The Summer Census is moving to SIMS Next Gen, so this Summer term will be the last term you’ll do it in SIMS 7. The good news is we’re completely revamping it in SIMS Next Gen, and for 2026 you’ll have a brand new Summer Census to work from. And we're offering a limited number of schools the opportunity to try it out this April.
We know it will make things easier and take the stress away from the Summer submission period, as it can help you solve errors faster, keep track of progress, and stay up to date with any changes from the DfE. You can learn all about it here.
Why you should get started now
If you haven’t already, it’s a great time to get your school ready to explore all that SIMS Next Gen has to offer and so you don’t miss out on the latest SIMS functionality. Especially as when 2026 comes around, you’ll do your next Summer Census in SIMS Next Gen.
You’ll also need to make sure that your school is Next Gen ready before the Summer Release this July, so that you can do your next update in SIMS 7.
Plus, we're offering a limited number of schools the opportunity to try out the Summer Census this April. Places are limited and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
What you can do now
First, you’ll need to check that your school is ready for SIMS Next Gen and that your data is flowing between SIMS 7 and SIMS Next Gen. This way you can start using SIMS Next Gen and your data is seamlessly shared with SIMS 7.
You’ll also need to make sure the right people have access to SIMS Next Gen. Just ask your SIMS 7 System Manager to invite them and they’ll get a new link to activate their account in their inbox.
If you’re already using SIMS Connected, you can get going sooner as your team won’t need an invite. You can simply log in at www.home.sims.co.uk
All sorted? Then can apply you try out the Summer Census this April. Places are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
What you can do later
Once April comes around, a limited number of schools can sign up to try out the new Summer Census. If selected, this means you’ll be one of the first to get your hands on the latest functionality.
We’ll simply ask you to do your usual tasks you complete for the Census, and share your feedback on how you found the process.
This really is a great opportunity to start benefitting from the new features ahead of the general release.
What you can do next year
Once your school is ready to go, and we’ve gathered everyone’s feedback for the Summer Census, we’ll release it to everyone in SIMS Next Gen. It’s really important that you make sure your school is ready to go for this time, as your next Summer Census in 2026 will be in SIMS Next Gen.
You can find out the key timelines in our article: Census is moving to SIMS Next Gen: FAQs.
Where you can learn more
Want to find out more about the Summer Census? Head over to our product page where we’ll give you all the details. You can also check out our related blogs:
- Census is moving to SIMS Next Gen: FAQs
- A deep dive into the Summer Census: what’s changing from SIMS 7
- Get the latest SIMS functionality - and be census ready - in five simple steps
Ready to take the next step?
Get your school ready to go
Check out our latest blog article outlining the five simple steps to get the latest SIMS functionality now and be ready for census.
Invite your team to SIMS Next Gen
Ready to rollout SIMS Next Gen? Take a look at our toolkit to start inviting your team and making the most of what SIMS Next Gen has to offer.
Try out the new Summer Census
Once you’re up and running, you can apply try out the new census. We’re inviting an exclusive number of schools on a first-come, first-served basis.