For each of the categories that follow, could you please answer the questions below as they relate to schools. If individual schools have their own arrangements please make that clear and provide information for each where that is available.
a) Finance systems for schools (financial management systems, FMS)
b) Budgets systems for schools (budget monitoring/planning systems)
c) School management information systems (MIS)
d) Payroll software or provider for schools
e) HR software or service for schools

1. Who is the current software or service provider?
a) and c) Most Wokingham schools are currently using ESS SIMS for MIS, and many of the Local Authority maintained schools also use the SIMS FMS system for financial management. FMS is provided as part of the SIMS package for Local Authority maintained schools.
b) the Council doesn’t provide a Budget planning system for schools.
d) The Payroll for Schools is outsourced to Warwickshire County Council and the Payroll system used is iTrent.
e) Schools can independently choose if they wish to use specific software. We are not aware that schools use any specific HR software. They enter staff data onto the national SIMS system.

2. What is the existing contract spend separated into annual spend and maintenance costs, if applicable?
a) and c) Approx. £54k on MIS licence elements and £134k on support costs. FMS is included in this and a separate charge isn’t identified.
d) Yearly total £106,000

3. What is the contract’s length, when does it end, how long is the procurement notice period and process length, what is the procurement system used?
c) MIS was procured under a KCS framework. Initial term is 3 years April 20 to March 23.
d) 3 Years, plus an option of 1 Year – The contract ends on the 31/03/2023

4. Who is the procurement process decision maker? Please specify their name and role.
The ultimate decision maker is the Council Executive, usually delegated to the Director of Children’s Services.

5. Do you, as a local authority, mandate (i.e. through an SLA) that your schools use a service package or supplier arranged by yourselves, or are they able to choose?
No; schools are able to choose.

6. If schools are able to choose a software and services provider, are there any categories in which choice is mandated by you as a local authority while others are left for schools to choose, i.e. a mix and match basis?
No MIS related services are mandated.

7. If applicable, what is the system implementation provider, shared service provider or technical support provider?
c) ESS SIMS provide all the MIS services (i.e. the Council only acts as broker)

8. Is there a system replacement or transformation project being planned, and if so is it to be outsourced?
No.

9. Is there any system integration in between any of the categories mentioned?
Some limited integration between MIS and other areas

10. Could you also please tell me how many schools your local authority supports, i.e. the number of local authority-maintained schools.
There are currently 35 maintained schools within Wokingham. The Local Authority doesn’t support any schools for MIS, but acts as a broker.