June 2026 Newsletter Blog Post

• General Updates
• MIS Training
• FMS
• Arbor
• Bromcom
• SIMS

We wanted to take a moment to thank you for choosing School ICT as your MIS support provider. As a valued School ICT customer, our goal is to not only offer expert technical support, but to ensure you’re getting the full value from everything your service includes. Beyond day-to-day expert technical support, you’ve got access to a whole network of expert knowledge, training, and extra services — all included, at no extra charge.

Here’s a quick reminder of what’s available to you as part of your MIS support package:

🔹 Unlimited Helpdesk Support
Available via phone, chat, email or portal — fast, friendly, and knowledgeable assistance whenever you need it.

🔹 Monthly Newsletters and Updates                                                                                                                                                        Packed with updates, tips, key deadlines, and guidance to help you stay ahead.

Read our latest news here: https://www.schoolicts.co.uk/latest-news/                                                                                                    Sign up to our monthly newsletter here: https://www.schoolicts.co.uk/subscribe

🔹 Free Live Webinars                                                                                                                                                                                             Covering the latest MIS updates, best practices, and deep dives into common challenges.  https://www.schoolicts.co.uk/latest-events/

🔹 Account Review Meetings
Tailored sessions to check in on how things are going, explore upcoming needs, and make sure you’re getting the most from your system.

🔹 Helpdesk Reporting
On request, we can provide usage data and insights to support your internal planning and identify any recurring issues.

🔹 Advisory & Best Practice Guidance                                                                                                                                                            Our MIS team includes ex-Data Managers, Exams Officers and Primary School staff – offering practical advice around DfE, Ofsted, funding and more.

🔹 Ofsted Watch
If your school is undergoing inspection, let us know and we’ll prioritise any guidance or help you need.

🔹 MIS Migration & Data Support
Expert support for data cleansing, migration planning or consultancy if you’re considering a system change.

🔹 Cross-Business Expertise                                                                                                                                                                               As part of the Transforming Learning Group, you also benefit from connections to specialists in GDPR, business services, software integration and more. See here for more information https://www.transforming-learning.co.uk/

If you’re not currently using some of these, we’d love to help you take full advantage. Let us know if you’d like to schedule a review, register for a webinar, or just have a quick catch-up.

Thanks again for being part of the School ICT community — we really appreciate your continued trust.

Let us take the pressure off your statutory returns and year-end MIS tasks with flexible, expert support tailored to your school.

Whether you need help with one return or support across the whole year, we work alongside your team to keep your data accurate, compliant and on time — while saving staff time.

What we can support with: –

All services are delivered remotely by a trained MIS expert, giving you a flexible service with no disruption in school.

Why schools choose us: –

We handle the admin so your team can focus on running the school!

The Department for Education (DfE) has published the 16–19 funding rules, rates and formula for the 2026 to 2027 academic year. These rules apply for the funding year 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2027 and replace all previous guidance.

Summary of Key changes for 2026/27

1. Increased national funding rates

• The base rate (Band 5) 580+ planned hours has increased to £5,133 per student. All other bands have increased proportionately.
• The base rate (Band 6- 9 T level ) 1330-1830 Average planned hours has increased to £10,680 – £14,772 per student.

2. Retakes

Providers cannot claim funding for learners retaking a qualification they have already passed purely to improve their grade.

3. Planned hours when a qualification finishes early

Where planned activity ends early (e.g. English/maths achieved mid-year), hours must be replaced with meaningful activity.

4. End date clarification

The actual end date is now defined as the final learning, exam or assessment date whichever is later – institutions cannot claim planned hours after this date.

5. High Value Courses Premium (HVCP)

A new targeted premium has been introduced for construction courses, this is additional funding to encourage and support delivery of selected level 2 and level 3 qualifications and reflects national skills priorities.

6. Large Programme Uplift (LPU)

• This will only apply to the costs of specific larger than normal maths and high value A level programmes to support the progression of students into priority sectors

For further information please see the links below: –

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/advice-funding-rules-for-16-to-19-provision/advice-funding-rules-for-16-to-19-provision-2026-to-2027

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/t-level-funding/t-levels-funding-guide-2026-to-2027

Data Audit and Scrutiny Services

• Independent audit and scrutiny services that help schools and trusts strengthen data, systems and processes through clear insight and practical recommendations.

Post-16 Funding Scrutiny

Post-16 Funding Scrutiny. We review the key MIS data that underpins Post-16 funding, including:

• Condition of Funding compliance
• Student programmes, learning aims and planned hours
• Prior attainment data
• Course information & data accuracy
• Student end dates and leaver records

Benefits for schools:
Helps protect Post-16 funding by checking that key data, including planned hours, core aims and enrolments, is accurate and meets DfE requirements.

Why choose us:
Our Post-16 specialists have a strong track record of helping schools secure funding and address issues before they become costly.

We give schools practical support and straightforward advice based on real experience of Post-16 funding rules.

The Department for Education has published updated guidance on free school meals (FSM), including significant changes taking effect from the 2026-27 academic year.

Key Points:

FSM eligibility is expanding

• From September 2026, all pupils in households receiving Universal Credit will be entitled to free school meals
• Two FSM categories from 2026-27
• Targeted FSM: Pupils in Universal Credit households with earnings below the existing income threshold
• Expanded FSM: Pupils in Universal Credit households who do not meet the targeted threshold but will newly qualify from September 2026
• Transitional protection is ending
• Existing transitional protections will end at the close of the 2025/26 academic year. From September 2026, ongoing eligibility will depend on meeting the new criteria.
• Disadvantage funding will be based on Targeted FSM eligibility only. Pupils qualifying solely under the new Expanded FSM category will not be eligible for Disadvantage funding.

For more information see the updated guidance here: Free school meals: guidance for local authorities, local -authority-maintained schools, academies and free schools – GOV.UK

The Department for Education has published a checklist for school use: Operational readiness checklist for schools (Annex D) – GOV.UK

The deadlines to return the data to the Department for Education (DfE) are listed below. Please check with your local authority as they may require you to submit the data earlier.

Year 11:

The leaving date for all children in England is the last Friday in June in the school year in which the child reaches 16 years of age and their attendance and absence must be recorded to this date.

Schools remain responsible for Year 11 pupils up to the leaving date, even when they have finished exams. It is up to schools to consider how they might seek to widen the range of learning opportunities during this time to meet the needs of their pupils. If schools choose to grant Year 11 pupils leave of absence between them completing their examinations and leaving school, then it must be recorded as an authorised absence (Attendance Code C).

Pupils staying on for 6th Form

If a pupil has applied and been accepted into the school 6th form, the pupil must remain on roll and for the period after the last Friday in June to the end of term, the school would record their attendance as Code X.

Schools without 6th form

Please note schools that do not have a 6th form, or pupils do not meet the criteria to be accepted a place in the 6th form should not be kept on roll until September and should be removed from roll with effect from the last Friday in June.

If schools record their pupil’s attendance and absence correctly, we do not anticipate any problems in collecting the data as part of the Autumn Census.

Year 13:

Post 16 students not of statutory school age so they do not have an official leaving date as such, however, DfE guidance does state that to be classed as ‘retained’ Post 16 students need to be registered on courses on the last working day of June.

‘When students are on a 2-year programme and they complete the first year, they will be counted as retained in that academic year. We define completing the first year as being in learning on the last working day in June. The same principle applies in the second year’.

Some schools will use the same leaving date as Year 11 for Year 13 students, others use the last day of term. If Year 12 or Year 13 are given a leaving date on or after 1st August this takes them into the next funding year and will include them in the next Autumn census return, which is not correct. The date needs to be before 31^st July.

The Mighty Role of the Exam Officer – Not for the Faint-Hearted!

Yet another exam season is underway, and in true Exam Officer fashion, it’s all systems go! Over the past few months, the exam team at School ICT Services, have been neck-deep in making entries and registrations, creating seating plans with surgical precision, withdrawing and amending entries at lightning speed, training invigilators to JCQ standards, and racing to cross those final ‘t’s’ and dot the elusive ‘i’s’ in the classic pre-season dash. And now? Their hard work is paying off, with exam candidates across all our Exam Managed Schools enjoying a smooth and structured start to their assessments. So far, so good—and we’ll take that win!

But let’s take a moment to talk about the role of the Exam Officer. It’s not just a job – it’s a calling. It takes someone truly special to navigate the daily curveballs, organise timetable clashes, and printer meltdowns with grace (and caffeine). It’s a role that should probably come with a health warning (and perhaps a free massage voucher!) especially during the summer term. From eleventh hour transferred candidates, changes to tiers, sleeping invigilators, broken fingers, to last-minute candidate panics, Exam Officers have truly seen it all. And somehow, they still come back for more!

We’re incredibly proud to have some of the best in the business as part of our Exam Team at School ICT.  People who have weathered the storm of many a past season and still manage to smile (or at least grit their teeth) through it. These seasoned pros are now sharing their wisdom, handy tips, and calm guidance with new and aspiring Exam Officers who are bravely stepping into the arena.

Schools who’ve taken advantage of our Exams Support Package have had an excellent start this year—even with new and less experienced officers at the helm. With our help, they’ve navigated the season confidently, knowing we’re only ever a phone call (or emergency chocolate delivery) away.

And just as we exhale after this season’s start, planning begins again for the next big challenge: preparing Year 10s for their summer mock assessments. The cycle never ends—but that’s what makes the role so rewarding. You’re not just pushing paper—you’re setting the stage for a student’s future.

So, here’s to all Exam Officers, at School ICT Services and across the UK: the multitasking heroes, crisis-managing champions, and unsung legends behind the scenes. Thank you for all you do. Keep climbing that exam mountain, and if you ever need our support, we’ll be here with a rope, a torch, and probably a spreadsheet or two!

At this time of year attention turns to recording statutory assessments along with the end of year assessments for the other year groups, ready to produce the end of year reports to parents.

Summer Data

Please ensure all summer data has been entered into Arbor or SIMS prior to the end of the summer term and check it is appearing in helloData.  This includes importing the MTC and KS2 test results into the MIS.

helloData provides a set of comprehensive reports for analysing statutory data, more on this in the next newsletter!

Setting up Assessments for the new academic year – Arbor

You must first create the new academic year and define your terms and half-terms in the calendar. Once your courses are scheduled and students are assigned to their next year’s classes, you can complete the assessment setup ready for next year. There are three main steps:

• Check the courses & create dummy courses if required
• Copy the annual policy assigning Students and Linked Courses
• Check the assessment period names to ensure the data pulls into helloData

We have produced step-by-step videos which are available in the help section of helloData, please ensure all videos are followed. We will also be providing printable instructions and hosting a live webinar later on this term.  For £65+vat we can do the setup for you, email admin@hello-data.co.uk for more information.

Summer User Group Meeting – Monday 6^th July 1.30pm, booking details to follow.

Not heard of helloData?

Integrating seamlessly with Arbor or SIMS, our reporting tool delivers comprehensive analysis of assessment, attendance, and demographic data across MAT, school, and cohort levels, contact admin@hello-data.co.uk or visit www.hello-data.co.uk to find out more.

You’re not alone! Your MIS captures a huge amount of data, and it can be hard to know how to use it. Our reporting courses are designed to build your confidence step by step, so you can create reports that really support your day-to-day work.

Take a look at our upcoming courses and book a place;

• Tuesday 23^rd June 9.30am-12.30pm, Arbor Standard Reporting Arbor Standard Reporting – School ICT
• Friday 26^th June 9.30am-3.30pm, SIMS Standard Reporting SIMS Standard Reporting – School ICT

There are still some remaining spaces on training courses for the rest of the summer term – helping you to finish the 2025/6 academic year on a high and ensure that the 2026/7 academic year gets off to a flying start!

We also have Distance Learning courses for anyone working over the summer that what’s to set themselves up for a successful new academic year by developing your knowledge and learning how to get the most out of your MIS.

• For online training courses please visit: https://www.schoolicts.co.uk/online-training/
• For Distance Learning courses please visit: https://learning.schoolicts.co.uk/

We know that statutory returns and end-of-year MIS processes can put real pressure on school teams. Our Primary Data Services are designed to provide flexible, expert support to help make these key tasks smoother, more manageable and less stressful.

Whether you need help with Pupil Census, Workforce Census, Key Stage returns, end-of-year procedures, Catholic Census or assessment processes, our experienced consultants work alongside your team remotely to keep things on track, support data accuracy and reduce pressure on staff.

With flexible support tailored to your school’s needs, you can choose help for a single return or a wider package of support. Whatever your MIS platform, we’re here to provide practical guidance and reassurance at every stage.

If you’d like to find out how our Primary Data Services could support your school, we’d be delighted to help. Get in touch to explore the best option for your school.

For secondary schools, year-end can bring a lot of competing priorities – from ensuring data is accurate and complete, to getting systems ready for the new academic year. Whether it’s your first year using a new MIS, a new member of staff leading the process or you’re simply running short on time, our consultancy team is here to provide practical, flexible support to help you stay in control during this busy period.

We can work alongside your team to support key processes and make sure everything is set up in line with best practice – giving you the confidence that nothing has been missed.

Our approach is tailored and hands-on, whether you’re looking for targeted support with a specific task or support across the whole end-of-year process. We’ll provide guidance that meets your school’s needs.

If you’d like to explore how consultancy support could help take the pressure off your team, we’d be happy to talk it through – just get in touch.

With the end of term approaching, it’s a good time to think about how your systems are working for you. Our team of expert consultants can help you make better use of your MIS, from quick wins to longer-term improvements. Recently, this has included helping schools tidy up their data, design bespoke assessment systems and set up new behaviour frameworks.

If you’re interested in finding out more, or just want to talk through what might help, please get in touch via any of the usual channels.

Results days can be busy and high-pressure, with lots to check in a short space of time. Whether your MIS is Arbor, Bromcom or SIMS, these sessions will help you feel more prepared and confident – covering key tasks, common pitfalls and how to make sure you’re ready when it matters most: –

• Monday 6^th July 10.30am Arbor – Getting Ready For Results Day Webinar – School ICT
• Monday 6^th July 2.30pm Bromcom – Getting Ready For Results Day Webinar – School ICT
• Tuesday 7^th July 10.30am SIMS – Getting Ready For Results Day Webinar – School ICT

The Autumn term will be here before you know it – so now’s the perfect time to get ahead with a few practical tips. Post-16 processes can feel complex, especially if you’re new to them. Whether you use Arbor, Bromcom or SIMS, our short webinars will guide you through the key concepts and how they link together in your MIS, giving you a clearer understanding of what to do and when. Book your FREE place using the links below: –

• Tuesday 7^th July 2.30pm Arbor – Post 16 Essentials For Schools Webinar – School ICT
• Wednesday 8^th July 10.30am Bromcom – Post 16 Essentials For Schools Webinar – School ICT
• Thursday 9^th July 10.30am SIMS – Post 16 Essentials For Schools Webinar – School ICT

Confidence in your data. Confidence in your decisions!

Independent audit and scrutiny services that help schools and trusts strengthen data, systems and processes through clear insight and practical recommendations.

• Post-16 Funding Scrutiny

Post-16 Funding Scrutiny. We review the key MIS data that underpins Post-16 funding, including:

• Condition of Funding compliance
• Student programmes, learning aims and planned hours
• Prior attainment data
• Course information & data accuracy
• Student end dates and leaver records

Benefits for schools:
Helps protect Post-16 funding by checking that key data, including planned hours, core aims and enrolments, is accurate and meets DfE requirements.

Why choose us:
Our Post-16 specialists have a strong track record of helping schools secure funding and address issues before they become costly.

We give schools practical support and straightforward advice based on real experience of Post-16 funding rules.

• MIS Data Assurance Review

MIS Data Assurance Review. We carry out a structured review of your MIS to provide independent assurance that it is set up well, used consistently and supporting day-to-day operations. We review the areas most likely to create risk, inefficiency or uncertainty, including:

• Accuracy & integrity of key MIS data
• Compliance with statutory returns and funding requirements
• User access, permissions and data security
• Efficiency and consistency of day-to-day MIS processes
• Effectiveness of core operational areas, including attendance, behaviour, assessment and cover

Benefits for schools:
Strengthens confidence in the data used for decisions, returns and reporting, while reducing risk around compliance, access permissions and inconsistent system use.

Why choose us:
Our MIS consultants work across Arbor, Bromcom and SIMS, giving schools practical, independent assurance grounded in day-to-day operational knowledge.

We highlight what needs attention, what to prioritise first and how to get more from the system you already have.

• MAT Engagement Audit

MAT MIS Engagement Audit. We assess how effectively the MIS supports the wider strategic and operational needs of your trust, with a focus on consistency across schools, the quality of trust-level information and how well systems and processes support leadership oversight. This review includes:

• Core operational processes

Reviewing whether key processes such as attendance, behaviour, assessment and cover are aligned well enough across schools to support trust-wide oversight

• Data quality & strategic reporting

Assessing whether the trust has access to accurate, meaningful and consistent information to support strategic planning, challenge and decision-making

• Statutory returns and compliance

Reviewing whether census and reporting processes are sufficiently aligned and robust to support trust assurance and reduce risk

Benefits for MATs:
Gives trusts a clearer view of how well MIS-related processes support strategic oversight, highlights where greater consistency is needed across schools, and strengthens confidence in trust-level reporting.

Why choose us instead of other suppliers:
We combine trust-level insight with school-level MIS expertise to show how systems, processes and reporting come together across the organisation, giving leaders a joined-up view of what is working well and where greater alignment is needed.

We provide clear recommendations and practical next steps through initial meetings, questionnaires/consultation, followed up at 6 months, 12 months and then annually by agreement to help trusts strengthen oversight, improve consistency across schools and make better use of trust-wide information.

• MAT Systems Audit

MAT Systems Audit. We audit how the MIS is configured and used across the trust’s schools, with a focus on making better use of existing functionality, improving consistency in system use and identifying where third-party software may be unnecessary. This review focuses on key areas including:

• Use of existing MIS functionality and whether features are being adopted consistently across schools
• System and data alignment across schools to support stronger reporting and more effective MAT-level analytics
• System configuration, setup and use of core functionality
• Efficiency of workflows and day-to-day system use across schools
• Use of third-party systems, including where software can be reduced or removed because the MIS already meets the need
• Staff confidence, capability and training needs

Benefits for MATs:
Helps trusts get more value from their existing MIS, improve consistency in how systems are used across schools, strengthen MAT-level analytics, and reduce unnecessary spend on third-party software.

Why choose us:
We combine audit expertise with practical knowledge of how MIS works in schools, helping trusts identify where functionality is underused, where processes can be simplified and where other systems may no longer be needed.

We provide a clear report and practical recommendations through initial meetings, questionnaires/consultation, followed up at 6 months, 12 months and then annually by agreement to help trusts optimise system use, improve consistency across schools and get more from the MIS they already have.

Interested in a Data Assurance Review? Get in touch at helpdesk@schoolicts.co.uk to find out more or book your session.

Parent Pay Group are moving forward with their on-going project to move all FMS6 schools to FMS (next gen)!

This is a huge project that will continue throughout all of 2026!

ESS/PPG will be actively contacting schools direct and inviting them to migrate at a suitable time.

• Step 1 – When school receive the email, please complete the On-boarding form.
• Step 2 – School will be invited to choose their migration timeslot.
• Step 3 – Move from FMS6 local to FMS Connected. – This is usually a 24 hr process.
• Step 4 – Later in the year – Move from FMS6 Connected to FMS.

Why this change matters 

Moving to a single, cloud-based platform allows us to deliver a more secure, reliable and continuously improving service for schools while reducing the technical burden on school finance teams. This is a mandated move, and so your school will need to transition to FMS Connected by the end of the move period. If the move process is not scheduled as per the timeline then access to local FMS6 may be restricted.

We advise that schools keep a look out for the comms from PPG/ESS when your time to migrate is due. When it is your time to move you will receive weekly reminders to complete the on-boarding form and choose your preferred date. Please do not ignore these emails.

Any queries or help lease contact the Helpdesk.

Are You Using the Equipment Register Already Included in SIMS FMS?

All schools already have access to the SIMS FMS Equipment Register module but may not be taking advantage of its full capabilities, or even aware it exists!

Equipment Register enables schools to manage assets, track equipment by room or staff member, perform stock takes, support SFVS compliance, and generate audit-ready reports — all from within the SIMS FMS environment you already use.

Because it integrates directly with FMS purchasing data, schools can reduce duplicate data entry and improve visibility of school assets without investing in additional asset management software.

Key benefits include:

• Included within SIMS FMS — leverage functionality you may already own
• Save Time — import equipment directly from finance records and generate instant reports
• Improve Accountability — track who has what equipment and where it is located
• Support Compliance — maintain accurate records for insurance, PAT testing, audits, and SFVS
• Reduce Spreadsheet Dependency — move away from disconnected Excel asset lists

Discover how your school can get more value from SIMS FMS — at no extra software cost.

Please contact the helpdesk 0345 222 6802, Option 1