What's new in SIMS
The October release brings new features and improvements to SIMS. See what’s new, what’s changed, and what it means for your school or trust.
SIMS Next Gen – October updates
Class View
UDF indicators on pupil cards
Teachers and admins can now see User-Defined Field (UDF) indicators directly on pupil cards and mini profiles in Class View, helping staff access important pupil information more quickly.
What’s new
When UDF display is enabled, any UDF that is configured to appear in Class View, and has a value for that pupil will show as a small indicator on their pupil card.
- Hovering over an indicator reveals the full UDF description.
- The Pupil Profile side panel now shows detailed UDF information for each pupil.
- For text and number UDFs, both the UDF code and value are shown in the mini profile.
Admins can manage which UDFs appear in Class View directly through the Admin Console, giving schools full control over what information is surfaced to staff.
Why it matters
Overall, this gives schools a simple, flexible way to surface the right pupil information at the right time without needing to open profiles or navigate away from the classroom view.
Staff Profile
Create new staff profiles
Admins can now add new teaching, non-teaching or supply staff using the “Add Staff” button in the Staff List.
A simple guided form ensures all mandatory information is captured before the staff profile is created.
Manage staff checks with clear visibility
Staff checks are now easier to track and maintain:
- Colour-coded validity indicators show which checks are up to date and which need attention.
- Additional checks can be configured through Check Settings in the Admin Console.
- All checks will feed directly into the Single Central Record, coming soon to SIMS Next Gen.
Why it matters
These updates give schools:
- A faster and more intuitive way to manage staff data.
- Clearer visibility of compliance requirements.
- Reduced admin time and fewer manual errors.
- Automatic syncing with SIMS7 for consistency.
Conduct Report Cards
A simpler and more flexible way to monitor pupils who are on report.
The workflow has been redesigned to reduce admin, support a wider range of reporting needs, and provide a fuller picture of pupil conduct.
What’s new
A quicker way to set up and manage report cards
Schools can now define different report types such as Head of Year, subject-specific or pastoral – in just a few clicks, making setup much faster and easier.
Assign pupils in bulk
Instead of adding pupils one at a time, staff can now assign entire groups to a report card in one go, saving time and improving consistency.
Track both positive and negative conduct
Report cards now support dual-purpose tracking, allowing staff to record positive feedback, observations and achievements alongside any concerns.
Flexible targets
Custom targets can be added for individual pupils, making it easier to tailor support plans to their needs.
Compatible with SIMS7
Report cards sync with existing SIMS7 settings, ensuring a smooth transition for schools and keeping data aligned across systems.
Why it matters
Managing report cards in SIMS7 often required multiple manual steps and wasn’t flexible enough for modern pastoral needs.
The new SIMS Next Gen design:
- Cuts down admin time.
- Makes reporting more consistent.
- Helps staff capture a fuller picture of behaviour.
- Supports more personalised interventions.
- Gives clearer insight into progress for teachers, TAs and school leaders.
Homepage Enhancements
New insights added to the homepage
We’ve added new Reporting and Insights panels to the homepage, giving school leaders and staff an instant snapshot of the data that matters most.
What’s new
Attendance overview
The new attendance panel presents your school’s:
- Overall attendance.
- Authorised and unauthorised absence.
- Persistent absence.
Each metric shows your current year, previous year, and national average, making it easy to understand performance in context.
Clear visual bars help highlight changes over time – so trends and concerns stand out straight away.
Pupil demographics
Key pupil information is now displayed directly on the homepage, including:
- Pupils on roll.
- Pupil Premium numbers and percentages.
- Free School Meals (FSM) figures.
Why it matters
These updates put essential insights front and centre, helping schools:
- Spot attendance issues early.
- Compare performance to previous years and national benchmarks.
- Understand cohort makeup instantly.
- Take informed action without exporting spreadsheets or opening multiple report.