WhichMIS? was delighted to attend the Schools & Academies Show (SAAS) in Birmingham on 19–20 November, joining thousands of education leaders, suppliers and sector specialists for two days of insights, conversations and future-focused thinking.
The event brought together most of the major players in the MIS market, including Arbor, Bromcom, Compass, IRIS and VenturEd, all showcasing their latest updates and innovations.
With so many providers under one roof, it was an excellent opportunity for schools, Local Authorities and MAT leaders to compare systems, understand upcoming changes, and ask direct questions to the people behind the products.
A Busy First Day — and a Quieter Second
The first day of the show delivered a steady flow of visitors. Many schools and MATs came with clear priorities: navigating procurement, understanding contract end dates, and exploring how AI might shape the future of MIS and school administration.
For us @ WhichMIS, these conversations reaffirmed a growing theme — leaders are now thinking strategically about data, automation, and integration rather than simply replacing like-for-like systems.
By contrast, the second day was noticeably quieter. with many attendees choosing to complete their visits within a single day. However, those who did attend on day two tended to have more in-depth enquiries and were keen to discuss long-term planning.
What Schools Are Asking Right Now
Across both days, certain topics came up repeatedly in our conversations:
- Choosing the right MIS for long-term sustainability, with some looking at short term change, whilst others planning ahead 3–5 years.
- The DfE’s proposed MIS procurement framework, which is prompting re-evaluation of current systems.
- Third-party charges for data extraction or migration, a concern that is increasingly affecting schools when changing MIS.
- AI adoption, particularly understanding what’s real, what’s emerging, and what will genuinely reduce workload.
We also had a few visitors unhappy with their current MIS but, once we talked things through with them it became obvious that their issue was really about their lack of training and knowledge of their MIS and not a genuine reason to change it.
It was really satisfying to be able to take them across to the stands of their MIS supplier and explain the issue to stand staff which allowed them to help the visitor get the training they need rather than change their current systems.
All these discussions reinforce the role of WhichMIS? as an impartial guide, offering schools and MATs practical clarity during a time of rapid change.
The Value of Face-to-Face Conversations
Events like SAAS Birmingham continue to highlight the importance of bringing the sector together. While digital communication is convenient, nothing replaces the value of meeting school leaders, IT managers and suppliers face-to-face. From understanding frustrations with legacy systems to exploring ideas for future development, the insights we gain at these events directly shape the guidance and resources we provide.
Looking Ahead
As we move into 2026 contract cycles await further clarity on national procurement frameworks, the MIS landscape is continuing a period of transition. WhichMIS? will continue to analyse market changes, monitor vendor developments and support the sector with independent advice.
If you visited us at the show — thank you. And if you didn’t get a chance to attend or would like tailored support, you can always reach us for impartial guidance on MIS procurement, migration and best-fit decision-making.
We’ll also be at BETT and look forward to seeing on Stand SL33
