Assessment at Key Stage 4 and SIMS

Course overview

This one day course will take delegates through the new KS4 resources created in SIMS based on the latest information supplied by the DfE in relation to Progress Measure 8 and the GCSE reform (numerical grading).

Benefits of attending

To gain a practical understanding of the new KS4 SIMS Assessment resources and how to use them effectively for analysis. 

What you will learn

• importing the new KS4 resources including Assessment templates, SIMS reports and Discover graphs
• how to clone the CAS KS4 Overview templates
• creating Assessment Mapping Tool definitions for internal assessment and examination results
• how to convert results linked to Assessment Mapping Tool definitions
• how to view converted assessment results on the CAS KS4 Overview definitions
• generating and understanding the KS4 Report Definitions
• generating the KS4 Discover graphs and using them to analyse academic and pastoral groups.

Who is it for?

Staff with a full understanding and experience of the setup and use of SIMS assessment, alongside a clear understanding of the assessment process within their school.

Course dates to be allocated according to demand. If you are interested in this course, please complete the form here

Assessment - Producing Individual Pupil Reports

Course overview

This one day course covers how to create a range of pupil reports for parents from a basic table of results through to an in-depth end of year style report including graphs and comparison data.

Benefits of attending

Producing reports directly from SIMS will both improve efficiency and accuracy of reporting to parents, for example on attainment, targets and tests. Attending this course will enable you to design and create a unique school defined report. 

What you will learn

- running a report and saving to a pupil's record
- cloning reports to other years
- how you can report to parents using the new Assessment Without Levels materials
- adding other functions such as graphs and average levels for a year group for comparative purposes
- creating reports for internal purposes
- running, printing, exporting and uploading reports to an individual record; sending reports via In Touch.

Who is it for?

Staff with responsibility for the creation, maintenance and production of pupil interim and end of year reports to parents.

Course dates to be allocated according to demand. If you are interested in this course, please complete the form here

Analysing Assessment Data

On this two day course you will learn how to analyse the full range of your students’ assessment data. Explore advanced features including analysis grids, tracking grids, new Key Stage 4 analysis resources and complex formulas which enable you to use SIMS Analysis as a tool to improve student attainment.

What you will learn

• creating and maintaining user defined groups
• creating and using analysis grids; group, aspect, chance and result-set
• using individual reports for analysis
• creating tracking grids
• the Assessment Mapping Tool
• an introduction to assessment within SIMS Discover
• a demonstration of the Assessment Mapping Tool, School Report and Key Stage 4 resources
• designing and constructing complex Assessment templates.

Who is it for?

Senior leaders or staff with responsibility for the assessment process; you will be an experienced user of SIMS Assessment.

Course dates to be allocated according to demand. If you are interested in this course, please complete the form here

Analyse Exam Results using SIMS

Course overview

This 1 day course explores the analysis and customisation of examination results in line with your school’s specific requirements.

Benefits of attending

To explore the use of SIMS Assessment and SIMS Discover to provide further analysis of exam results in addition to the pre-defined reports available in SIMS Examinations Organiser. 

What you will learn

• how SIMS Examinations Organiser, SIMS Assessment, SIMS Analysis and SIMS Discover can be used to analyse exam results
• creating tracking marksheets with traffic lights to compare exam results to targets
• using SIMS Discover to generate graphs of exams results
• using SIMS Analysis to perform group, aspect, result set and chance analyses of examination result data.

Who is it for?

Staff with responsibility for producing additional analyses of examinations results beyond what is available within SIMS Examinations Organiser.

Course dates to be allocated according to demand. If you are interested in this course, please complete the form here

Academic Management

Course overview

This course explores procedures for allocating students to curriculum structures, including bands and classes, and maintaining class memberships. The functionality of class list and timetable printing in SIMS, and the curriculum analysis reports, are also covered.

Duration

One Day

Benefits of attending

To learn how to allocate students within the curriculum and to produce curriculum analysis reports. 

What you will learn

• allocating students to classes and bands
• export and import of student memberships
• student carousel rotations
• individual student curriculum
• whole curriculum assignment
• printing class lists from SIMS
• curriculum analysis routines in SIMS
• allocating students an alternative curriculum.

Who is it for?

Staff with responsibility for student class memberships and who have an understanding of the school's curriculum structures and procedures.

Course dates to be allocated according to demand. If you are interested in this course, please complete the form here

Nova Workshop

Course overview

Discuss and examine complexities you've discovered when constructing your new timetable with a Nova-T consultant and explore possible solutions.

This 1 day workshop provides the opportunity to discuss and examine with a NovaT6 consultant complexities you've discovered when constructing your new timetable and to explore possible solutions or alternatives from both a timetabling and software perspective

The agenda for the day is determined by the requirements of those delegates attending to enable them to make the best use of Nova-T6 in their school or academy

Benefits of attending

Constructing a timetable shouldn't be complex. Learn how to produce your timetable more efficiently. 

What you will learn

The agenda for the day is determined by the requirements of those delegates attending to enable you to make the best use of Nova-T in your school or academy.

Who is it for?

Teaching and non-teaching staff responsible for planning and constructing the timetable and who have a good working knowledge of Nova-T6.

Course dates to be allocated according to demand. If you are interested in this course, please complete the form here

SIMS & The Senior Leader

This one day course is specifically tailored for senior leaders and explores how they can access and analyse key data in SIMS to support whole school improvement

At the end of this course delegates will be able to: access SIMS data; using the Pupil/Teacher View across the school; set up the SIMS Homepage to meet the requirements of senior leaders; run reports and analyse a range of pupil data; access the data held in SIMS to inform decision making; analyse the data available for a variety of reasons; identify problem areas quickly; consider additional support options in classes, for booster sessions or teacher support with difficult groups; identify and evidence key areas of improvement across the school; make fuller use of the SIMS Homepage for school senior leaders; make fuller use of SIMS Discover

Duration

One Day

Course dates to be allocated according to demand. If you are interested in this course, please complete the form here

Examinations Organiser

Course overview

This two-day course explores all aspects of managing external examinations using SIMS Examinations Organiser.

At the end of this course delegates will be able to: Set up and configure the Examinations Organiser software; Import, structure and manage basedata; enter candidates for examinations ; record forecast grades and coursework marks; submit data to examination boards; use seating organiser; deal with clashes

Benefits of attending

Learn how to manage external examinations within SIMS. 

What you will learn

• setting up the Examinations Organiser module
• entering candidates for examinations and entering coursework marks
• submitting entries and marks to examination boards
• using seating organiser
• dealing with clashes.

This course includes the e-module 'SIMS Behaviour Management' which will be made available to you before the course commences.

Who is it for?

Exam officers and administrative staff with responsibility for external examination entry and organisation.

A working knowledge of external examination procedures is required for this course

Course dates to be allocated according to demand. If you are interested in this course, please complete the form here

Timetabling using Nova T6

Course overview

This four day course provides a step by step explanation of how to use Nova-T6 in the production of the school timetable, from populating the system with core data (rooms, staff, subjects) to submitting the completed timetable to SIMS

By the end of the course you will be able to make efficient use of SIMS to: resource classes; manage multiple length sessions (doubles, triples); allocate non class codes; make use of curriculum analysis; make use of manual and automatic scheduling techniques; optimise the timetable; make use of automatic and manual allocation of rooms; generate a range of analyses and reports ; links between SIMS and Nova-T6; 

Benefits of attending

To learn how to use Nova-T to produce the school timetable. 

What you will learn

• resourcing classes
• managing multiple length sessions (doubles, triples...)
• allocating non class codes
• curriculum analysis
• manual and automatic scheduling
• optimising the timetable
• automatic and manual allocation of rooms
• printing of timetables and reports
• links between SIMS and Nova-T.

This course includes the e-module 'Timetabling Essentials' which will be made available to you before the course commences.

Who is it for?

Staff with responsibility for constructing and maintaining the timetable and with some prior knowledge of timetable principles.

Course dates to be allocated according to demand. If you are interested in this course, please complete the form here

Cover

Following this one day course, you will understand how to implement Cover to manage all aspects of classroom staff absence and to explore the dynamic links of the module to other areas of SIMS such as SIMS Personnel and SIMS Examinations Organiser

At the end of this course delegates will be able to: Make use of global settings available to customise the module; make use of links to SIMS Personnel; manage supply cover; declaring teaching absence and arranging cover; manage room closures (for example due to examinations); print and report cover arrangements; make use of cover statistics and impact summaries;

Benefits of attending

Learn how to manage classroom staff absence using SIMS Cover. 

What you will learn

• global settings available to customise the module
• links with records in SIMS Personnel
• declare teaching staff absence and arranging cover
• manage supply staff cover
• manage room closures and re-rooming
• publish cover arrangements
• produce cover statistics and student impact summaries.

Who is it for?

Staff involved in the cover process. Knowledge of your school’s cover policy would be useful.

Course dates to be allocated according to demand. If you are interested in this course, please complete the form here

Course Manager & Post 16 Learning Aims

This course explores how the Course Manager functionality of SIMS links areas such as Nova-T6, academic management and Examinations Organiser, including procedures for supporting the maintenance of Post 16 Learning Aims.

At the end of this course delegates will be able to: Manage course definitions with regard to the relationship between course manager and other areas of SIMS; Work with an understanding of examination awards and courses of study linking examination awards to courses of study; managing the Post 16 Learning Aims processes

Duration

Full Day

Course dates to be allocated according to demand. If you are interested in this course, please complete the form here

Attendance Reporting

Course overview

This half day course takes delegates through the reporting capabilities of SIMS Attendance to ensure the software is being used as efficiently and effectively as possible.

By the end of the course you will be understand the SIMS approach to the reporting, evaluation and use of attendance data including: reporting attendance data to help monitor attendance; functionality provided by the pre-defined SIMS Attendance reports; functionality provided by the SIMS Attendance letters; how to analyse attendance and real-time data on the SIMS Homepage

Benefits of attending

Learn how to make the best use of the reporting capabilities in SIMS Attendance. 

What you will learn

• how to produce the predefined SIMS Attendance reports
• how to produce personalised attendance letters directly from SIMS
• summarising attendance data on the SIMS Home Page
• analysing attendance data using SIMS Discover.

Who is it for?

Staff involved in the monitoring of statutory attendance. You need to have some experience of SIMS and SIMS Attendance.

Also consider: SIMS Discover Day 1: Standard Analysis

Course dates to be allocated according to demand. If you are interested in this course, please complete the form here

SIMS Personnel

The Personnel module is one of the key core modules within SIMS. It provides basic personnel data to support external returns but also provides the
basis for issuing contracts for staff and maintaining staff development records. Maintaining accurate data is essential for accurate budget planning and monitoring. This course is designed for staff with little or no knowledge of Personnel procedures.

CONTENT

• Issuing contracts and the financial implications of contracts
• Adding basic personnel data for new members of staff
• Recording teacher details of subjects and qualifications
• Recording Staff development
• Recording Staff absence
• Effectively using the listings within the module

ATTENDANCE

Full day

Course dates to be allocated according to demand. If you are interested in this course, please complete the form here

SIMS Technical Essentials

Covers the basic essentials of managing SIMS and FMS in the school, where the school hosts their own data. At the end of the day users will know the most common technical tasks and processes involved in managing SIMS, Discover and FMS.

Content

Identify and locate the SIMS and FMS components

Installing SIMS, Discover and FMS on a workstation

Managing users in System Manager

How to manage deployments using SOLUS 3

How to use DBupgrade to apply database upgrades and patches

How to use DBattach to attach and backup databases

Recognise the possibilities available through an integrated approach to the use of management information across the school the range of roles and responsibilities within the school; the management of access to data; the use of SIMS System Manager to manage users of the system

ATTENDANCE
Full day

Course dates to be allocated according to demand. If you are interested in this course, please complete the form here

SIMS with Excel

SIMS is capable of extracting a wide range of data using its reporting functionality, including student details, attendance, assessment and behaviour data. The export of data into Excel is the default option for many of the pre-defined reports in SIMS.

Excel is a powerful programme capable of assisting in analysis and display of data. Formulas process data in an accurate and repeatable way and pivot tables provide an interactive method of interrogating data.

Incorporating the Excel analysis directly within the SIMS report means that both the extraction of the data from SIMS and the analysis of the data in Excel can be achieved, automatically, in one step.

Content

• Automating data analysis in SIMS reports using Excel
• Excel formulas
• Analysing data using Excel
• Designing more complex SIMS reports
• Excel pivot tables

Attendance

Full day

Alternative Curriculum

Alternative Curriculum and scheduling extra periods in T6. This course covers the adding of alternative curriculum through both the model screen and through the Alternative Curriculum facility in the Data Menu of T6 outlining the advantages and disadvantages of both routes. In addition we will be exploring adding extra periods in T6 such as registration periods, twilight periods and the effect of sending these changes to the cycle to SIMS.

DURATION

One Day

Content

• Adding alternative curriculum groups in Nova T6
• Impact on other areas of Nova T6
• Reports in T6
• Transferring to SQL
• Adding students to alternative activities
• Effect on Lesson Monitor, Course Manager and Assessment
• Reports in SIMS
• Scheduling extra activities in Nova T6
• Registration periods
• Twilight periods
• Sending cycle changes to SIMS

Who is it for?

Timetablers and data managers with a working knowledge of the Academic Management area of SIMS and a basic knowledge of Nova-T.

Course dates to be allocated according to demand. If you are interested in this course, please complete the form here

Behaviour & Achievement

Improving behaviour in schools is one of the government’s key aims as behaviour has a direct impact on a pupil’s attainment. Schools put enormous effort and resources themselves into promoting positive behaviour and recognising achievement.

SIMS has functionality that enables a school to record behaviour and achievement events of individuals or groups of pupils in order to manage detentions, record exclusions and report on all of these aspects.  Information can be viewed instantly and easily by members of staff using SIMS.

Content

• Setting up and configuration
• Using routines for individual or groups of pupils
• Adding behaviour incidents and achievements
• from class attendance register
• Setting up and administering
• detentions including letters to parents
• Creation of report cards
• Adding behaviour review meetings
• and follow up to behaviour incidents
• Adding further interventions if required
• Reporting

Attendance

Full day

Course dates to be allocated according to demand. If you are interested in this course, please complete the form here

Extended Reporting

Course overview

This one day course provides a follow up to the Standard Reporting course. It is designed for users of SIMS responsible for responding to requests for detailed information. You should have either attended the Standard Reporting course or be familiar with the techniques covered on that course.

Benefits of attending

To further develop reporting techniques covered in the Standard Reporting course. 

What you will learn

• the production of more complicated lists and mail merged documents
• modifying templates to adjust the appearance of reports including incorporating headed paper
• developing the use of RTF output exploring cross-modular links in the data
• using different focuses as the starting point for reports
• extending the use of the Analysis tool.

Who is it for?

Users of SIMS responsible for responding to requests for information. You should have either attended the Standard Reporting course or be familiar with the techniques covered on the course.

Course dates to be allocated according to demand. If you are interested in this course, please complete the form here

SIMS Top Tips & Techniques

Discover useful ways of managing school data, best practice housekeeping and understand core functionality in SIMS.

The course is aimed at admin staff in schools who are already working in SIMS.net. It is not suitable for new users – a separate course is offered entitled SIMS Office User.

Content

• Contact management
• Customising correspondence
• User-defined groups
• User-defined fields
• Alerts, notifications and communication
• Merging agents and agencies
• Quick reports
• Changes to data – bulk update
• managing the school diary; adding a bulletin to the homepage; managing extended pupil data; managing agents and agencies; managing exclusions; managing user defined groups; managing user defined fields; managing lookups; making use of bulk routines and housekeeping routines; extended use of CTF’s

Attendance

Full day

Course dates to be allocated according to demand. If you are interested in this course, please complete the form here

SIMS SEN User

The Special Educational Needs facility in SIMS.net is used to support schools in following the SEN Code of Practice. This course provides a detailed overview of the SIMS software for managing the SEN process in school and is designed for SENCOs, senior staff with responsibility for overseeing special needs provision and administrative staff who may be involved in maintaining SEN information.

An understanding of the SEN Code of Practice and how it is managed in school would be useful.

Content

• Navigate through SIMS
• Manage and record details of reviews, events and provisions
• Manage students transition from statemented to EHCP
• Produce the SEN reports provided in SIMS
• Edit look up tables
• Add linked Adults, Agents and Agencies
• Send, receive and view messages relating to SEN students
• Configure their SIMS home page to help monitor SEN processes

Attendance

Half day

Course dates to be allocated according to demand. If you are interested in this course, please complete the form here