The Council holds perpetual rights to SIMS licences and renewing the support ensures that the system is adequately updated, maintained and ensures availability of any system upgrades. This allows the schools to continue to meet DfE statutory regulations in respect of managing their pupil data.

Support and maintenance for this product can only be obtained directly through Capita Business Services Ltd, the proprietor of the software.

The decision to renew the annual maintenance agreement with Capita for a further 12 month period is in accordance with the waiver produced and signed off in April 2019 authorising the current contractual agreement to expire on 31st March 2021.