School Business Manager/Bursar

Ensuring equality for disabled staff

All workplaces must make ‘reasonable adjustments’ so that staff with disabilities are not hampered in their work, and schools are no exception. This issue shows how you can help to support disability equality for staff in your school, and who can provide you with the advice and funding to do this

Leading and managing people in education

This issue looks at the differences between leadership and management, and examines the skills and dispositions involved these vital aspects of your work

Induction of new support staff

Our second e-bulletin concentrates on the induction of new support staff and aims to provide schools with a starting point for developing a school-based induction programme

Managing rarely cover

Welcome to the first edition of our new e-bulletin, School Financial Management, written by School Business Manager Lindsey Lester. This issue will be looking at the new staffing agreement of ‘rarely cover’

Audit commission: SEN budgets

The Audit Commission wants schools, including SENCOs, to show that they are getting value for money from their SEN and AEN budgets, and has produced the tools they need

Academy schools: the ultimate career move for school business managers?

The role of finance director at an academy school is potentially a very attractive career opportunity for ambitious school business managers and bursars. Ruth Bradbury explains why

Benefiting from Children in Need funding

While many schools engage in fundraising for Children in Need, some are unaware that they can apply for Children in Need funding for projects at their own school

Value in linking school governors and school bursars

There is value in building a working link between school governors and school business managers says Crispin Andrews, who strongly advises bringing them into the senior leadership team

Will BSF build schools fit for the future?

The BSF initiative (Building School for the Future) is providing high levels of investment, but changes must be able to stand the test of time. Philip Watson looks at the questions schools need to consider

Preparing financially for the Olympic build-up

How can your school benefit from the first UK staged Olympics since 1948? Gill O'Donnell explains what financial funding support is available to help prepare you

Workforce reform: giving support teams a voice

Development changes in your workforce which make flexible use of vital support staff teams will do much to encourage school improvement in general, believes Brian Rossiter, headteacher of Valley School in Worksop

Independent schools: contracts and credit control policy

Timely fee payments at independent schools can be achieved through a clear fee policy and a watertight contract, but if this fails you may need to go to court. Maggie Moodie explains

Encouraging science activities with external funding: 2

Gill O'Donnell explores more external funding opportunities that school bursars can source in order to spice up their science curriculum

School fundraising in America: a case study

What can schools in the UK learn about fundraising from their American counterparts? US-based education writer Michael Aguilar looks at how a school in Georgia has used fundraising as a key tool to enhance educational opportunities for the next generation of students

The role of school business manager in support staff CPD

School business managers can use their influence and expertise to ensure effective CPD and professionalisation of support staff. Nina Siddle describes the role she recently played in reviewing her school's policies

A new look for National Professional Qualification for Headship

The new National Professional Qualification for Headship pilot is underway. Crispin Andrews talks to one of the first participants

Using PFI to build at your school

Schools are increasingly turning to Public Finance Initiatives to finance large building projects. Mark Blois looks at how it works

Financial Management Standard made easy for schools

How can the process for meeting the government's Financial Management Standard be made more manageable for school governors? Lindsey Wharmby offers some tips

School business manager's role in recruiting and selecting staff

Effective school staff recruitment is an imperative part of school management. Ruth Bradbury provides advice to ensure the effective operation of your school's recruitment practices

Specialist schools: what are the financial implications?

There can be inherent funding challenges involved with gaining specialist status for your school. Crispin Andrews explains how the expanded community role of specialist schools has important financial implications

A new fund to increase choice and diversity of provision

The government has made £327m funding available for investment into schools to increase choice and diversity of provision. Deputy headteacher Paul Ainsworth studies the guidance and summarises the key opportunities for school leadership teams

Arson in school: what you need to know

Are you fully up-to-date with the latest guidance on preventing arson in your school? Gill O'Donnell provides a comprehensive briefing to make sure that you are

Academies: legal issues

This is the second of two articles looking at academies, focusing on some of the interesting and developing legal issues relating to the academies programme, including overriding statutory legislation, obligations under the funding agreement, academies’ duty of care, and issues of health and safety and negligence

Asset management in secondary schools

With an increase in software and handheld learning in modern-day education, Tim Roots, director of IT vision, explains why headteachers should have a sound understanding of asset management

Encouraging science activities with external funding

What can be done to bring enthusiasm into the teaching and learning of science? Gill O'Donnell describes the role school bursars can play using external funding

Building Schools for the Future: a personal view

Jill Cameron gives a comprehensive briefing on the highs and lows of the Building Schools for the Future initiative from her personal experience with the programme

Reflecting on a school private finance initiative (PFI)

A private finance initiative (PFI) project can transform a school. Headteacher Brian Rossiter describes the final stages of his school's project, the initial aim of which was to turn his school into an educational establishment for the future

School bursars: advice when joining the senior leadership team

With an increasing number of schools placing business managers on the senior leadership team, Lindsey Lester offers some of her own experience to others who are about to embark on this role

The school business manager's role in sustaining a VLE

Once implemented, VLEs can be used as an integrated tool to improve students' progress and school administration. School business managers and bursars are key to this development, in terms of sustaining the VLE

Education employment law: statutory leave and pay entitlements

Do you know your way around educational employment law? Does your school's pay and remuneration package meet or exceed minimum standards? Tamara Ludlow gives a legal overview of essential information for both leadership teams and staff

Your positive moments in leadership and management

We've been collecting your stories about the inspiring and encouraging experiences you’ve had at work during 2008. Here is a collection of the leadership and management themed responses you sent to the question, What has been your most positive experience at work this year?

Grants for schools: the Foyle Foundation

Is accessing a grant to fund educational improvements to your school something that interests you? Gill O'Donnell explains the scope of the Foyle Foundation and how it could benefit your institution

Does a new headteacher spell trouble for staff?

Some believe that a fashion for school staff "clean-outs" when new headteachers take over is resulting in experience and knowledge being lost from the system. Former headteacher and now legal consultant to the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), Richard Bird, discusses

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School Business Manager/Bursar