Capita are working on a new SIMS Deployment Server which, it is hoped, will streamline the installation of the SIMS client and associated infrastructure to machines in schools.

Replacing the current system with SOLUS 3, the Deployment Server will employ a service that controls SIMS updates at school by communication with a SIMS Agent on the client workstation.

The SIMS Agents sit on each SIMS computer, understanding the role of the machine (e.g. SIMS SQL Server or FMS Client).

These “smart” agents can update SIMS without user intervention as well as install clients afresh. As infrastructure packages can also be deployed, it should remove the need for visits to PCs.

Updates can also be deployed when it is convenient for the school (overnight, middle of the day etc.).

We are attending a SIMS Technical Consultation Group in Doncaster on Tuesday 18th November 2008, so we’ll hopefully be able to provide more information after this event.

I know some schools have already seen a presentation on the subject so please fill any gaps in this post by commenting below!

The Innovative Teachers Network has produced a collection of video case studies demonstrating the successful use of ICT in schools. The video below served as a reminder to me of why I do the job I do.

Video: Innovative Schools - Trailer Video

Please visit the Microsoft UK Schools Blog for more information.

Microsoft’s Small Basic is a, well, small language designed to introduce beginners to programming. Deriving it’s inspiration from the original BASIC language, it has just 15 key words yet provides features like instant context sensitive help.

For more information, please visit the Microsoft Small Basic DevLabs page.

Bolton Council is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Capita announced at the recent Software Update Seminar that they are considering using the Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Engine to power SIMS reports in the next decade. As a result, SIMS may well be migrated to MS SQL Server 2008 in spring 2010.

The first reports to use the new engine will replace those currently found in Nova-T4, followed by FMS and then the rest of SIMS.

Consultation will begin in March 2009 and we’ll be keen to get as much input from Bolton schools as possible.

The reason Capita are not considering the reporting engine in SQL 2005 (the version currently used by SIMS) is that it isn’t fully functional in the Express (free) version used by most non-secondary schools. Changing the reporting engine without a move to SQL 2008 would result in those schools losing the ability to create custom reports.

The move to SQL 2008 in early 2010 will have licensing implications for those on the full version of SQL Server 2005. We made enquires with our licence re-seller regarding purchasing SQL Server 2008 licences now and downgrading. The response was as follows:

“Customers will have full downgrade rights as long as licences are purchased via Select.  Box products do not have downgrade rights.”

So, if you are about to make the move to full SQL Server 2005, buy 2008 licences with downgrade rights to future proof your investment. For those already on the full version with 2005 licences, please consider budgeting for SQL Server 2008 licences in the next fiscal year.

On her Channel 10 blog, Sarah Perez has posted some details and screenshots of the pre-beta version of Windows 7.

Features include a new task bar, updated networking and “less noisy” UAC.

To read this superb post in full, please click here.

Bolton Council is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Windows 3.x, first launched by Microsoft in May 1990, is officially no longer.

According to the BBC News website, Microsoft stopped issuing licences on the 1st November 2008.

Even though Microsoft ended mainstream support of Windows 3.x at the end of 2001, it has continued to exist as an embedded operating system, powering cash tills, ticketing systems and even entertainment systems on some long-haul jets!

I was working for the Education and Arts IT Unit (as we were known then) back in 1996 when our primary school offices were fitted out with a 486 PC running windows 3.11. The head teacher had a 386 running MS-DOS 5.0!

Please click here to view the full article.

Thanks to our very own Paul Seel for the tip.

Bolton Council is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

As part of their major shift towards cloud services, and perhaps in direct response to Google Docs, Microsoft have announced at PDC 2008 plans to “deliver Office Web applications – lightweight versions of Office – through web browsers”.

This will give users web versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote powered through Microsoft’s Office Live service, with both ad-based and subscription offerings.

To learn more, please click here for the official announcement.

Thanks, once again, to Microsoft’s Steve Clayton for the information.

Bolton Council is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

The Systems Team (SIMS support) are attending a SIMS LA Software Update Seminar at the De Vere Whites Hotel (Reebok Stadium) in Horwich today.

Not only is this an important training day but it gives us the opportunity to get together as a team - something that rarely happens during the rest of the year!

For your information, please find below the agenda:

09:45 Assessment / Curriculum

• Assessment Update
• Profiles Checking Screen
• Exams Update
• Extended Services
• Alternative Curriculum

10:15 Technical

• Deployment Update
• Technical Update
• Hosting SIMS
• SIF
• Becta Guidance

11:30 Primary Review

• Dinner Money 7
• Primary Assessment

12:00 Partnership Exchange

• Review
• New Features
• FE and Work Based Learning Access

13:30 Statutory / Resources

• FMS
• Personnel 7
• Statutory Returns - Spring 2009

14:15 Core, Attendance and eLearning

• Homepage/Dashboard
• Alerts
• Attendance

15:00 Road Ahead 2009-2010

We’re keen to disseminate what we learn to schools, so please check back here for related posts over the coming weeks. Alternatively, subscribe to the RSS feed.

The next version of Microsoft Windows, codenamed “Windows 7″, has been officially named Windows 7.

So, there you have it. Please visit the Microsoft Windows Vista Blog for further details.

Thanks to Microsoft’s Steve Clayton for the information.

Calculating Five A*-C (including Maths and English)

In line with recent changes to Ofsted advice, here’s how to create a marksheet that counts up the number of A*-C grades, then highlights the pupils with five or more, and also highlights the pupils with five A*-C grades including Maths and English.

This scenario uses a set of grade aspects to record the actual subject grades. The grade aspects are linked to a gradeset that uses the standard points scores got GCSE grades (A*=58, A=52, B=46, C=40 etc). GCSE science is a double award, and a short ICT course counts as half an award. All other courses count as a single GCSE. You might need to change this example slightly to fit the gradesets you use and the exams you offer.

1) Create a formula column to calculate the number of A*-C for single (full) award subjects as follows:

• Add a column for data review using a formula and call it ‘Count Full GCSE’
• Use the ‘Grade Tally’ formula to calculate the number of A*, A, B and C grades (see below)

2) Create a formula column to calculate the number of A*-C grades for double award subjects.

• See above, but just select the double award subjects and call the column ‘Count Double GCSE’

3) Create a formula column to calculate the number of A*-C grades for short award subjects.

• See above, but just select the short award subjects and call the column ‘Count Short GCSE’

4) Add a column to multiply the number of double award subjects by 2 and call it ‘Equivalent Double GCSE’

See example below:

 5) Add a column to divide the number of short award subjects by 2 and call it ‘Equivalent Short GCSE’.

See example below:

You might need to add extra columns for DIDA, CIDA etc. 

6) To obtain the total number of A*-C grades:

simply add together these columns using the SUM formula in a new formula review column:

• Equivalent Short GCSE
• Equivalent Double GCSE
• Count Full GCSE

Call the column ‘No A*-C’

7) To display a ‘Y’ if the student has 5 or more A*-C grades

• If you don’t already have one, create a gradeset called Yes/No where Y=1 and N=0
• Create an aspect called ‘5+ A* - C’ and put it in the Yes/No gradeset
• Add a ‘formula for data entry’ column as follows:

To calculate 5 A* to C including maths and english