Kent Schools
MIS & Finance
Latest News
With SIMS (ESS) contracts due to end in April 2024 and many schools exploring MIS options, Cantium, SFS and Kent County Council have reached out to us to provide some key information about our solution and ensure each of you are best placed to make informed decisions moving forward.
Bromcom on the road
We're excited to be attending The Education People Show on 8th November at the Kent Event Centre, Detling. This is the largest education-related event in the South East and we look forward to seeing many delegates from Kent schools there. Come and visit us on stand 135 - we'll be happy to answer any questions you have on switching to Bromcom.
Schools are keen to explore their options
We have now put on a whole host of Bromcom MIS & Finance webinars, providing a comprehensive look at our products with hundreds of schools in attendance. Please see the recordings below to get some real insights into our cloud-based offering.
Let’s not forget Finance!
When it comes to school finance, Bromcom is proud to be the only product recommended and supported by SFS for schools looking to transition away from FMS. We understand how much you value their support and encourage you to chat with them if you're considering a switch.
On that note, we are delighted to announce that we have just been awarded a contract by Brighton & Hove City Council to provide Bromcom Finance to their schools. This is the latest of many examples of schools and Local Authorities choosing us, not just as an alternative to FMS, but as an upgrade.
Partnerships in Kent
With its dynamic array of schools each possessing unique needs, Kent is home to an impressive roster of teams dedicated to helping schools maximise their MIS & Finance systems. We're proud to be partnered with all key suppliers in the region, including Cantium, SFS, Keystone & Kent County Council. We appreciate the value these relationships provide to schools and strongly recommend engaging with these trusted colleagues when you are considering your next steps.
“The benefits of Bromcom go beyond the simple fact that it's cloud-based, and accessible from all devices and locations. Some real highlights for me include using the student list as the most simple reporting tool, through to running pupil censuses and how easy this is.”
Claire Roby
Central Administration Manager
Viking Academy Trust, Kent
Kent Webinar Recordings
We record every webinar to make it easy to revisit any moments you missed or want to share with colleagues. Here's a rundown of the webinars we've run for Kent thus far:
Overview
This is the best session to start with as it provides an overview of the MIS & Finance product alongside key information from your colleagues at SFS and Cantium.
Primary Deep Dive
This is our deep dive session for Primary schools which takes you through the functionality in much more detail.
Secondary Deep Dive
If your school has a secondary phase, this is the deep dive session for you. It covers essentials such as Exams and the KS4 Dashboard.
Community Driven Learning
Bromcom enables the entire school community to support each step of a student's educational journey.
Everything under one roof
Our MIS & Finance solution features everything from Assessment to Parental engagement, Analytics and Clubs management.
100% Cloud Based
Don’t be tied to a desk, our school management system is accessible from any device with a web browser.
Supports decision making
Identify issues before they get out of hand with our advanced analytics and automated alerts.
FAQ
Over the course of our discussions with schools in Kent, we’ve collected a wide range of questions that you’ve been asking and placed them all into this document for handy reference. If you need any further information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us via enquiries@bromcom.com
Ordering & Pricing
Q
How much does Bromcom MIS / Finance cost?
A
As we work in partnership with your support provider, you'll need to contact them directly for a quote. Please use the following details based on your support provider:
- Cantium - accountmanagement@cantium.solutions
- Keystone - Please contact us directly via the details below and we will liaise with Keystone
- Other support providers - If you do not use one of our partnered support providers, please contact us directly via the details below.
Our contact details
Email: enquiries@bromcom.com
Telephone: 020 8290 7171
Classroom & Curriculum
Q
Can the attendance register be selected by children on an interactive whiteboard?
A
Bromcom works well with a touch screen and children can register their attendance themselves. For security, sensitive data is hidden in whiteboard mode and the teacher must enter their password to return to the normal view.
Q
Can you import existing assessment marksheets and templates from existing MIS systems?
A
Yes, you can import the data after you have created the marksheets in Bromcom, the process is very simple and for a mid-size school will only take a couple of hours to map across all assessment information.
Administration
Q
Does the system allow for pupil roll over into the next academic year?
A
Yes, Bromcom provides a wizard to help you complete the end of year process as well as lots of documentation.
Q
Do all these features (attendance, assessment, behaviour, emails, etc) come as standard?
A
There are different levels of Bromcom so you can choose the appropriate version for your school. However, the one that is being recommended as the best value is the one-stop-shop that will do all this and more.
Q
How does this work for an all-through special school?
A
The Bromcom system is fully adaptable to work across all phases and we have many special schools using the software in this scenario. Please let us know if you require any reference schools to contact.
Q
Does Bromcom include a Safeguarding module?
A
Yes, Bromcom has a full safeguarding suite including a dashboard to help officers keep on top of the case load. Staff can easily log concerns from within the MIS to save switching between systems and remembering multiple logins.
Q
Can Bromcom be used to record staff absence?
A
Yes, Bromcom has a fully built in absence and cover module allowing you to not only record absence but allocate cover and provide comprehensive cover reports.
Parental Engagement
Q
Can parents make payments for meals?
A
Parents can pay for meals or top-up their account through the parent portal and app. There is a complete school shop included along with clubs & trips management. You can also allow PayPoint payments or allow parents to order products that will subsequently be paid for in-person.
Q
Can you organise parents’ evenings with the system?
A
Yes, you can arrange parents evening and it can automatically create Teams or Google meetings if required. Parents can book appointments through the parent portal or app.
Q
Can teachers write end of term reports to parents using the system?
A
Yes, and it will create and publish reports directly onto the parent app. Many of our schools no longer print any paper reports save thousands in print costs.
Q
Can we collect information for pre-admission parents online?
A
For pre-admission data to be collected the parents can be provided with a login to the portal or app. This allows them to populate all their data online and make the application process fully paperless.
Migration & Integration
Q
What information is migrated from SIMS?
A
Bromcom migrates a huge amount of data including all staff and pupil data, attendance, behaviour, dinner money and for secondaries - exams and timetable. We migrate five years’ worth of data as standard with additional years available upon request. Scope documents are available for all migrations, so you can feel confident about what will be included.
Q
What third party systems does Bromcom integrate with?
A
We integrate with hundreds of third-party systems either through our own free API's or via Wonde and Groupcall - Check the full list of partners here: https://bromcom.com/partners
Q
Would this system also replace ParentPay or integrate with it?
A
Bromcom can either integrate with ParentPay or replace it. We recommend bringing it all into Bromcom so parents can pay for meals and clubs whilst they read termly reports and see their child's latest achievements.
Q
Does the One-Stop-Shop approach mean I don't need any third-party systems?
A
Our goal is to bring everything under one roof to ease both the financial and administrative burden of all your essential tasks at school. However, we realise that you might not want to change on day one as it's a lot to take on at once. Many schools see out their existing contracts and utilise more of the inbuilt Bromcom functionality over time. This is where the cost savings can really come in and you can maximise the value of your MIS. Regardless of this, there is always the option of keeping your favourite third party systems if you prefer them and there are areas we haven't ventured into yet, such as visitor entry systems, cashless catering and so on.
Secondary Specific
Q
Does this program link with Nova for timetabling?
A
Yes, it does but Bromcom comes with its own Timetable system that allows two way communication so any changes made in the MIS are also reflected in the timetable system. In addition, with Bromcom you rely on the timetabling system far less during the year as it can be properly managed within the MIS.
Q
Is there an Examinations module?
A
Yes, we have a fully compliant JCQ module built into Bromcom. It can manage your base data, entries, results, and analysis, reducing the need for third party products such as 4Matrix and Sisra.
Q
Are Cover and Options modules available?
A
Yes, cover and options are embedded within the MIS. Please contact us if you would like a further demo.
Q
Can individual student timetables be adjusted as needed?
A
Yes, this can be done directly within the MIS, and any changes are send back to the Bromcom timetable system giving you a 2 way process.
Finance
Q
Can we purchase Bromcom finance without the MIS?
A
Yes, this is possible, but we will need to discuss on an individual basis as it is just the Finance system and does not include things like MCAS, the parent portal/payments app.
Q
Will existing ledger codes and cost centres be migrated from our current FMS system?
A
We will work closely with your Finance team to setup your Chart of Accounts (ledger codes and cost centres). As part of this, you'll also have the opportunity to have a tidy up and get rid of any you no longer need.
Q
Is accounts payable and accounts receivable included?
A
Yes, this is all part of the base Bromcom Finance product.
Q
How frequent are the transfers of payments from parents into our bank account?
A
The transfers take place once a week.
Save thousands with Bromcom.
“Ultimately, the savings are huge for schools. I did a little cost exercise and Bromcom could potentially save us £25,000 a school. For me, that’s two TAs or nearly a teacher's salary.”
Karen Done
Business Manager
Nyewood CofE Infant School
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