Do parents need yet another login?+
They get one, and it replaces several. Parents sign in with their email address and a one-time code, so there is no password to forget. That login covers every child they are linked to, at every school in the trust.
Is this replacing Arbor or SIMS?+
No. Your MIS stays the register. Pupil Gate imports from it and never writes back on its own. When a parent asks to change a phone number or an address, the office reviews the request and updates the MIS.
Do we have to move off ParentPay?+
No. The school keeps its collector and stays the merchant. Pupil Gate shows parents what is owed and can take card or wallet payments inside the product only if the school connects its own Stripe account. ParentPay, a Stripe payment link or a bank transfer still work if that is how the school collects.
Does it work on phones?+
Yes. There is an iPhone and Android app with push notifications that open straight to the letter or form in question, and the same product on the web for anyone who would rather use a laptop.
What about separated parents and contact restrictions?+
Each adult has their own inbox, forms, bookings and payment records. A restricted contact is blocked, and an emergency message does not override that. If the school has not recorded whether an adult may see something, the product withholds and tells the office.
What happens to families without email?+
The office packs the same letter for print. Those families stay in the same audience instead of being run as a separate list, and packs are flagged when the letter or the permissions behind it change.
Can a trust run more than one school on it?+
Yes. Each school is separate and staff cannot read across. A parent with children at two of your schools switches between them with the same login.
How long does it take to start?+
Import a CSV, review the pupils flagged for missing contact information, then invite parents in waves. Most schools begin with letters and forms and turn payments on later.