With the Schools & Academies Show returning to Birmingham’s NEC on 18–19 November, WhichMIS? takes a look at what some of the UK’s leading school MIS suppliers will be showcasing — and what school and trust leaders should be looking out for.
The Schools & Academies Show is one of the major events in the education calendar, bringing together school leaders, multi-academy trusts, policymakers and education suppliers.
This year’s Birmingham event will once again feature a strong EdTech presence, including the co-located EdTech Summit, providing visitors with an opportunity to explore the latest developments in school management technology.
Among the exhibitors are several familiar names in the MIS market, including Arbor, Bromcom, IRIS Education, ParentPay Group and VenturEd Solutions.
For schools and trusts reviewing their MIS arrangements, the event provides a valuable opportunity to meet suppliers face-to-face, see demonstrations and ask questions about functionality, integration, development plans and value for money.
So, what are the suppliers promoting this year?
Arbor – Moving beyond the traditional MIS
Stand G58
Arbor’s presence reflects its continuing focus on providing a wider school management platform, rather than simply a traditional MIS.
In its exhibitor information, Arbor describes its platform as the UK’s most popular MIS and school management software, stating that 12,000 schools and MATs use its technology.
The company’s messaging concentrates on helping schools save time, improve collaboration and make better use of their data.
Alongside its core MIS, Arbor is highlighting complementary solutions covering:
- Human resources.
- Finance.
- Timetabling.
- Benchmarking and reporting.
- School and trust-wide operational management.
A central theme is the ability to connect important school operations and turn information into meaningful insights that support decision-making.
WhichMIS? perspective:
Arbor’s approach reflects the growing demand from MATs for connected systems, consistent reporting and greater visibility across their schools.
Visitors should explore how effectively the various applications work together, which elements are included within the core MIS subscription and which require additional investment.
For MATs in particular, trust-wide reporting, financial oversight and data consistency will be important areas to investigate.
Bromcom – Bringing MIS, finance, Timetabling and AI together
Stand H14
Bromcom is using the show to emphasise the breadth of its cloud-based MIS and finance solutions, which it says are now trusted by more than 5,600 schools and 390 multi-academy trusts across the UK and Europe.
Its exhibitor information focuses on reducing administrative workloads, streamlining processes, improving parental engagement and reducing schools’ reliance on costly third-party applications.
Among the capabilities Bromcom is highlighting are:
- Built-in artificial intelligence capabilities.
- Flexible assessment systems.
- Live-data dashboards and analytical tools.
- Integrated finance and school management functionality.
- Parent and student engagement applications.
- Timetabling Without Walls
- Without Walls – no data transfers, no disconnected systems, one point of truth
- Cloud-based — Access anytime, anywhere, on any device
- Collaborative — Enable seamless resource sharing across schools
- Easy Migration — Import legacy data seamlessly with no re-keying
Bromcom also emphasises its family-owned status and its approach to working in partnership with schools, trusts and local authorities.
WhichMIS? perspective:
One of Bromcom’s key messages is the potential to consolidate functionality that schools may currently purchase from several different suppliers.
For schools reviewing their MIS, it will be worth exploring which third-party applications could genuinely be replaced, what functionality is included within the proposed licence and how its AI capabilities are being used in everyday school administration.
Compass Education – Another MIS supplier to look out for
Stand H32
Compass is another name worth including on the list for schools exploring their MIS options.
For prospective customers, the event offers an opportunity to investigate the company’s approach to school management, reporting, communications and the wider requirements of schools and MATs.
WhichMIS? perspective
Schools considering Compass should ask to see practical demonstrations of everyday MIS tasks, explore its approach to migration and support, and establish how the platform meets their particular requirements.
As with every supplier, the important consideration is not simply the range of functionality available, but how effectively the system supports the day-to-day work of teachers, administrators and school leaders.
IRIS Education – An integrated approach to trust management
Stand F30
IRIS Education is positioning itself as a technology partner for schools and MATs, promoting a comprehensive range of solutions under the theme of smarter technology for stronger trusts.
The company states that its products are used by more than 12,000 schools and 75% of UK multi-academy trusts.
Its exhibitor information highlights a broad portfolio including:
- Student MIS.
- Finance and budgeting.
- HR and payroll.
- Compliance and estates management.
- Parent engagement.
- Cashless catering.
- Recruitment.
IRIS emphasises the value of connecting people and data, enabling schools and trusts to improve operational efficiency and make better-informed decisions.
The company is also scheduled to host a session in the Business & Finance Theatre on Wednesday 18 November, from 12:45pm to 1:15pm.
WhichMIS? perspective:
IRIS has an extensive portfolio of education technology products, including its iSAMS MIS offering.
For schools considering IRIS, an important question is how closely its different products are integrated and how information flows between them.
Independent schools considering iSAMS may have different priorities from state schools and MATs reviewing finance, HR and wider operational systems.
Visitors should establish which specific products are being demonstrated and how they would fit within their existing technology environment.
ParentPay Group – Creating a connected operating system for schools
Stand G50
ParentPay Group (PPG), who’s product portfolio includes SIMS, FMS, ParentPay and Schoolcomms, is taking a broad approach to its presence at SAAS in Birmingham.
This year at SAAS, ParentPay Group will be showcasing its ecosystem of interconnected solutions and how schools and trusts can benefit from greater interoperability, shared data and a more connected approach to education technology.
At the heart of that ecosystem is SIMS. Over the past year, SIMS Next Gen has evolved at pace, with significant releases across attendance, assessment, reporting, statutory returns and trust-wide leadership. Today, over 80% of SIMS schools rely on SIMS Next Gen, and the majority of SIMS schools now trust it to manage their daily attendance processes.
Alongside demonstrating new releases, delegates will get a taste of what’s on the horizon for SIMS in 2027 alongside the Group’s wider capabilities in areas including FMS, its recently completed cloud-native finance product, Schoolcomms, its student and parental engagement mobile app, ParentPay cashless payments, catering solutions from Cypad and BlueRunner, and facilities hire from SchoolHire.
ParentPay Group will be also be involved in an expert session entitled Choosing the Right Technology for your Secondary School: The Questions Leaders Should be Asking, taking place on Wednesday 18 November from 11:05am to 11:35am in the Business & Finance Theatre. The session will feature Renzo Spinelli, Director of Customer Engagement at ParentPay Group alongside Al Kingsley.
WhichMIS? perspective:
ParentPay Group’s presence at the show offers schools and trusts an opportunity to explore SIMS Next Gen alongside the Group’s wider portfolio of finance, payments, catering and engagement solutions.
For existing SIMS customers, demonstrations will provide a useful opportunity to explore the functionality highlighted by the team and discuss how it can support everyday school administration and trust-wide oversight.
The emphasis on connectivity is particularly relevant to schools looking to simplify processes and reduce duplication. Delegates can use their visit to explore how the products work together and how the Group’s approach aligns with their school or trust’s operational priorities.
VenturEd Solutions – A wider education technology portfolio
Stand J2
VenturEd Solutions is highlighting its portfolio of education technology products, with a strong emphasis on reducing costs, improving operational efficiency and supporting schools’ strategic priorities.
Its exhibitor information describes a range of solutions covering:
- School communications.
- Payments.
- Data analytics.
- Data integration.
- School marketing.
- Parental engagement.
The company also identifies MIS, SEND, attendance, behaviour and school trips among its areas of expertise.
VenturEd has a particularly visible presence in the event programme.
It is involved in SEND-related discussions and a session entitled The Tessellation of Attendance, Wellbeing and Behaviour, scheduled for Wednesday 18 November from 1:35pm to 2:20pm in the School Improvement Theatre.
The company is also sponsoring the show’s evening networking reception on 18 November.
WhichMIS? perspective:
VenturEd’s offering demonstrates how the boundaries between MIS, communications, analytics and specialist school applications are becoming increasingly blurred.
Schools interested in its MIS-related offering should establish which products provide core pupil information management, how they integrate with other systems and whether they are intended to replace or complement an existing MIS.
The company’s focus on attendance, wellbeing and behaviour is particularly relevant as schools seek better ways to bring together information that can help identify pupils requiring additional support.
What should schools & MATs be asking the MIS suppliers?
While each exhibitor has its own priorities, some common themes are emerging across the market.
Artificial intelligence, integrated finance and HR, improved analytics, parental engagement and the consolidation of third-party applications are increasingly prominent in supplier messaging.
However, schools should look beyond the exhibition demonstrations and marketing claims.
A few questions worth asking include:
- What is included in the core MIS price?
- Are the features being demonstrated standard functionality or chargeable extras?
- What is available now?
- Which capabilities are fully released, which are in development and which are longer-term aspirations?
- How well does everything integrate?
- Can data move reliably between the MIS, finance, HR, safeguarding and other systems?
- What happens during migration?
- What support is provided, what are the realistic timescales and what responsibilities remain with the school?
- What does the future roadmap look like?
- How are suppliers investing in AI, automation, reporting and usability?
- What are the total costs?
- Schools should consider implementation, training, integrations, additional modules and ongoing support — not simply the headline licence fee.
The Birmingham show provides a useful snapshot of how the school MIS market is evolving.
Increasingly, suppliers are competing not just on their core MIS functionality but on the breadth of their wider technology ecosystems.
For some schools and trusts, consolidating systems with fewer suppliers may offer genuine advantages in terms of cost, efficiency and data consistency.
For others, retaining specialist third-party applications alongside a strong core MIS may continue to be the preferred approach.
Neither model is automatically better.
What matters is whether the chosen solution meets the school’s requirements, delivers value for money and provides the flexibility needed for the future.
Our advice is simple: use the show to ask questions, challenge assumptions and compare what suppliers can actually deliver.
A successful MIS procurement decision should be based on evidence, functionality, support and long-term suitability — not simply the most impressive exhibition stand.
Schools & Academies Show Birmingham 2026
18–19 November 2026
Hall 1, NEC Birmingham
Official website: https://www.schoolsandacademiesshow.co.uk/
WhichMIS? provides independent advice and commentary on the UK school Management Information Systems market.