Exchanging data and information between teachers, parents, administrators and children without typing anything twice.

The introduction of computers brings benefits and sometimes it brings problems. And over the years one of the biggest problems has been that different companies have produced IT systems and software that work to different standards.

Over recent years the government has been encouraging everyone involved to devise systems which mean that (for example) parents will be able to see on-line details of their child’s attendance, behaviour, homework and so on.

Meanwhile within schools there are more immediate considerations – for example a real need for a system that means that when a child moves from a primary to a secondary school the child’s work is still available in the new school automatically – even if the primary and secondary school use different software.

SWGfL Merlin has been at the heart of this work to unify school systems, and it is now nearing completion. Indeed we are hopeful that by September schools will begin to see the first benefits of this integrated system; this means that schools will be able to automatically set up accounts from their Management Information Systems.

In the simplest terms, it won’t matter whether you are using Capita SIMS, Serco, RM Integris G2 or Pearson Phoenix. They will all be able to communicate with SWGfL Merlin as well as with each other. Once the integrated system is fully operational with the school’s Management Information Systems then data can be shared with other applications.

SWGfL Merlin will be able to be used by schools to raise the engagement with parents and governors by making information accessible through webparts, meaning that schools will be able to show to teachers, parents and pupils aspects of their data held on the schools Management Information System.

There are of course many other benefits of this integrated system and I will be writing to you again with further information as the programme develops in the coming months. In the meantime if you have any questions on this, please do drop me a line at ian.white@swgfl.org.uk or call 01392 381 371

Yours truly,

Ian White



Published: 09/06/2009 11:45:14