Children & Young People’s Services _________________________________________________
Endeavour House 8 Russell Road IPSWICH IP1 2BX TO: ALL HEADTEACHERS
Tel: 01473 260697 Fax: 01473 216889 Email: ian.brown@suffolk.gov.uk Web: http://www.suffolk.gov.uk Our Ref: Your Ref: [ ICB/TLS/2009-10-07ParentalOnline ] Date: 7 October 2009
Dear Colleague Parental Online Reporting Following my letter of 11 March 2009, I am now writing to you with more information about parental online reporting. From September 2010 all secondary schools will be required to report online to parents about their children’s progress. For primary schools this requirement will come into effect from September 2012. Precisely what is to be reported has not been defined and, therefore, schools are able to decide what they wish to report to parents. However, that is likely to include attainment, behaviour and attendance amongst other things. More details of the government’s expectations are to be found on the Becta website at: http://schools.becta.org.uk/index.php?section=oe&catcode=ss_es_fam_onrep_03&rid=14633#orfa q2 In order to research the options available to schools we have set up a project board and a stakeholder group. The members of the two groups are listed below. The project board has now reached the stage when it is able to report to schools and I am therefore writing to you with its findings. As you will know all schools in Suffolk use the Capita SIMS information management system and they also have access to the Uniservity learning platform. The options that are now being suggested to schools are based on these two platforms. UniServity Learning Platform The UniServity Learning Platform offers two options for schools. These are the parental reporting and parental engagement options. The first option enables schools to provide straight forward reports to parents and will be available from November 2009. The project board considers that this would offer a good entry level option for schools. The second option will be available in the New Year and is intended to engage parents by providing reports as in the first option but also by offering parents the opportunity to give feedback online. Further details for both options are available at: http://www.schoolportal.co.uk/GroupDownloadFile.asp?GroupId=162371&ResourceID=2552970
We are working towards making Suffolk the Greenest County. This paper is 100% recycled and made using a chlorine free process.
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Capita SIMS Capita have developed a “Learning Gateway” which connects with the SIMS system and which provides an alternative method for reporting to parents. Parents can also respond with comments. Schools can either host the Gateway themselves (in which case schools must be technically very capable) or Capita can host it on their behalf (which is the option most secondary schools and primary schools opt for). Further details are available at: http://www.parental-engagement.co.uk/?gclid=CPe-vYKqqJ0CFYNu4wodVCGnlA The project board has discussed these options with the Stakeholder Group and will continue to progress them as viable alternative for schools. The Group has agreed that, in order for decisions to be made about these options, schools should have the opportunity to learn more about them at first hand. We will therefore be arranging some workshops in the new year for schools, with the priority on secondary schools in the first instance. More details about these workshops will be provided for schools in the near future. The suppliers have advised us that the costs of these options to schools are as follows. UniServity Parental reporting: £1.25 per student per annum. UniServity Parental Engagement: £2.00 per student per annum. Capita SIMS Learning Gateway: Capita-hosted SIMS Learning Gateway for Secondary schools £12,000 for 3 year deal (payable over the 3 years) £2,500 for installation and training Capita-hosted SIMS Learning Gateway for PRUs/Primary/Special schools £4,500 for 3 year deal (payable over the 3 years) £2,500 for installation and training School-hosted SIMS Learning Gateway for Secondary schools £4,200 initial licence (one-off cost) plus £1,100 per year annual entitlement (which covers support, upgrades, etc.) £5,000 for project management, technical architecture, installation and training School-hosted SIMS Learning Gateway for PRUs/Primary/Special schools £1,900 initial licence (one-off cost) plus £450 per year annual entitlement (which covers support, upgrades, etc.) £5,000 for project management, technical architecture, installation and training School wishing to host the Gateway themselves must take into account the additional hardware they may need to buy in order to this.
We are working towards making Suffolk the Greenest County. This paper is 100% recycled and made using a chlorine free process.
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In view of the volume of schools in Suffolk that are using SIMS and the UniServity Platform we plan to provide information on those systems only. However, these are not the only options that are available to schools. If you have decided to opt for an alternative learning platform, for example, you may want to explore directly with those suppliers what is on offer. We will be writing to you again with information about Parental Online Workshops to be held in the spring term.
Yours sincerely
IAN BROWN Head of Service, Infrastructure Development
We are working towards making Suffolk the Greenest County. This paper is 100% recycled and made using a chlorine free process.
Membership of Parental Online Report Project Board and Stakeholder Group
Project Board Name Ian Brown
Organisation/School Head of Infrastructure Development
Christine Russell
Programme Manager
Liz Jackson
Programme Manager
Tim Wetten
ICT Business Partner
Jean Freeman
Parkside PRU
Martin Clark
Head of Schools Improvement Services
Stakeholder Group Name Ian Brown
Organisation/School Head of Infrastructure Development
Christine Russell
Programme Manager
Chris Moran
Farlingaye High School
Liz Jackson
Programme Manager
Tim Wetten
ICT Business Partner
James Crane
Programme Manager
Colin Walker
St Albans High School
Jean Freeman
Parkside PRU
Martin Clark
Head of Schools Improvement Services
Chris Wood
Chantry High School
Jonathon Rockey
Stowupland High School
Sally Scrutton
Britannia Primary School
Sue Nutt
Mildenhall College of Technology
Paul Laughlin
Assessment Adviser (Data), ISIS
Paul Calver
Lead School Improvement Adviser (Secondary), ISIS
Steve Turp
County Adviser for Assessment (Secondary), ISIS
Sarah Allen
Capita
Keith Jenkins
Uniservity
Lya Noon
Regional Delivery Manager (East), Becta
We are working towards making Suffolk the Greenest County. This paper is 100% recycled and made using a chlorine free process.