2025/2026 Service Definition

SIMS and Power BI Data Analysis Setup


What is it?

This consultancy service is to help schools use the powerful data analysis tool Microsoft Power BI to analyse specific data extracted from SIMS. Power BI enables schools to view and analyse their data in a meaningful and impactful manner.

Why do I need it?

Current analysis options available which are included in the setup are:

  • School Attendance Analysis reports.
  • Individual Student Attendance Analysis reports.
  • Weekly tracking reports.
  • Court reports.
  • Overview of information for OFSTED, for example, identify weekly attendance trends to see where timely intervention can improve attendance.
  • Easily identify key cohorts (FSM, PP, Gender, SEN) who are impacting whole school attendance so that specific interventions can be introduced.

What are the benefits?

  • No more running multiple SIMS reports to obtain meaningful data.
  • No need for Excel spreadsheets to manipulate data.
  • Allows senior leaders to have well informed conversations with OFSTED.
  • Data protected by Microsoft 365 cloud security.
  • The consultancy session will be scheduled at a date and time convenient for your school.

What is included?

With the help of one of our School Applications Support team, our SIMS and Power BI Data Analysis Setup Service is designed to give school staff the peace of mind knowing the setup of their Power BI data analysis report is complete. As part of the consultancy, we will:

  • Provide consultancy from a member of the Schools' Applications Team.
  • Check and configure SIMS user permissions as required.
  • Import and run through the Report Definition setup.
  • Demonstrate the use of the SIMS Data Extraction Script.
  • Import the Power BI Report template into Microsoft Power BI Cloud Workspace.
  • Setup and configure On Premises Data Gateway (Personal Mode).
  • Configure Data source credentials for Power BI Report.
  • Give an overview of the report pages and how to drilldown to obtain more information.
  • Show how to refresh the data between SIMS and Power BI.
  • Microsoft 365 Power BI Cloud Service Gateway Installation for two users,
  • Supply full documentation detailing additional user setup for Power BI reports.

What is excluded?

Amendments or new requests for assistance should be commissioned separately.

What does it cost?

Log-in to find out information on our pricing.

Additional information

Is anything required before I can use this service?

Your school will need to have SIMS operational on a SIMS server hosted within the school, a unique Microsoft 365 log-in with Multi-Factor Authentication enabled. If your school has taken devolved admin for your Microsoft 365 tenancy or support your own tenancy, a Microsoft 365 tenancy administrator will need to be available during the course of the setup consultancy. 

IMPORTANT: If your school uses our Microsoft 365 Devolved Admin option, staff requiring the use of the Power Bi reports will need access to the Power BI Cloud Service. You will need to ensure Share to Web (within Power Bi) has been disabled in your tenancy.

How many consultancy hours are included in this service?

This consultancy is expected to take one hour. Additional hours can be requested if required.

All SIMS and FMS6 consultancies are subject to SIMS Consultant availability. This service is offered throughout the academic year.