SIMS 2014 Spring Release Note
7.156 Combined Edition - version 1.0
Welcome to the SIMS 2014 Spring Release
Important Information for Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 Users
Release Notes
Backing up SIMS and FMS
Important Information Regarding the Upgrade of SIMS and Discover
Important Information Regarding SIMS Documentation
Where to Find More Information?
Permissions
Compatibility Between One and SIMS
Version Support for FMS
SLG Compatibility
Supported SIMS Versions with SLG Summer Release
Supported SIMS Versions with PX Summer Release
AMPARK
Assessment
Attendance
Attendance Collection
Course Manager
CTF
Discover
Examinations Organiser
Fees
FMS
InTouch
Lesson Monitor
Multiple Timetables
Partnership Xchange
Personnel
Profiles
Pupil Premium
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6
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School Census Summer 2014 Return
SIMS Learning Gateway
Staff Performance
STAR
System Manager
Technical
Welsh National Tests
Appendix - National Insurance Tables 2014/2015
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1
Welcome to the SIMS 2014 Spring Release
Please read these notes carefully before installing or upgrading your software. Do not attempt any
installation or upgrade without first making a fully restorable backup of your SIMS system. For
instructions on how to do this, please go to the SIMS backup section of our website
(http://www.capita-sims.co.uk/backupsims).
We publish highlights of the changes and benefits of each release on our blog
(http://www.capita-sims.co.uk/releaseblog).
Capita SIMS has made this release note available in PDF and Word formats. To take full advantage
of the functionality available in this release note (e.g. links to handbooks and video tutorials), you
must use the PDF version. Capita SIMS cannot be held responsible for any changes, errors or
omissions resulting from subsequent editing of the supplied document.
If you are a SOLUS3 user then you can migrate your SOLUS3 system to SQL 2012 when you have
upgraded to SOLUS 3.6.
For more information on migrating to SQL 2012, please refer Resource Number 21101, the SQL
2012 Migration Frequently Asked Questions document, on SupportNet
(http://support.capitaes.co.uk).
For information on obtaining the Migration Tool, please contact your Local Support Team.
If you use both SIMS and FMS, both systems must be running on the same version of SQL Server,
i.e. SQL Server 2008, SQL Server 2012, SQL Server 2012 SP1, etc.
For information on the end of support dates for SQL Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 R2, please
refer to Resource Number 17910, the SIMS Technical Roadmap, on SupportNet
(http://support.capitaes.co.uk).
Important Information – please read before upgrading
General
If you are performing a SIMS upgrade spanning more than one release, it is essential that you read
the release note associated with each version.
Before upgrading to the SIMS 2014 Spring Release, you must ensure that the School Census
Spring 2014 Return has been completed and signed off. Once you have upgraded to the SIMS
2014 Spring Release, it is not possible to carry out any further work on the Spring Return.
Examinations Organiser
From the SIMS 2014 Spring Release, we are including the Microsoft Report Viewer as part of the
workstation upgrade process. This is used by the reporting functionality for Examinations Organiser
provided with this release. If the Report Viewer upgrade is taking an excessive amount of time and
you decide not to install it, a user with Administrative rights can save time by running the SIMS
workstation upgrade (SIMSApplicationSetup.exe) via the Command Line, using the
/NoReportViewer switch. Taking this action means that you will have to install the Report Viewer at
a later date. FMS users already have this option as part of the FMS upgrade process.
If your school uses both Fees Billing and FMS, SIMS and FMS must be upgraded at the same time.
SQL 2012 Migration
For instructions on carrying out an upgrade with SOLUS2, please refer to the SIMS SOLUS Wizard 2
User Guide, which is available from the SOLUS website (http://www.capita-cs.co.uk/solus).
From the SIMS 2013 Summer Release onwards, we support SIMS, FMS, Discover, SLG, Partnership
Xchange, SOLUS 3.6 and InTouch on SQL 2008 and SQL 2012.
To facilitate server migration, a SQL Migration Tool is available. Please note that you must be
running the SIMS 2013 Summer Release or later before running the Migration Tool.
The Migration Tool assists with the migration of the SQL databases for SIMS, FMS and Discover. It
enables you to install a SQL 2012 Express Edition instance and migrates the SIMS, FMS and
Discover databases to the new database server. You are strongly advised to read the Migrating
SIMS, FMS and Discover to SQL 2012 handbook, which will be available from SupportNet
(http://support.capitaes.co.uk) on product release.
Upgrading using SOLUS
The SIMS Online Update Service (SOLUS) enables you to download and run SIMS releases and
patches via the Internet. This is achieved using SOLUS3 or the SOLUS2 Wizard.
For instructions on carrying out an upgrade with SOLUS3, please refer to the SOLUS3 for System
Administrators handbook.
Important Information for Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 Users
If you are running SIMS on a Windows 8 or Windows Server 2012 workstation, you may encounter
difficulties when attempting to open PDF files in SIMS. This is caused by Windows Reader being the
default program used to open PDF files.
To resolve this issue, you must first ensure that Adobe Reader 9 or later is installed.
2
Next, you will need to associate Adobe Reader with all PDF files. From the Taskbar, click File
Explorer, click Computer in the panel on the left-hand side of the page then from the Menu Bar,
select Computer | Open Control Panel. Click Programs | Default Programs | Associate a file type
or protocol with a program. In the Extensions list, scroll down to and click the .pdf item then click
the Change program button. Click Adobe Reader then click the Close button.
Release Notes
The person carrying out the installation of Discover must have Administrator permissions across the
network.
Auto-Deployment of SIMS and Discover
If SOLUS³ auto-deployment is enabled for Discover, we recommend that the settings for Discover
auto-deployment are set to start later than the SIMS auto-deployment start time plus the timeout.
Each functional area displays a set of icons, which indicate the school type(s) to which the content
relates. Icons that indicate a link to the applicable handbook(s) and New Feature videos are also
displayed.
Content applicable to English Primary and Northern Ireland Primary schools
Content applicable to English Secondary and Northern Ireland Secondary schools
Content applicable to Welsh Primary schools
Content applicable to Welsh Secondary schools
Content applicable to Independent schools
If you have any comments or questions regarding any SIMS user documentation, please email us
(publications@capita.co.uk).
Backing up SIMS and FMS
Where SIMS Personnel is used to generate Salary Projections in FMS, SIMS and FMS backups
should be carried out at the same time. If one of the databases needs to be restored, the other
database must be restored to the same point, i.e. if you restore the SIMS database, you must
restore the FMS database to the same point and vice versa.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Backups are no longer zipped, because of the number of issues caused by
zipping backup files. Recent operating systems now allow the use of compressed folders, which are
recommended for automatically compressing backups. Please refer to your operating system
documentation for instructions on applying compression to a folder.
Important Information Regarding the Upgrade of SIMS and Discover
IMPORTANT NOTE: You must upgrade to the SIMS 2014 Spring Release before upgrading Discover.
If you upgrade Discover before upgrading SIMS, data will not be transferred between the SIMS and
Discover databases until SIMS has been upgraded.
If the times are not set like this, and the Discover deployment starts before the SIMS deployment,
then the data transfer between SIMS and Discover will not work until the SIMS upgrade is
completed.
Important Information Regarding SIMS Documentation
Following valuable feedback from customers, the SIMS Documentation Centre has been
redesigned, with a focus on enhancing the user’s experience.
The principal benefit of the new SIMS Documentation Centre is that resources for SIMS, FMS and
Discover can all be accessed from a central repository.
It is still possible to search for user documentation by output type (handbook, tutorial, QRS, etc.)
and then by functional area but now you can also search by role (e.g. Teacher, Administrator,
Returns Manager, etc.).
We have added to the resources available – a range of Frequently Asked Questions guides has been
produced and can be accessed from the FAQs menu. The Troubleshooting section has also been
added, enabling you to investigate any issues you may have when accessing the resources
available.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you encounter issues when attempting to open any New Feature videos or
Tutorials whereby you are asked to install the required version of Flash Player and/or an on-screen
dialog suggests that Online Help content cannot be displayed, these can be resolved by
downloading the latest version of Flash Player
(http://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/known-issues-acrobat-xi-reader.html).
3
The new SIMS Documentation Centre is available as part of the SIMS 2014 Spring Release
onwards. To access the SIMS Documentation Centre, click the Documentation button on the SIMS
Home Page.
We would welcome any feedback you have on the new SIMS Documentation Centre. If you have any
comments, please email the SIMS Publications team (publications@capita.co.uk).
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are running SIMS on a Windows 8 or Windows Server 2012 workstation,
you may encounter difficulties when you first log into SIMS after a SIMS upgrade because the
What's New page is displayed automatically and cannot be closed easily. This is caused by
Windows Reader being the default program used to open PDF files.
To resolve this issue, you must first ensure that Adobe Reader 9 or later is installed.
Next, you will need to associate Adobe Reader with all PDF files. From the Taskbar, click File
Explorer, click Computer in the panel on the left-hand side of the page then from the Menu Bar,
select Computer | Open Control Panel. Click Programs | Default Programs | Associate a file type
or protocol with a program. In the Extensions list, scroll down to and click the .pdf item then click
the Change program button. Click Adobe Reader then click the Close button.
If you require assistance with this or any other issue you encounter when attempting to access user
documentation, please contact the SIMS Publications team (publications@capita.co.uk).
User documentation that is accessible via the SIMS Documentation Centre (by clicking the
Documentation button on the SIMS Home Page) is hosted on the web. This approach to delivering
user documentation offers you the following benefits:

A reduction in the download time of a SIMS release from SOLUS

We can now provide user documentation post-release, so you will always have access to the
most up-to-date, accurate information.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you do not wish to access user documentation provided in PDF format via the
web and instead continue to access it from the \SIMS\Documentation folder on your SIMS Server,
this can be achieved by downloading a local version of our documentation set from the following
location:
http://dl.capitasolus.co.uk/Downloads/DocCentre/SIMS-DocCentre-2014-Spring.zip
Once you have downloaded the file, unzip it to the \SIMS\Documentation folder on your SIMS
Server. The downloaded documentation set is accessed by clicking the Documentation button on
the SIMS Home Page.
Help files remain unaffected by this change in approach and continue to be delivered to the
\Program Files\SIMS\SIMS .net folder on each SIMS workstation.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If Google Chrome is your default web browser, please ensure you disable the
Chrome PDF Viewer and enable the Adobe Acrobat plug-in to ensure that PDFs display correctly.
This can be achieved by entering chrome://plugins in the Address Bar then pressing Enter.
If you experience a problem when attempting to open a page in the Documentation Centre, please
contact your System Administrator who can enable access to www.simspublications.com.
If you require assistance with this or any other issue you encounter when attempting to access user
documentation, please contact the SIMS Publications team (publications@capita.co.uk).
Where to Find More Information?
Via SIMS...
For the software handbook, navigate to the SIMS Home Page, click the Documentation button to
display the Documentation Centre, click the Handbooks button then click the required handbook
title.
As a result, documentation provided in PDF format is no longer deployed to the
\SIMS\Documentation folder on your SIMS Server (with the exception of the What's New page, the
main Documentation Centre navigation page and the Getting Started guide, which must continue to
be delivered to this folder).
Via SupportNet...
NOTE: If you wish to access the latest user documentation for the SIMS 2014 Spring Release
without logging into SIMS, the Documentation Centre is accessible using a web link
(http://simspublications.com/313453/index.html).
If you are unable to obtain the required handbook from any of these sources please email us
(publications@capita.co.uk) and we will be pleased to email you a copy.
Go to our SupportNet website (http://support.capitaes.co.uk) and navigate to Documentation from
the main menu. Click on the Category drop down menu and select SIMS Handbooks. Click search
for the list of handbooks.
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Permissions
A permissions spreadsheet listing all permissions relating to SIMS 7.156 can be accessed from our
SupportNet website (http://support.capitaes.co.uk). Enter PERMLIST in the Site Search field then
click the Go button.
B2B:Personnel
Compatibility Between One and SIMS
One Release version
As part of the SIMS 2014 Spring Release, we have undertaken full integration testing of both
B2B:Student and B2B:Personnel. The following two tables show the version(s) of One and SIMS
that have also been through a process of integration testing for each of the B2B products.
One Autumn
2013 Release
(3.52)
One Release Version
One Spring 2014
Release
(3.53)
SIMS 2013 Autumn Release
(SIMS 7.154)
Running B2B:Student v4 Phase 1


SIMS 2013 Autumn Release
(SIMS 7.154)
Running B2B:Student v4 Phase 2


SIMS 2014 Spring Release
(SIMS 7.156)
Running B2B:Student v4 Phase 1


SIMS 2014 Spring Release
(SIMS 7.156)
Running B2B:Student v4 Phase 2


SIMS 2013 Autumn Release
(SIMS 7.154)


SIMS 2014 Spring Release
(SIMS 7.156)


There are various elements of functionality in One and SIMS that require compatibility between the
two solutions. The following table provides information on the version(s) of schemas that are
supported in release versions of One and SIMS, and therefore indicate version and release
compatibility.
One Release version
3.52
(Autumn 2013)
SIMS Component
SIMS Release Version
One Autumn
2013 Release
(3.52)
SIMS Release
Version
B2B:Student
One Spring 2014
Release
(3.53)
3.53
(Spring 2014)
B2B:Student
v1.1
v1.1
B2B:Personnel
v1.1
v1.1
ATF
v10.1
v10.1
CTF
v13
v13
SC 2014
SC 2014
School Census
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Supported SIMS Versions with SLG Summer Release
One Release version
3.52
(Autumn 2013)
PLASC
PLASC 2014
PLASC 2014
v10.1
v10.1
SIMS 7.154
SIMS 7.156
v10.1
v10.1
ASL
AMPARK
3.53
(Spring 2014)
ADT
Version Support for FMS
The FMS support arrangements depend on the supported versions of SIMS where Personnel Links is
being used. Support for FMS is detailed in the following table.
Release
SIMS Version
FMS Version
FMS with Personnel
Links/Equipment
Register
FMS without
Personnel
Links/Equipment
Register
Spring 2014
7.156
6.156
Supported
Supported
Autumn 2013
7.154
6.154
Supported
Supported
Summer 2013
7.152
6.152
Not Supported
Supported
Spring 2013
7.150
6.150
Not Supported
Supported
The SIMS Learning Gateway Summer Release can be used alongside the following versions of
SIMS:

SIMS 2014 Spring Release (SIMS 7.156)

SIMS 2013 Autumn Release (SIMS 7.154)
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you install the SIMS 2014 Spring Release (SIMS 7.156) and continue to run
an older release of SLG, this is not guaranteed to work and is therefore not supported.
Supported SIMS Versions with PX Summer Release
The SIMS PX Agent should be upgraded to the PX 2014 Spring Release immediately after, or in
conjunction with, upgrading to the SIMS 2014 Spring Release.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you install the SIMS 2014 Spring Release (SIMS 7.156) and continue to run
an older release of the PX Agent, this is not guaranteed to work and is therefore not supported.
AMPARK
New Features
Enhancements for the SIMS 2014 Spring Release
The Assessment Manager and Performance Analysis Resource Kit (AMPARK) provides a set of
resources for use with SIMS Assessment. This kit has been updated for the SIMS 2014 Spring
Release.
For more info, please refer to the Assessment Manager and Performance Analysis Resource Kit
release note, available from the SupportNet website (http://support.capitaes.co.uk).
NOTE: FMS 6.156 has been tested against SQL 2008 and SQL Server 2012.
SLG Compatibility
SLG is guaranteed to support the previous two releases of SIMS, inclusive of any release it is
shipped with.
Assessment
New Features
6
Enhanced Early Years Assessment Resources
Fixes
Enhanced Early Years Assessment resources are available for import, which record, track and
monitor attainment and progress throughout the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
This release includes fixes in the following areas:

When viewing aspect details by clicking a column heading on a marksheet, gradesets are now
displayed in reverse Start Date order, so the most recent gradeset version is displayed at the
top of the list (via Focus | Assessment | Marksheet Entry).

When working with group filters in SIMS Analysis, the To date now defaults to the last working
day of the current academic year (via Focus | Assessment | <Analysis Type>).
Additional Attendance Details Data Tags Available for Individual Reports
Focus | Assessment | Individual Report
Additional data tags have been provided when inserting Attendance Details. You can now insert
information relating to the Number of Sessions Late and the Total Session Minutes Late. These can
be accessed via the Menu Commands section of the Add-Ins ribbon but not via the Custom
Toolbars section.
Additional Class Teacher Data Tag Available for Individual Reports
Focus | Assessment | Individual Report
An additional Class Teacher data tag can be inserted, called Initial including Middle Initials.
Attendance
Fixes
This release includes fixes in the following areas:

A fix has been introduced to ensure that the Attendance hyperlink in the Links panel of the
Pupil (or Student) Details page displays the Student Marks page, as expected (via Focus |
Pupil (or Student) | Pupil (or Student) Details).

The output of the Today's Register Report no longer incorrectly displays squares (which
usually indicate that no lesson is scheduled for that pupil/student) when marks have been
recorded in Take Register (via Reports | Attendance | Whole Group Pupil Reports | Today's
Register Report).
Additional Student Details Data Tags Available for Individual Reports
Focus | Assessment | Individual Report
Additional data tags have been provided when inserting Student Details. You can now insert a
pupil/student's Legal Surname and their Parental Addressee information. These can be accessed
via the Menu Commands section of the Add-Ins ribbon but not via the Custom Toolbars section.
New Welsh National Tests
Applicable to Maintained Schools in Wales only
Attendance Collection
New Features
In accordance with the Welsh Government, new functionality enables schools to record and submit
returns relating to the Welsh National Tests in Numeracy and Reading.
This new functionality provides NNT wizards, changes to the NDC Export (including the removal of
the KS1 menu route) and changes to the import routine.
Attendance Collection Return Dates

Primary schools must submit their completed return no later than Friday 19 September 2014.
Generating Individual Reports in PDF Format

Secondary schools must submit their completed return no later than Friday 20 June 2014.
Focus | Assessment | Individual Report
Removal of Attendance Code #
It is now possible to produce individual reports in PDF format by selecting PDF Format from the
drop-down list adjacent to the Export button on the Individual Report Details page.
Attendance data regarding code # (school closed to all pupil/students, e.g. INSET days) is no
longer collected and has subsequently been removed from the Attendance Collection 2014 Return.
NOTE: Code # can still be used in SIMS Attendance or Lesson Monitor.
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Changes to Summary Reports

Qualification Types XML - QAN_QualType_V1.1.xml
The Attendance Collection 2014 Return no longer collects percentage data for the X (Untimetabled
sessions for non-compulsory school age pupils) and Y (Partial and enforced closure of the school)
codes.

ENGLAND Performance Measures XML - Performance Measures ENG ONLY.xml

WALES Performance Measures WALES ONLY.xml

NI NIEFQAN.xml.
Consequently, the Attendance percentage of possible sessions tables in the English and Welsh
Summary reports do not contain information for X and Y codes.
However, the two codes are still present in the Actual number of sessions tables.
New Menu Routes for Middle Schools
The version numbers of the files may change from one year to the next.
If you inadvertently select the wrong file type for import, a warning message is displayed. This must
be rectified before continuing with the Import Catalogue Files or Import Performance Files
processes.
Routines | Attendance Collection | Primary
Routines | Attendance Collection | Secondary
Two menu routes are available to Middle schools in Wales to enable them to complete the Primary
and Secondary versions of the Attendance Collection 2014 Return.
When Middle schools are running the return, the school phase is now shown on the Attendance
Collection Return Detail page, e.g. Attendance Collection Return Detail (Primary).
Course Manager
New Features
New Menu Route for Maintaining Post-16 Programmes of Study
Tools | Academic Management | Course Manager | Maintain Programmes of Study
An additional menu route has been provided, enabling you to record information relating to
Programmes of Study for Post-16 pupil/students.
Pupil Referral Units can now use Course Manager
From 2014, the DfE requires Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) to provide Learning Aim information in the
School Census Returns. PRUs can use Course Manager to assist with data entry and maintenance.
Core Aim Displayed in the Memberships and Results Panel
Improvements Made to QAN Import Routine
Tools | Examinations | Import Qualification Data
The location of the Import Qualification Data menu route has changed. It is no longer accessible
from Tools | Statutory Returns. Additionally, there is no longer a Performance Measures file for use
by schools in Northern Ireland. Schools in Northern Ireland must now import the NIEFQAN file
instead.
The valid file names and types that are accepted for import in the Import Qualification Data route
are as follows:

Current QAN XML - QAN_Current_V1.2.xml

Awarding Bodies XML - QAN_AB_V1.0.xml

Discount Codes XML - QAN_DiscCode_V1.1.xml
Tools | Academic Management | Course Manager | Maintain Course
The Core Aim is now available for viewing or editing in the Memberships and Results panel of the
Course Details page.
Ability to Specify Planned Hours for Post-16 Courses
Tools | Academic Management | Course Manager | Maintain Course
You can now specify the number of Planned Hours per Year that a pupil/student expects to study for
a Qualification and the number of Planned Hours per Year that they anticipate doing other activities
such as work experience or Non-Qualification related studies, for each Post-16 course of study. An
additional section has been included in the Basic panel of the Course Details page.
The hours specified in the Course Details page are reflected in the new menu route called Maintain
Post-16 Programmes of Study and are a requirement for the Autumn 2014 School Census.
8
Additional Achievement Graph Definition
The Achievements by Half Term graph displays a separate bar for each half-term and shows the
count of pupil/student achievement incidents recorded.
Additional Attendance Graph Definition
CTF
A new graph definition has been provided in the Attendance catalogue that enables you to view the
Whole School Attendance.
New Features
Additional Behaviour Graph Definition
Exception Log Entry for Contacts
Where a new pupil/student is associated with a contact who was originally associated with a
pupil/student who has left the school, an exception log entry has been added.
A new graph definition has been provided in the Behaviour catalogue that enables you to view
Student Bullying Incidents by Type.
Modified Pastoral Graph Definition
Leavers in a Previous Year Filter
A revised version of the Student Totals by Key Pastoral Factors graph definition has been provided
in the Pastoral catalogue. The modified graph definition enables you to view only the data points for
which you have been granted permissions in SIMS.
An additional filter (leavers in a previous year) has been added to the CTF export routine.
Additional Pupil/Student Graph Definition
Discover
New Features
The Student Total by Whole School graph definition shows a count of all students in the school. By
incorporating this data point into a Venn diagram and filtering the population by another pastoral
related data point, e.g. Pupil Premium, you can see which students in the school are not in receipt
of this payment.
New A Level Examination Graph Definitions
Examinations Organiser
Several A Level Examination graph definitions have been provided:
New Features

KS5 A2 Point Scores per Student

KS5 A2 Point Scores per Entry
Inclusion of ReportViewer.exe

KS5 A2 Grade Distribution by Subject

KS5 A2 Exam Residuals by Subject

KS5 AS Point Scores per Student

KS5 AS Point Scores per Entry

KS5 AS Grade Distribution by Subject
From the SIMS 2014 Spring Release, we are including the Microsoft Report Viewer as part of the
workstation upgrade process. This is used by the reporting functionality for Examinations Organiser
provided with this release. If the Report Viewer upgrade is taking an excessive amount of time and
you decide not to install it, a user with Administrative rights can save time by running the SIMS
workstation upgrade (SIMSApplicationSetup.exe) via the Command Line, using the
/NoReportViewer switch. Taking this action means that you will have to install the Report Viewer at
a later date. FMS users already have this option as part of the FMS upgrade process.

KS5 AS Exam Residuals by Subject.
9
Edit Performance Indicators Functionality Available in SIMS
Improvements to the Display of Grades in the Edit PI Area
The pivotal Performance Indicator functionality from Examinations Organiser has been moved into
SIMS. This will enable us to maintain and improve the PI functions with more ease.
Tools | Examinations | PI Values | Edit PI Data
The following menu routes have been removed from Examinations Organiser and are now
accessible only from SIMS:
Tools | Examinations | Edit PI Data
The order in which grade sets are displayed from the Grades drop-down list has been corrected to
display in descending order of points values.
Inclusion of Non EDI Results Achieved in a Previous Season
Tools | Examinations | Edit PI Data
Tools | Examinations | PI Reports
Tools | Examinations | PI Setup.
Once the PI data has been collated, PI or non EDI results that were entered in a previous season are
displayed in the PI Calculated Values page and are included in all calculations.
The following menu route has been moved from under the Statutory Returns menu route in SIMS:
Save Manual Discounting when Re-Collating
Tools | Examinations | Import Qualification Data.
Tools | Examinations | Edit PI Data
The PI Cohort button that was previously available from the Edit PI dialog in Examinations Organiser
has not been replicated in SIMS. This functionality can still be accessed from within Examinations
Organiser via Tools | Group Manager PI Cohort.
Any manual Discounting can be saved so that when running the Collate routine again, the ticks (or
unticks) are retained and included in subsequent calculations. This can be repeated multiple times.
New Permissions to Access Exams in SIMS
A new menu group called PI Setup has been provided to enable you to access the Exams PI menu
routes in SIMS.
Menu Routes
Roles
Tools | Examinations | Import Qualification Data
Exams Officer
Produce Performance Indicator Reports in SIMS
Tools | Examinations | PI Reports
It is now possible to produce Performance Table reports in SIMS, enabling the output and analysis
of the Performance Indicator results.
Returns Officer
Curricular Manager
Tools | Examinations | Edit PI Data
Exams Officer
Tools | Examinations | PI Reports
Exams Officer
Exams Operator
Tools | Examinations | PI Setup
Exams Officer
Exams Operator
Enter QAN in Edit PI using wrong case
Tools | Examinations | Edit PI Data
When entering a QAN in the Add PI Result dialog, if a letter forms an integral part of the QAN
sequence, it is possible to enter this using the wrong case, e.g. 1004291x. Where this occurs,
clicking the Save button changes the case of the letter automatically so that it matches the case of
the QAN as it was imported from the Performance Measures file.
In addition, where results have previously been added against a QAN with a letter with the wrong
case, this must be matched and corrected retrospectively.
10
Changes to the Performance Measures File
Applicable to schools in Northern Ireland only
Tools | Examinations | Import Qualification Data
Schools in Northern Ireland are no longer required to import the Performance Measures.XML file
into SIMS. All the QANs approved for use in Northern Ireland are present in the NIEFQAN.XML file
and this is the only file now required.
The facility to close your financial periods each month so that all payments and adjustments are
allocated to the correct month has been added.
Updates to Term End Procedures
Focus | Fees Billing | Periodic | Term End
This menu route has been updated from Term End to Period End and the page adapted to take
account of Month End Processing.
Inclusion of AS Points in Residuals but not PI
New Fields Added to Bill Payer Bank Account Details
Applicable to schools in Northern Ireland only
Focus | Person | Bill Payer - Financial Details
Tools | Performance | Exams | Import Qualification Data
Two additional fields, the International Bank Account Number (IBAN) and the Business Identifier
Codes (BIC or Swift Code), have been added to the Bank Account Details for use with international
bank accounts.
AS points have now been added to the NIEFQAN file. As a direct result, AS Residuals can now be
calculated when generating the Certification Broadsheet report and the Group Performance
Analysis report although they are still not included in PI Calculations.
Enhancements to the Fees Control Account Report
Editing and Deletion of External Results
Reports | Fees Billing | Transactions | Control Account
Applicable to schools in Northern Ireland only
The Fees Control Account report has been enhanced to group and sub-total by the type of
transaction.
Tools | External Results | Manual Entry
Only results entered manually through this route can be edited or deleted. This ensures that any
changes made are correctly reflected in the PI Performance Calculations.
Fixes
Additional Columns for A*-C and A*-E in the Level 3 Detailed Report
This release includes fixes in the following areas:
Applicable to schools in Northern Ireland only

It is now possible to update the Communication Log from Copy Bills, when sending a copy to
a non-bill payer (via Focus | Fees Billing | Billing | Copy Bills).

Using the Find Pupil (or Student) browser anywhere in Fees, it is now possible to search for a
pupil/student using a combination of Boarder Status, House and Year Group.

When processing transactions, items are now entered and displayed in sequential order (via
Focus | Fees Billing | Transactions | Process Transaction).
Tools | Examinations | PI Reports
When producing the Performance Tables report based on Level Age 16-18, the Detailed output
displays additional columns for the grade bands of A*-C and A*-E.
Fees
New Features
FMS
Ability to Carry Out Month End Processing
For information on the new features, enhancements and fixes included in FMS 6.156, please refer
to the FMS 6.156 Release Note.
Tools | Fees Billing | Parameters
InTouch
11
New Features
Fixes
This release includes a fix in the following area:

When entering the text of a message, the spell checking functionality has been enhanced.
This enhancement results in an increase in size of the client upgrade of approximately 3.5Mb.
The Partnership Xchange 2014 Spring Release (SIMS 7.156) includes the following enhancements:

PX logging system - significant enhancements have been made to the PX logging system to
reduce the need for users to access the text file held on the server. All logs will now appear in
a single filterable list and will contain all the information held in the agent log file.

Partnership schemes - these are now identified on the browse list of schemes.

Lesson mark mappings - when a new instance is created, you are now provided with the
option to copy the lesson mark mappings from the current instance.
Lesson Monitor
Fixes
This release includes a fix in the following area:

Where cover has been provided for a double period, the registers for both of these periods
now open correctly (via Focus | Lesson Monitor | Take Register).
Personnel
New Features
Multiple Timetables

SWC Post and Pay Scale posts of Advanced Skills Teacher and Excellent Teacher within the
service term have been made inactive and the post of Leading Practitioner has been added.
This enables the accurate creation of Leading Practitioner service terms in SIMS.
Fixes

It is now possible to define pay awards by salary range with minimum and maximum values
within new service terms. It is also possible to convert existing scale based service terms to
be salary range based. Converting existing scale based service terms to be salary range
based will convert the linked scale points within individual contracts to a salary value using a
specially designed conversion routine, which enables users to map existing scales to their
new salary ranges.

For contracts using salary range service terms, you will have the ability to define individual
salary values within the staff contract.

Labels within the Salary Information report, Contract Analysis report, Contract Information
report and Terminating Contract report have been modified so that they now refer to
Scale/Range and Point/Salary, where appropriate.

The SIMS reporting dictionary has been updated with all new fields that enable the recording
of salary ranges. It is also possible to report on the contact notepad from within the SIMS
reporting dictionary.
This release includes fixes in the following areas:

If you are using Multiple Timetables functionality, the Free at period filter now works correctly
when running the General Student List report (via Reports | Student List | General Student
List).

The Missing Registers Notification widget on the SIMS Home Page now filters on the Select
Tier option selected in Tools | Academic Management | Set Current Tier, meaning you can
filter missing registers in the Senior or Junior tiers, for example (via Focus | Home Page).

Improvements have been made to error handling when a master timetable structure is saved
(via Tools | Academic Management | Define Timetable Cycle).
Partnership Xchange
For complete information on the new version of Partnership Xchange, including upgrade
instructions, please refer to the release notes that will be made available from our SupportNet
website (http://support.capitaes.co.uk) on product release.
12

The service term export functionality has been enhanced so that LSUs can now create and
update service terms with salary range definitions and export them to their schools.

The Add/Edit a Review page of the Staff Performance area has been enhanced so that Annual
Salary and Actual Salary are pulled through for contracts that use salary ranges. Users can
choose not to display salaries through the new Show Salary Values on Review Screen check
box within the Staff Performance Setup page.

A new Salary Update screen is available, enabling users to update the salary of one or more
staff members in a service term from a single screen, as opposed to entering every individual
contract separately to make a salary change.
All functionality linked to the recording and managing of salary ranges can be activated via a
licence patch (18881). The Salary Range licence patch is available to all Local Support Units via
SOLUS2 and SOLUS3. All schools (including Capita supported schools) must request the licence
from their SIMS Support Team.
Before applying the patch, please read the following important information:
Profiles
New Features
New Links Panel Available from Various Areas in Profiles
Focus | Profiles | Data Entry | List Entry
Focus | Profiles | Data Entry | Grid Entry
Focus | Profiles | Review Profiles
A Links panel is now visible on the right-hand side of these pages. This enables you to access a
pupil/student's Assessment records, their Attendance records, any Behaviour Management
records they may have, their Examinations information and any Linked Documents. The ability to
view this information from these pages provides you with a comprehensive picture of their current
academic situation whilst you are creating their Student Profile.

If your school uses B2B:Personnel, you must not use the salary range functionality.
Additional Data Fields Available for Inclusion in Profiles

If your school has never used B2B:Personnel, you can use the salary range functionality.
Focus | Profiles | Session Manager

If your school has used B2B:Personnel in the past but you no longer use it, you must switch off
B2B:Personnel before using the salary range functionality.
Two additional Attendance Details data tags have been provided called Number of Sessions Late
and Total Session Minutes Late. Two new Student Details data tags have been provided called
Legal Surname and Parental Addressee. All of these can be accessed via the Menu Commands
section of the Add-Ins ribbon but not via the Custom Toolbars section.
Instructions on how to switch off B2B:Personnel can be found in the documentation that
accompanies the licence patch, as well as in the Managing Staff handbook.
If you use the salary range functionality, this is detected by FMS and the Budget Planner and Salary
Calculator functionality in FMS is disabled automatically. The use of Budget Planner and Salary
Calculator alongside the salary range functionality will be addressed later in the year.
A Salary Information report that has been produced prior to upgrading to the Spring release will
have slightly different values in the Salary column pre-Spring release compared to the new Actual
Salary column in the Spring release. This is due to a difference in rounding; the calculations that
were previously rounded to four decimal places and are now rounded to eight decimal places.
You can also include a Class Teacher data tag called Initial including Middle Initials when defining
personal fields in a Profiles Template.
Ability to Find and Replace Words in a Pupil/Student Profile
Focus | Profiles | Data Entry | List Entry or Grid Entry or Review Profile
An additional feature has been provided that enables you to Find and Replace text in individual
pupil/student profiles on a grid-by-grid basis.
An updated National Insurance table can be found in the Appendix of this release note.
The ability to export and import Pay Related files between versions of SIMS has changed. For more
information, please see the Appendix of this release note.
Ability to view a Pupil/Student's Name Adjacent to their Photograph
Focus | Profiles | Data Entry | List Entry
Focus | Profiles | Data Entry | Grid Entry
13
Focus | Profiles | Review Profiles
School Census Summer 2014 Return
The pupil/student's name is now displayed beneath their photograph in the List Entry, Grid Entry
Details and Review Profiles pages.
New Features
Ability to Change a Comment when Reviewing a Profile
Focus | Profiles | Review Profiles
An Edit button is now accessible in the Review Profile Details page. This enables you to locate and
amend quickly any unapproved text remaining in the profiles before they are generated and printed.
School Census Summer 2014 Return Dates
Routines | Statutory Returns | School Census
Census Date: 15/05/2014
Saving of Comments when Switching Between List Entry and Register in Take Register
Age at date: 31/08/2013
Focus | Attendance (or Lesson Monitor) | Take Register
All-Through Schools
To facilitate the recording of comments, when moving between the Take Register and My List Entry
tabs in Take Register, the comment from List Entry is saved, as is your location.
The School Census Summer 2014 Return provides the facility for All-through schools to run and
submit a return that accurately reflects their School Phase (All Through) and the required data for
their pupil/students (aged under 7 through to those aged over 14).
Generating Pupil/Student Profiles in PDF Format
Focus | Profiles | Pupil (or Student) Profiles
It is now possible to produce pupil/student profiles in PDF format by selecting PDF Format from the
drop-down list adjacent to the Export button on the Pupil (or Student) Profile Details page.
Previously, All-Through schools ran the School Census as a Secondary school.
For more information, please refer to the Producing the School Census Summer 2014 Return
(English All-Through schools) handbook.
Pupil Referral Units
For the first time, Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) are required to complete the School Census Summer
Return. The annual Pupil Referral Unit Census is no longer required from PRUs.
Pupil Premium
For more information, please refer to the Producing the School Census Summer 2014 Return
(English Pupil Referral Units) handbook.
New Features
Changes to the Hours for Early Years Panel
Routines | Statutory Returns | School Census
Addition of the Adopted from Care Premium
Tools | Pupil Premium | Maintain
Adopted from Care Premium has been added to the choice of Premium Type in Tools | Pupil
Premium | Maintain. We have not been able to add support for the import of the 2014/15 DfE CSV
files for this release because the structure and content was not finalised by the DfE in time. Please
note that this change applies only to schools in England.
SEN is no longer part of the criteria for pupil/student selection therefore, the SEN column has been
removed from the Hours for Early Years panel.
A new column (Age at 31/03/2014) has been added to the Hours for Early Years panel to enable
data to be recorded for pupil/students who are aged two at 31/03/2014.
Documentary Evidence of Adopted from Care
Tools | Statutory Return Tools | Update Adopted from Care
14
An additional column (Evidence Obtained), which contains check boxes, has been added to the
Adopted from care table to enable you to indicate whether document(s) have been obtained that
provides evidence that the pupil/student has been adopted from care.
NOTE: This information is not displayed in the Adopted from Care panel via Routines | Statutory
Returns | School Census because it is not collected in the School Census Summer 2014 Return.
Additional Document Type for Adopted from Care
Focus | Pupil (or Student) | Pupil (or Student) Details
Depending on your permissions, it is now possible to select a new note/document Type (Adopted
from Care) when attaching note/documents to the Documentation Management Server (DMS) as
proof that evidence has been obtained that a pupil/student was adopted from care. An associated
Status of Private or Confidential (but not Public) can be selected.
Where a pupil/student has been assigned a role in a behaviour incident, new fields (Role and
Recorded By) have been added. These fields can be displayed or hidden, as required.
Behaviour and achievement types available from the register are restricted to those flagged as
Include in Register in SIMS (via Tools | Setups | Behaviour Management | Behaviour Type and
Tools | Setups | Behaviour Management | Achievement Type).
It is now possible to hide behaviour or achievement on the consolidated graph on the Student
dashboard.
Marksheets
A number of enhancements have been provided regarding marksheets.
Formula fields on a marksheet are now calculated automatically when the marksheet is saved.
Attendance Code F Detected on Create and Validate
Pupil Premium, First Language and Age in Years/Months can now be displayed on marksheets as
additional information fields.
Routines | Statutory Returns | School Census
Student Dashboard
On create and validate, the checking of attendance absence codes has been extended to include
code F, which should not have been used for the Academic Year 2013/2014 Spring Term. If any
invalid attendance marks are found, a message is displayed, which provides details of the invalid
code and states that the Create and Validate process cannot continue until the attendance data is
edited.
It is now possible to hide year group comparison in the Student Attendance Graph.
SIMS Learning Gateway
Support for Microsoft Office 2013
For complete information on the new version of SIMS Learning Gateway and ADPS, including
upgrade instructions, please refer to the release notes that will be made available from our
SupportNet website (http://support.capitaes.co.uk) on product release.
The SLG 2014 Spring Release supports Microsoft Office 2013.
New Features
Homework
It is now possible to filter pupil/students by Year Group, Reg Group, House and Tier when selecting
the pupil/students to assign to a homework task.
SLG on an iPad Mini
A number of cosmetic changes for users who run SLG on an iPad Mini have been introduced, which
provide an improvement to the user experience.
Staff Performance
Pupil/Student Conduct
New Features
A number of enhancements have been provided regarding pupil/student conduct.
Improvements have been made to the filters in the behaviour area so that they match those in
SIMS.
Updates to Accommodate Pay Awards now being by Scale or Salary Range
Tools | Staff | Staff Performance | Setup
15
Focus | Person | Staff - Adding a Review
Changes have been made to the Add/Edit a Review page so when a salary range based contract is
selected, the Annual and Actual Salary are displayed rather than Current Point on Scale.
Whether this information is visible is controlled by a new Show Salary Values on Review Screen
check box on the Staff Performance Setup page.
New Pre-Defined Reports
Reports | Personnel | Staff Performance | SP Audit Log | Appraisal Data
The Appraisal Data audit log spans the staff performance elements of the personnel record,
including the ability to report on changes made over a date range, by specific staff and within a
particular functional area.
Reports | Personnel | Staff Performance | SP Audit Log | Line Management Structure
The Line Management Structure audit log covers the line management structure in the staff
performance area. It includes the ability to report on changes made over a date range, by role.
Updating First Language Lookups to DfE Values
Applicable to Independent Schools and International Schools only
Independent and International schools can now update their First Language lookups to match
those specified by the DfE. Any schools wishing to take advantage of this functionality should
contact the Service Desk, who will provide you with Patch 19010.
Storing Photographs of Pupil/Student Contacts
Focus | Pupil (or Student) | Pupil (or Student) Details
Focus | Person | Contacts
To facilitate identification, it is now possible to store photographs of pupil/student contacts.
Fixes
Reports | Personnel | Staff Performance | Staff Analysis by Overall Grade
This release includes fixes in the following areas:
The Staff Analysis by Overall Grade reports on the number of observations or reviews under each
performance grade.

Using the Class filter in the Find Student browser, it is now possible to search for classes that
contain an underscore in their name (via Focus | Pupil | Pupil Details).
Reports | Personnel | Staff Performance | Staff Analysis by Professional Standards

When recording a telephone number in SIMS, the display order of items in the Location
drop-down list now reflects accurately the order defined in Maintain Lookups (via Tools |
Lookups | Maintain).

It is now possible for schools in Wales to save changes to the SEN Provision Type lookup table
after adding a new value (via Tools | Lookups | Maintain).

It is now possible to record details of an intervention for any time in the past (including past
academic years) and for any future date in the current academic year (via Focus | Behaviour
Management | Student Behaviour).
The Staff Analysis by Professional Standards reports on progress against the professional
standards defined in the school.
STAR
New Features
Maintaining a History of SEN Needs
Focus | Pupil (or Student) | Special Educational Needs
It is now possible to maintain a history of changes to a pupil/student's SEN needs. The Needs
History dialog displays a history of a pupil/student's SEN needs (i.e. all expired needs), including
the date on which the need was recorded and its start and end date.
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System Manager
Fixes
This release includes a fix in the following area:

The Update Salutation/Addressee menu route is now accessible only by users with the
appropriate permissions (via Routines | Pupil (or Student) | Update Salutation/Addressee).
Technical
New Features
Appendix - National Insurance Tables 2014/2015
The following table shows the figures that should be entered into SIMS Personnel for employees
with contracted in or contracted out salary-related pension schemes and where the school will
benefit from National Insurance rebates. The table is based on our interpretation of the NI
Guidance for Software Developers Effective the Tax Year 2014 – 2015, published by HMRC. You are
strongly advised to liaise with your Local Authority/Payroll Agency to determine how the National
Insurance rebates will be treated because the table has assumed that the maximum rebate will be
recovered.
In summary:

Modifications have been made to some bands, together with some of the rates for Contracted
In and Contracted Out.
The SIMS 2014 Spring Release supports Microsoft Office 2013.

We have revised the table to five bands for consistency purposes with published data.
Support for Windows Server 2012 R2

The columns in the table are in the same format as the columns in the National Insurance
table within Personnel.
Support for Microsoft Office 2013
The SIMS 2014 Spring Release supports Windows Server 2012 R2.
Welsh National Tests
New Features
Employer's Contribution
Monthly Earnings
Band
Upper
Lower
Contracted In Rate 1
Contracted Out Rate 2
1
481.00
0
0.00
0.00
2
663.00
481.01
0.00
-3.40
3
3337.00
663.01
13.80
10.40
4
3489.00
3337.01
13.80
13.80
5
0.00
3489.01
13.80
13.80
New Welsh National Tests
Applicable to Maintained Schools in Wales only
In accordance with the Welsh Government, new functionality enables schools to record and submit
returns relating to the Welsh National Tests in Numeracy and Reading.
This new functionality provides NNT wizards, changes to the NDC Export (including the removal of
the KS1 menu route) and changes to the import routine.
NOTE: A ‘rounding’ difference of approximately £1-2 per month may arise for some employees.
If this table is entered in Personnel with a Start Date of 06/04/2014, the April 2014 National
Insurance projections will be slightly different to those in the following months. To avoid this
situation, enter the table with a Start Date of 01/04/2014.
17
Personnel 7 - Supported Versions
The table needs to be entered via Tools | Staff | National Insurance Rates. National Insurance
projections will be calculated in FMS 6.150 or later once the Financial Year and Salary Periods
have been defined for 2014/2015 and Salary Projections have been refreshed via Focus |
Personnel Links | Salary Projections.
Export and Import of Pay Related files - Minimum Version Spring 2013
Please note that the ability to export and import Pay Related files between versions of SIMS has
changed with the introduction of the FMS 2014 Spring Release, where the support for Salary
Ranges is included. The following table shows the supported combinations.
The Pay Related file can be dispatched to schools that are using Personnel 7.150 or later, where it
can be imported via Tools | Staff | Pay Related Import. When National Insurance tables are
imported using this mechanism, all existing National Insurance tables are deleted whilst the
National Insurance tables contained within the Pay Related file being imported are retained and
used. Consequently, Support Units need to ensure that SIMS, from where the Pay Related file is
exported, contains as a minimum National Insurance tables for 2013/2014 (this can be found in
the FMS 6.150 Release Note), as well as the 2014/2015 detailed earlier in this section. This will
avoid any issues with the remaining FMS Salary Projections for 2013/2014. Financial years prior to
2013/2014 should now be closed in the majority of cases, with all the Salary Projections being
replaced with the actual National Insurance payment.
FMS Salary Projections 2014/2015
Export (Support Unit)
Import (School)
Spring 2013 to
Autumn 2013
Spring 2014 Salary Ranges not
licensed
Spring 2014 Salary Ranges
licensed
Spring 2013 to
Autumn 2013
Yes
Yes
Yes
Spring 2014 Salary Ranges not
licensed
Yes
Yes
Yes
Spring 2014 Salary Ranges
licensed
No
No
Yes
National Insurance projections will be calculated in FMS 6.150 (FMS 2013 Spring Release) or later
once the Financial Year and Salary Periods have been defined for 2014/2015 and Salary
Projections have been refreshed via Focus | Personnel Links | Salary Projections.
Export and Import of Pay Related files for National Insurance
SIMS Support Units can define the National Insurance table in Personnel 7.150 (SIMS 2013 Spring
Release) or later via Tools | Staff | National Insurance, and then include the National Insurance
table in Pay Related files via Tools | Staff | Pay Related Export.
18