Ireland’s SMIS Framework for School MIS is giving school leaders real purchasing power, making it easier to access trusted, cloud-based solutions without the usual procurement hurdles.
Designed for Primary, Community National and Post-Primary schools, the framework simplifies how you choose and implement a School Management Information System (MIS), bringing more confidence, better support, and genuine choice.
At Compass, we’re proud to be an approved supplier on the national framework, managed by HEAnet, Ireland’s national education and research network. This means your school can now explore Compass through a compliant mini-competition, knowing every step aligns with Department of Education procurement rules.
Ireland’s SMIS Framework for School MIS
Setting the standard for data and technology use in schools, Ireland’s SMIS Framework for School MIS offers school leaders, staff, and families a safer, smarter way to manage daily life.
Led by the Department of Education and managed through HEAnet, the framework helps Primary, Community National and Post-Primary schools adopt cloud-based systems that are secure, compliant and built to support teaching and learning.
At Compass, we’re proud to be an approved MIS supplier under this framework. It means Irish schools can now consider Compass through a compliant process and trust that every feature, from timetabling and attendance to wellbeing, payments and more, is aligned with national expectations.
The framework was built with collaboration at its core. It connects the Department, school leaders, IT providers, and families to make sure systems are efficient, accessible and genuinely useful in the Irish school context.
It also ensures all MIS platforms meet strict requirements around data quality, reporting, procurement and integration, so schools can make informed choices, share information securely, and spend more time supporting students.
Why the SMIS Framework Matters
- Open market: Up to five approved suppliers compete in each “mini-competition”, so every Primary, Community National and Post-Primary school can pick the best-fit platform.
- Clear Service Level Agreements (SLAs): Response and resolution times are hard-coded, guaranteeing reliable school support.
- Full feature scope: Attendance, timetabling, payments, messaging and comms, behaviour, wellbeing, even your annual roll number returns, sit under one roof.
How Compass Fits the Irish SMIS Framework
Compass is more than a school management system, it’s a complete platform built to meet every provision of Ireland’s SMIS Framework, while keeping the day-to-day experience productive, impactful and enjoyable for school leaders, staff and parents.
Data Management & Secure Communication
- Central, always-clean data: Our Irish data-hosting and rigorous validation routines ensure pupil records stay accurate from September to the final reports in June.
- Instant conversations: Built-in email, push notifications, and newsfeed noticeboards let staff update parents or students in seconds, maintaining trust and transparency across all parties.
- Framework compliance: Every data flow aligns with the Department of Education’s contract terms, so schools can launch each new academic year with confidence.
Assessment, Reporting & Insight
- Real-time progress: Teachers record marks once – Compass turns them into dashboards that highlight trends by term, class, or individual learner.
- One-click reports: Generate end-of-year statements or December progress letters ready to publish on your school website, or submit directly to inspectors.
- Evidence for action: Clear visuals help the school leadership team and governors spot gaps early and replace guesswork with data-driven conversations.
Curriculum Integration & Timetabling
- PPOD sync, built in: Admin staff save hours with automated PPOD integration.
- Junior Cycle CBAs pre-loaded: Teachers can record results quickly, and senior leaders can upload to PPOD without duplication.
- Flexible curriculum setup: While Compass doesn’t come with the curriculum built in, it’s easy to upload lesson plans and map them to your school’s framework.
Joined-up planning: Timetables, Griddle, and assessment plans all connect seamlessly, helping schools stay in sync.
Seamless Integrations
- Open APIs: From wellbeing apps to Northern Ireland careers portals, third-party tools plug in effortlessly.
- Native Compass app: No need for separate attendance or payment apps, reducing data transfers and saving on extra software.
- TESS attendance dashboard: The three-tier system makes it easy to flag and support students at risk of chronic absence.
Partnership & Ongoing Support
At Compass, our commitment to Irish schools doesn’t stop at the contract award. We believe true partnership means showing up before implementation, during onboarding, and long after go-live. That’s what the Department of Education’s SMIS framework intends, and it’s exactly how we work!
From your first call, you’ll have a dedicated team based here in Ireland. We collaborate with school leaders and stakeholders to scope out what success looks like for your school or trust. Whether you’re replacing VSWare, switching from Aladdin, or leaving behind a local solution, we’ll write a migration plan that fits your timeline… not the other way around!
Once you sign, we don’t delay.
- Onboarding happens on your terms, with all data cleaned, validated, and signed off ahead of March exams or a summer switch.
- Training is hands-on and relevant to every role, from class teachers to admin teams, so staff feel confident heading into the new academic year.
- Support is ongoing, not just reactive. We stay involved, reviewing usage, checking in, and adapting to evolving needs.
We’re always listening and evolving. Irish schools can share ideas and feedback through our Support Portal, with real conversations happening via our 24/7 in-app chat.
Many of our improvements are inspired by educators themselves! Our team regularly releases updates, sometimes even twice a week, so schools see meaningful changes throughout the year. It’s all part of our commitment to building software that genuinely supports school life.
Choice, Not Compromise
For years, many schools felt locked into a single legacy MIS. Compass joining the framework changes that dynamic:
| Old Reality | The Power of Compass Choice |
| One-size-fits-all contract | Mini-competition lets schools compare solutions. |
| Migration pain | Dedicated Irish onboarding team and secure data transfer. |
| Limited updates | 40+ cloud modules, updated every week. |
| Vague support | SLA-backed help desk plus local school support advisors. |
How Compass Ticks the Framework Boxes
- Data protection – GDPR-compliant Irish hosting with 256-bit encryption.
- Always up – 99.98 % uptime (bank-level redundancy).
- Whole-school view – Principals, Teachers, SNAs, administrators and parents all see the same, real-time data.
- Irish focus – Compass includes a built-in roll book, DES-compliant reports, and attendance codes ready for TUSLA reporting. Hosted securely in Ireland, the platform supports automated PPOD synchronisation, direct DTR returns, and pre-loaded CBAs.
Hear from our Country Manager, Owen McGowan, as he shares what this leap forward means for Irish leadership teams in this quick two-minute video filmed in Gorey.
Impact on Learning and Educational Settings
Ireland’s SMIS Framework arms schools with the data they need to put students first. Compass slots straight in, giving teachers a live view of attendance, assessment and wellbeing so they can target guidance quickly. An example might be spotting a dip in STEM results the same day it appears. This hyper-focused insight supports the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027, helping children build the digital skills and confidence they’ll need in the future.
Parents stay in the loop without chasing paperwork. Compass gives families instant access to key updates like attendance, behaviour, test results and trip payments, all in one secure place. With real-time visibility and simple tools to engage, parents can support their children’s progress from home. It’s just one more way we help schools put young people first.
Because Compass is cloud-based, routine admin is easy to streamline. Staff can pull behaviour analytics, generate end-of-cycle dashboards or bulk-export reports, complete with date stamps, at the click of a button. Our features free up time, and reduce paper, adding real value for every school member, from office teams to parents.
Final Thoughts
We don’t just supply software, we partner with schools to deliver systems that work better for everyone involved. By joining Ireland’s SMIS Framework, Compass turns that promise into practice: schools gain real choice through a compliant mini-competition, leaders get airtight data security and SLAs, teachers see live insights that drive action, and families stay connected every step of the way.
If your school is ready to replace complexity with clarity, and align fully with the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027, our Irish team is here to help you explore Compass, on your terms and timeline!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the key components of Ireland’s SMIS Framework for schools?
The SMIS Framework covers everything schools need to manage day-to-day life, secure student data, attendance, behaviour, staff records, reporting and timetabling, all under one roof. It’s built to support good decision-making, align with national education policy, and keep schools fully compliant with data protection requirements. At Compass, we make sure every part of our system meets these standards, so Irish schools can work smarter, not harder.
How does the Wellbeing Policy Statement and Framework for Practice 2024 connect with the SMIS Framework?
The Wellbeing Policy isn’t separate from school life, it’s woven into it. That’s why the SMIS Framework expects wellbeing data to sit alongside academic and behavioural information. With Compass, schools can track wellbeing activities, log pastoral care, and build a full picture of student support, all in the same place they manage attendance and learning. It helps school teams respond faster and ensures wellbeing stays part of the conversation all year round.
How do schools join a mini-competition under the SMIS Framework?
Schools don’t need to run a full tender, just a compliant mini-competition. Once you’re ready, your school can request quotes and proposals from up to five approved suppliers, including Compass. We’ll guide you through the process, answer questions, and help you submit the paperwork so you stay within Department of Education rules while choosing the best-fit system.
What kind of training and support does Compass provide during and after onboarding?
From day one, you’ll have a local team on hand to help. We tailor onboarding to your timeline, clean and validate your data, and deliver role-specific training for everyone, from class teachers to office staff. Post go-live, we check in regularly, review how things are going, and adapt the system as your needs evolve. It’s support that doesn’t stop after setup.
For all your MIS needs and support in implementing school management strategies, reach out to Compass Education. Our team of experts can provide tailored solutions to help your school create a nurturing and supportive environment for student success.
