Ensuring your data is in the right place at the right time John Chapman Senior Architect: Information Management Diplomas: Learning the lessons of the new operating model 24 November 2008 Presentation 7: Standards Interoperability Framework

SIF explained

The SIF Association SIF The strategic view Next steps

What is SIF? Not a product, but a technical blueprint for education software Designed for education technology suppliers and educators Manages data within the education environment Enables diverse applications to interact and share data Systems

What is the SIF Specification? Data standard Document that defines accepted rules Describes the data (what) + infrastructure (how) Provides a complete set of rules from start to finish Systems

Components of SIF Network Account 14 to 19 Data Analysis & Reporting VLM Library Moodle Meals MIS Zone Integration Server Software Routing Access Control SIF Agents Communicate with ZIS Assemble and process messages Data Objects Sets of information XML

SIF Zones Library Meals MIS Network Account VLM MIS School Zone LA Zone Logical grouping of applications, agents, and ZIS Highly flexible and scalable No predefined size or structure… specific to your implementation

Event Messages Network Account 14 to 19 Data Analysis & Reporting VLM Library Moodle Meals MIS Types: Add Change Delete ZIS broadcasts to subscribers Real time communication

Request and Response Messages Network Account Data Analysis & Reporting Library MIS Moodle Meals Initial loading Synchronization VLM 14 to 19

We have been actively engaged in finding open approaches to enable the easy flow of data between multiple information services, systems and products regardless of who produces or supplies them. A high degree of compatibility - interoperability in the jargon - is the foundation for effective, efficient and economic information management. It means - subject always to the primacy of information security considerations - better collaboration between partners, more agile applications, getting better returns on software investments and, most importantly, better meeting the needs of users whether they be teachers, learners, decision makers or others through, for example, joining up learning platform and management information system functions. Becta, the lead national partner for educational technology, has identified and researched the Schools Interoperability Framework (SIF). Becta is clear that SIF has proven potential to deliver a wide range of benefits at the front line and at local and national levels, and now recommends SIF as a preferred solution. Proof of concept projects and other development work continues. But the expectation is that the SIF standard will be adopted by local authorities and system suppliers to meet specific local business needs over the next 18 months or so. These activities will mainly focus on front-line service delivery.Schools Interoperability Framework The current view of SIF is both optimistic and positive. At this stage we believe that SIF has much potential as a universal national standard - "schools" in the title refers to SIF's origins not its limitations. For obvious reasons we need to be sure before such adoption. So we will continue to consult and work with partners; including engaging the system-wide Information Standards Board and its Technical Support Service and assessing the impact on business processes. We are unlikely to make critical decisions before 2010 but it is our presumption that, providing it does not cut across other objectives, the sector will use this platform to work towards a national deployment of SIF. Information Standards Board To summarise, we see SIF as being the direction of travel unless any as yet unforeseen and insurmountable barriers come to light. Statement of intent

Further work and drivers Birmingham National Pathfinder LGfL pilot Norfolk pilot EMBC PoC SWGfL – Merlin Data protection and security issues Awarding bodies – JCQ QCA - Diploma Aggregation Service MIAP Quarterly Meeting: 3-4 December (Manchester Airport)

For more information: SIF Project Team – John Chapman - Senior Architect: Information Management, Becta – – Penny Murray – Project Adviser, Information Management – SIF Association UK website – For further information on SIF Association UK, please –