In what order should I import data into 4Matrix?

Ultimately, it doesn't matter which year group you import first or whether it's an MIS Extract or or results/grade data via a spreadsheet.

SIMS, Bromcom or Arbor users can create a complete series with just 1 import when importing actual results data, as the MIS Extract tool will pull through results, classes and contextual data in one go. The only exception to this is key stage 2/base data, which must be imported from GIAP.

Spreadsheet users may need to carry out up to 3 imports the first time that they import for a cohort; a spreadsheet containing pupil names/basic contextual information and subject grades first, a second import of class data, either via a separate spreadsheet or the SIMS Extract (which can be used to obtain contextual data only for any year group), and then key stage 2 data from GIAP.

Key stage 2 data only need to be imported once per cohort as this data attaches to the pupil record and not an individual series. This rule does not apply to pupil chars/group/class data as this is much more likely to change, and so this will need to be imported for each series, or copied between series using Admin > Edit Series > Actions > Copy Groups. This article gives more information about what data is series focussed and which is pupil focussed https://www.4matrix.com/help/import/pupil-data-changes-overview.pdf