015

Can I upgrade to Office 2010?

The following link details the Microsoft minimum requirements to run Office 2010 http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee624351.aspx   Reviewed 18/02/2015

SIMS in the Classroom

Top Ten Reasons for Giving your Teachers Access to SIMS in the Classroom 1          Sims Home Page The SIMS Home Page is the key place where a class teacher, Head of Year or Key Stage can pick up on key performance data about the groups they teach or monitor.  The Home Page is your dashboard…

Teacher 2 Parents – Invalid Username or Password

When using Teachers 2 Parents to create an extract and update T2P’s an error may occur ‘Invalid username or password’. T2P uses the sims.net username Teachers2Parents. This username and password can be checked by logging onto sims.net using the username ‘Teachers2Parents’ and the password, (on TS  log onto the local install of sims Start>All Programs>sims…

How Do I Add an Exclusion that runs from Lunchtime to Lunchtime?

How do I add an exclusion that starts at lunchtime on one day and finishes at lunchtime the next day and show it as 1 day? In the student’s record: Click on Exclusions on the right hand side New Fill in the details Enter Start Time as PM Put a tick in Part time Exclusion…

Whole School Percentage Attendance Report

To produce a report showing one percentage mark for whole school go to Reports | Attendance  | Group Reports | Group Session Summary Change Group type to ‘Whole School’ Click ‘search’ Change dates to the dates you wish to run the report from and to Click ‘print’ Reviewed 28/07/2020 – AT KB4844

How to resolve VSS or COM errors with Remote Backup

When checking the remote backup logs, you might come across the following errors – Error: 19:05:18 An error occurred preparing VSS for backup: Unknown VSS or COM error Error: 19:05:18 An error occurred trying to initialize VSS: Unknown VSS or COM error Error: 19:05:29 Unable to recover from exception in backup process The following processes…

Unable to run report – document management server not installed

If you are working on the main admin PC in school and get the above message please check the service is running Go to Start | Run | then type services.msc and enter. Scroll down list to find Sims.net Document Server Double click to open and check the service is ‘started’ If you are on…

Activate route to enable School Workforce Census

You need Personnel Officer and Return Manager permission rights in order to run the school workforce census. If you go to Routines | Statutory Returns and you still have no option for School Workforce Census you will need to apply the licence – please contact Scomis for the up to date licence   Reviewed 17/02/2015

SIMS External Connector for third party application which link with SIMS (for schools on our hosted SIMS platform only)

This article is only relevant for schools on our hosted applications platform who have 3rd party software which links with SIMS and which Scomis do not currently host (eg – current commonly used applications in school are Nationwide Cashless Catering, ALPS) Please see article http://faq.scomis.org/kb2170/ for a full list of third party applications which fit…

My School Workforce Census Summary/Detailed Report has No Information Recorded

After creating and validating your School Worforce Census return there are no errors or queries to be checked. Also when looking at the summary report or any of the detailed reports there is no information recorded. The resolution is to: Import the latest fileset Log out of Sims and back in again Create and Validate…

Dinner Money 7 – What should be done at the end / start of the academic year?

At the end/start of the academic year: a) Create a new Catering Year for the forthcoming academic year (usually September) b) Reconcile pupil/staff balances c) Produce appropriate letters for pupils/staff with outstanding balances d) Enter any new meal prices as part of meal definitions in the DM setup. (It is also recommended that the school…

Dinner Money 7 – How do I record a split payment?

Sometimes a cheque payment will be made that needs to be split between more than one pupil. Enter the full amount for one pupil and then click on the Split Payment button.  This will display the pupil and other siblings.  You can add other pupils by clicking the Add Pupil button.  Put in the relevant…

Dinner Money 7 – How Do I Add Extra Year Groups to a Meal Definition?

Once a meal definition has been set up it cannot be amended. In order to make changes to the year groups you need to create a new meal defiition with all the year groups required. Go to Tools – Dinner Money – Pupil (or Staff) Meal Definition Search for the meal definition In the description…

Planned End date different in School Census

The planned end date is showing different in the Update Learning Aims panel in the School Census to that in Course Manager and is bright yellow. The Update Learning Aims panel will show the original planned end date for YPLA matching purposes.  The advice from the Dfe is not to change it – it is…

Inconsistent font size in generated profiles report

If the inconsistent font is from a teachers comment or a comment inserted from the comment bank, check the following 1.  Check the default font size in the comment bank.  This is the font set in the List Entry Screen and is applied to typed as well as inserted comments. 2.  If the session is set…

Switching from a single to a double award

Students following a single award course may be identified as able to enter the double award exam – what is the correct way of dealing with this in Course Manager? You will need to create a new double award course and transfer the students from the single award course to the double award course.  Failure…

Dual Registered Students and Consortiums

The Post 16 Learning Aims will be collected for all Main – Dual Registered students.  Therefore schools who are in a consortium who have Main – Dual Registered students should record ALL the learning aims for these students whether they take place at the school site or at another school. Post 16 Learning aims will NOT…

Two year courses support enhanced from the 2015-2016 year

Support for 2-year courses has been enhanced from the 2015-2016 year.  Setting the duration for 2 years will automatically set the membership for each student with an end date which reflects the 2 year duration, e.g. start date  …/09/2015 -end date will automatically default to …./07/2017. If the level (e.g. GCE2Y) is always a 2…