Using MIS with SharePoint? Blatchington Mill School shows how to do the job.

I recently completed a technical case study with a school in the UK: Blatchington Mill School (https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd335971.aspx).

This is the second school I've worked with in the UK. I was attracted to this solution by the sophisticated use of reporting that ties into the school's MIS system. In a nutshell, here's how it works:

1. The MIS system is hosted on a separate server. Here's the lineup of servers in their environment:

Servers

For details on the server hardware, see the case study.

2. A separate site collection houses all pages and Web Parts provided by the Capita SIMS (MIS) system. This site surfaces data from SIMS.net for staff, students and parents.

LogicalArchitecture

3. Capita SIMS SLG2 Web Parts are installed on target portals (see diagram above). Information that is displayed through each Web Part varies depending on the user’s role. Here's an example:

Student_reporting_article

Blatchington Mill School uses a simple architecture to provide a sophisticated solution. The MIS system is integrated into SharePoint and the reporting features are threaded through each of the targeted portals sites, bringing together each of the school’s core audiences in practical and meaningful ways.

PictureOfSchool 

Brenda Carter, Writer, SharePoint Products and Technologies