Written question asked by Eric Forth (Conservative) on Monday, 7 February 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 21 March 2005. It was answered by Derek Twigg (Labour) on Monday, 21 March 2005 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

Dept for Education and Skills

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Capita SIMS.net in schools, with particular reference to its effect on (a) schools' attendance reporting and (b) suppliers of schools' attendance recording systems.

Answer: Mr. Forth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Capita SIMS.net in schools, with particular reference to its effect on (a) schools attendance reporting and (b) suppliers of schools attendance recording systems. [215722] Derek Twigg: My Department has not made a specific assessment of the effectiveness of the Capita SIMS.net with particular reference to its effect on (a) schools attendance reporting and (b) suppliers of schools attendance recording systems and has no plans to do so. Capita SIMS.net is one of several commercial management information systems specifically designed for school use that schools are free to choose from, often in collaboration with their relevant local education authority. In common with other systems, Capita SIMS.net includes attendance reporting and recording functionality which can be adapted to meet specific local needs, such as lesson level registration. Such automated systems provide real time analysis of pupil level attendance data that make a significant contribution to managing attendance as well as reducing administrative work. It is for schools to decide which system best suits their needs. Wide-ranging advice on the use of information communications technologies is available through the Becta ICT Advice website at http://www.ictadvice.org.uk/.

Secondary information