Autumn 2023 Upgrade to SIMS (v7.214) and FMS (v6.214)
The Autumn 2023 SIMS Upgrade (V7.214) & FMS (V6.214) is planned to be rolled out on the evening of : Friday 10th of November
(Scomis Hosted users please log off by 5pm)
Non Hosted users: The new release will be authorised in Solus on: Friday 10th of November
SIMS Changes:
Bulk Delete of Admission Applications NEW
Applicable to all schools
Tools > Housekeeping > Delete Admission Applications
Schools can now perform a bulk deletion of application records. All data (except where Fees or Dinner Money transactions are present on the Application record) will be available for deletion.
Bulk update Application Data for Dietary Needs and Paramedical Support NEW
Applicable to all schools
Routines | Admissions | Bulk Update
The dietary needs and paramedical support data can be updated in bulk by admission officers.
DeX Configuration Update NEW
Applicable to all schools
The DeX Configuration screen is part of a series of changes designed to make onboarding to SIMS Next Gen easier.
NOTE This needs to be used in conjunction with a new version of SIMS Service Manager (1.4.8.0) which is yet to be released.
Manually added QN – validation on QN plus discount code NEW
Applicable to English schools
Tools | Examinations | Add Qualification Data
Tools | Academic Management | Course Manager | Maintain Course
DfE provide QWS QAN files but will no longer add Key Stage 4 Qualifications which are not funded for Post-16 students. New functionality has been provided in SIMS7 for schools to add these QANs if they need to.
New Certification Broadsheet Sort orders NEW
Applicable to English Secondary schools
We have introduced further sort and display orders within the Certification Broadsheet report to allow for more flexibility over the names that are used when outputting the report.
Application Bulk Delete Audit Report NEW
Applicable to all schools
Reports | Admissions | Application Bulk Delete Data Audit
The Application Bulk Delete Data Audit option is now available to all schools so that they can generate a Bulk Application Delete Report. This report can be found below the Projected Student Numbers report or use the shortcut key ‘A’.
Key Dates for the School Census Spring 2024 Return NEW
Applicable to schools in England
Census Date: 18/01/2024
Attendance Collection from 01/08/2023 to 31/12/2023
Exclusions collected from 10/04/2023 to 31/12/2023
Alternative Provision Placements collected from 05/10/2023 to 18/01/2024
Funding and Monitoring collected from 01/08/2023 to 18/01/2024
Learner Support collected from 01/08/2023 to 18/01/2024
Free School Meals collected from 06/10/2023 to 18/01/2024
Census Returns Term UPDATE
Applicable to schools in England
Routines | Statutory Returns | School Census
The Spring 2024 term on the Census Return screen will now be shown as School Census Spring 2024 as the new default. This will also be updated in the following Return Tools:
- Class Type
- Early Years
- Students with Top-up Funding
- Students Post Looked After Arrangements
Permanent Exclusions NEW
Applicable to only secondary schools in England
Routines | Statutory Returns | School Census
Permanent Exclusions that start in the exclusions collection period for the Spring 2024 School Census will be collected if they have a final review date which falls in the exclusions collection period plus up until the day before census day.
Emergency Alert NEW
Applicable to all schools
Tools | Setups | Emergency Alert
The Emergency alert sound feature in SIMS7 has been made available to the SIMS Connected platform to help draw users’ attention to an emergency.
Bulk update for Paramedical Support NEW
Applicable to all schools
Routines | Students | Bulk Update
The Paramedical support data item can be updated in bulk within the Bulk Update Students functionality.
Modes of Travel update NEW
Applicable to all schools
Routines | Student | Student Details
The modes of travel options in the Additional Information section can now be updated via Tools | Lookups |Maintain Lookup. Users can add, edit, and remove options so these are relevant to the school’s needs.
Import User Defined Field Data via a Spreadsheet NEW
Applicable to all schools
Focus | Student | Student Details
The Student Data Import from Spreadsheet function has been updated to facilitate User Defined Field (UDF) data imports.
NextGen Take Register Quick Launch in SIMS UPDATE
Applicable to all schools
Focus | Attendance / Lesson Monitor | Take Register
We have introduced a quick link within the Take Register screen in SIMS7 to launch the SIMS NextGen Take Register functionality in the default web browser for schools that have onboarded to SIMS NextGen.
Supply Teacher permission group UPDATE
Applicable to all schools
Focus | System Manager
The Supply Teacher template permission group in System Manager has been updated so that a supply teacher can take and record the register for the class they are covering.
Icon added to take Register for NextGen users NEW
Applicable to all schools
Focus | Attendance | Take Register
Focus | Lesson Monitor | Take Register
To improve the user experience for schools onboarded to SIMS Next Gen, we have added a new icon within the SIMS7 Take Register functionality to directly launch the Next Gen alternative experience.
FMS Changes:
Education and Skills Funding Agency Statutory Accounts Return 2022/2023 NEW
Applicable to Academies
Tools | General Ledger Setup | Tab 10. ESFA Mappings
The ESFA Mapping Tab will be active if the financial year starts in September. The tab allows locally defined FMS6 ledger codes to be mapped to the published ESFA Account Codes. Once the local FMS ledger codes have been mapped, the available supporting reports will show where an FMS ledger code has been mapped to an ESFA Account Code, and identify FMS ledger code(s) that have not been mapped.
Education and Skills Funding Agency Statutory Accounts Return 2023/2024 NEW
Applicable to Academies
Tools | General Ledger Setup | Tab 10. ESFA Mappings
The ESFA Mapping Tab allows your locally defined FMS ledger codes to be mapped to the published ESFA Account Codes. The following modifications have been made to the ESFA Account Codes:
- 44 new Account Codes have been added.
- ESFA Account Code 845250 has been removed from their Chart of Accounts. Any FMS ledger code mapped to this ESFA code in 2022/2023 will be unmapped during the Autumn 2023 upgrade and will need to be re-mapped to the appropriate ESFA Account Code for 2023/2024.
Accounts Receivable redundant BK Ledger codes NEW
Applicable to All Phases; All Regions; Maintained, Academies and Independent schools
The ability to hide redundant Bank Type Ledger Types has been extended to include transactional screens in Accounts Receivable detailed below:
- Accounts Receivable | Receipts | Direct Debit – Bank Account Field
- Accounts Receivable | Receipts | Standing Order – Bank Account Field
- Accounts Receivable | Refund Details | Bank Field
- Accounts Receivable | Manage Books | Paying In Slip