School Business Manager/Bursar

Releasing catering from its timewarp

scameron — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 15:45:24 +0100

There is a national emergency currently stalking the land that is not receiving the attention it deserves. Childhood obesity and children showing signs of future illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, strokes and the other ‘flagship' symptoms related to poor nutrition and lack of exercise are mushrooming each and every day.

Considering the ethics of fundraising

scameron — Thu, 19 May 2011 15:59:42 +0100

As more and more schools look to increase income through their own efforts, we are beginning to see a greater diversity in fundraising methods, from events such as school fetes, fashion shows, raffles, competitions and sponsored activities through to applications to the Lottery and grant-making trusts.

Fundraising on your local high street

scameron — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 12:45:31 +0000

Although you may be familiar with the wide variety of voucher schemes run by retailers for various projects, the local high street may not seem the obvious place to consider when searching for help with other projects. However, most large chains operate a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) agenda and, as part of this, offer grants and awards for community projects.

Get more for less from your ICT budget

scameron — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 16:54:30 +0000

From next year the education budget will be scaled back by 25% over four years. While the government has pledged its commitment to protecting front-line services, few are under any illusions that schools will be expected to play their part. For the foreseeable future, ‘more' is increasingly likely to be expected ‘for less'. According to Becta, only one in five schools makes efficient use of its technology.

Top 10 tips for survival on the SLT

scameron — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 16:58:32 +0100

Over the past eight or nine years, the school business management profession has gone through a period of rapid and exciting development with a significant - and growing - number of schools and collaborative arrangements now including a school business manager on their senior leadership team.

Whilst some of these teams may include other support staff colleagues, generally speaking the SBM will be the sole representative from support staff.

The Vetting and Barring Scheme: current obligations and future changes

scameron — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 14:07:26 +0100

Bursars and finance managers responsible for recruitment in schools will already be familiar with the need for recruitment procedures which give high priority to safeguarding. The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (SVGA) set up the most stringent safeguarding requirement yet, the Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS), applying to all forms of work with children and vulnerable adults.

New academies 1: how to become one, and should you?

scameron — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 10:11:24 +0100

The Academies Bill 2010, which was announced in the Queen’s speech on 25 May 2010 will put into law the new government’s promise to enable more schools to achieve academy status and to give them more freedoms and flexibility.

This article, the first of two, will look at what the Bill contains, how to apply to convert to a new academy, and issues to consider when deciding whether or not to apply.

Becoming a school leader

scameron — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 13:36:12 +0100

Over the last few years, I have written many articles and had numerous discussions concerning the role and status of the school business manager. One issue that has repeatedly arisen is the difficulties that some post-holders have with trying to ensure that they are contributing as - and being perceived as - full and effective members of the senior leadership team in their schools.

Linking the school budget to the school development plan

scameron — Wed, 26 May 2010 17:13:02 +0100

As we are all aware, the objective of a school is to improve the quality of the educational outcomes for our students, and to do this we need money and resources. With a new government now in situ it is vital to ensure that we plan for the future and ensure that our resources are sustainable, especially with the uncertainty as to what cuts (or day I say increases!) the government will make to the education budget. At the moment it is not looking too promising.

Why spending on teaching assistants could raise attainment

scameron — Tue, 11 May 2010 14:17:02 +0100

If the financial squeeze on schools tightens in the coming years, many governing bodies will find themselves scrutinising the staffing budgets that typically swallow up as much as 80% of their funds.

As they try to determine the most efficient way to spend on staff, governors and heads will be fascinated by the findings of a new report from the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) which concluded that spending extra money on staffing only leads to an improvement in pupils’ attainment if it is spent on teaching assistants.

The Financial Management Standard in Schools (FMSiS) – supporting your school through assessment

scameron — Mon, 10 May 2010 10:35:30 +0100

The Financial Management Standard in Schools (FMSiS) can at times be very demanding of business managers and we have all had different experiences of how it is handled by assessors. I have successfully gained the standard twice and I can confirm that it is frustrating but it is also an ideal opportunity for business managers and governors to evaluate financial procedures. I found that the process of the second audit was far easier than the first, because I knew by then what was required, from completing the first round of the standard. Basically, there are five components:

A quick roundup of the main political parties’ school manifesto points

scameron — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 12:58:34 +0100

With the 2010 general election looming, if you want to know more about what the main political parties want to do with education should they get the chance, this information sheet excavates the relevant sections of their manifestos for an at-a-glance guide.

Educational visits coordinators – what you’ve asked to know

scameron — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 13:40:05 +0100

I have been amazed at the number of emails I have received from SBMs regarding the previous issue, ‘Being an effective educational visits coordinator’, so I would like to expand on the role of the EVC and share with all of you the information that SBMs have requested. First of all I would like to remind EVCs that the LA has overall responsibility for health and safety on all outdoor visits; this is a responsibility that cannot be devolved but elements can be delegated to individual establishments, ie schools.

Charging for school visits

Being an effective educational visits coordinator

scameron — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 09:35:25 +0000

After attending a recent workshop I discovered that most of my school business manager colleagues were also educational visits coordinators (EVCs), something that surprised me. I took on the role of EVC because I was already responsible for risk assessments within the school, I knew I had an assistant to help with the detail and I wanted to ensure that school visits are planned correctly and that risk assessments are completed and adhered to.

Ensuring equality for disabled staff

scameron — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 11:42:33 +0000

As business managers we are responsible for creating an open and supportive environment for all employees in the school and at times we may need to make changes or ‘reasonable adjustments’ to enable our staff to meet their objectives and performance targets and this includes any employee who has a disability.

Leading and managing people in education

scameron — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 10:04:25 +0000

I wanted to write about leading and managing people because of a question that was asked to me by a friend who is an accountant interested in becoming a business manager in a school. His question was; ‘How often do business managers lead staff, or do they just manage?’ In his current post there were only three staff, all of equal status and as they all had different accounts no one led anyone. He was intrigued as to the challenges he would face and wondered whether he would cope in leading a significant number of staff.

Induction of new support staff

scameron — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:18:06 +0000

My own school, St Martin’s Catholic School in Leicester, is currently reviewing its induction procedures, as we believe having a robust process in place can reduce the stress of starting a new position. We encourage the philosophy of the ‘whole school approach’ to the induction process.

Managing rarely cover

scameron — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:36:26 +0000

Welcome to the first edition of our new e-bulletin, School Financial Management. This fortnightly electronic newsletter, published alongside our print newsletter of the same name, will provide you with topical information and advice to support your work as school business manager. It will highlight key issues in the world of school business management, providing you with practical ideas and guidance to help you carry out your role with confidence.

Over the coming months we will look at:

Audit commission: SEN budgets

scameron — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:07:20 +0100

It’s a harmless enough request, but one that invariably leaves some SENCOs nervously shuffling their papers. ‘Could you put your hand up if you are absolutely clear what your income is for special educational needs/additional educational needs?’

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

scameron — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:57:47 +0000

In April this year I took up post as finance director at a new academy school. Since referring to my new role in SFM, I have received a number of queries from readers who are interested in exploring the possibilities of taking up similar posts.

Benefiting from Children in Need funding

scameron — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:13:52 +0000

In 2006 the BBC Children in Need Appeal raised over £33m and, as a result of the way in which the charity is constituted, every penny donated to the charity went directly towards projects helping disadvantaged children in the UK, thereby supporting thousands of youngsters aged 18 and under.

Value in linking school governors and school bursars

scameron — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:49:42 +0000

School business managers can save up to 30% of headteachers’ time, substantially enhancing school capacity and improving the quality of teaching and learning.

According to the National College for School Leadership (NCSL) the importance of sound business management skills is widely accepted. The challenge now for governors and headteachers is to create a culture where the role of SBM is valued as a senior member of staff, rewarded financially and given the senior leadership responsibility it needs to have an impact.

Will BSF build schools fit for the future?

scameron — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:34:08 +0000

Approaches to learning and teaching are continually evolving. Blackboards and chalk have been replaced with interactive whiteboards, laptops and other personal devices accessing intranet learning platforms. Government initiatives such as Building Schools for the Future (BSF) are helping to ensure that schools are equally modern and up to scratch. But with change moving at such a pace, how can schools be confident that the approaches taken now will still be applicable in years to come?

Preparing financially for the Olympic build-up

scameron — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:18:39 +0000

With the handover of the Olympic flag in Beijing, Britain now becomes the focus of sporting attention for the next four years in the run-up to London 2012. So what exactly does this mean for your school and individual pupils, and what additional funding might be available to promote sport more widely in your school as a result of the Olympics?

Workforce reform: giving support teams a voice

scameron — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:53:01 +0000

In 2005 the Education (Review of Staffing Structure) Regulations 2005 placed a duty on school governing bodies to review the school’s staffing structure, consult and prepare, by 31 December that year, a plan for the full implementation of any changes arising from the review by 31 December 2008 (1). Valley School began their initiative – Valley TEAM: Together Everyone Achieves More – to address issues using their own staff.

Independent schools: contracts and credit control policy

scameron — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 17:13:44 +0000

On 31 July 2008, the Times reported that the independent girls’ school Wentworth College had been put into administration. The school, which is over 100 years old, apparently had its funding withdrawn by its bank and was forced to close.

Independent schools, like many commercial ventures, face difficult times ahead as a combination of rising food and fuel costs and a shortage of lending put financial pressure on parents and schools alike. When parents struggle with cash flow, unfortunately the problem often filters through to the providers of private education.

Encouraging science activities with external funding: 2

scameron — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 16:54:49 +0000

As a follow-up to my earlier article on sources for inspiration in science, I’d like this time to focus on some different approaches to fostering scientific development and scientific thinking.

School fundraising in America: a case study

scameron — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 16:46:47 +0000

In the United States public schools are funded by the state that they are located in. The state funding goes far enough to pay for the bare bones of an educational facility, but, in common with the UK, there is not much left for the kind of innovations that make education come to life. This article will showcase the fundraising efforts of a successful school situated in the state of Georgia, as a means of illustrating the diverse funding strategies that are being used in the USA to improve provision in schools.

The role of school business manager in support staff CPD

scameron — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 16:29:14 +0000

Effective CPD is a fundamental part of a successful school. All too often, it can be approached in an inconsistent and ad hoc manner, which is why a good CPD framework is crucial. And with the increasing professionalisation of support staff, such a framework must take note of their needs as well as those of teachers. In this article I describe my contribution as SBM in the reframing of our school’s policy and how I have been able to advance the position of support staff in relation to training.

A new look for National Professional Qualification for Headship

scameron — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 13:38:15 +0000

Around one hundred and fifty applicants from all over the country are currently making their way through personalised programmes facilitated by the National College for School Leadership (NCSL). Previously criticised by many as too general or a one-stop shop for all school leaders, the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) has been redesigned to focus solely on the specific needs of those considered to be imminently ready for headship.

Using PFI to build at your school

scameron — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:20:38 +0000

Anyone who works in schools and colleges will know that much of the country’s infrastructure of education sector buildings is dilapidated after long-term public sector under-investment. Yet the education sector is also the subject of various ambitious improvement schemes, many of them derived from the Every Child Matters agenda.

With a growing awareness that there is a correlation between children’s welfare, academic progress and the school environment, the need for wholesale revitalisation of school buildings has become a priority.

Financial Management Standard made easy for schools

scameron — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:39:30 +0000

By the end of the financial year in April 2007 over 76% of secondary schools had successfully achieved the Financial Management Standard; most of these had undergone an external assessment, either through their local authority or using an independent assessor.

School business manager's role in recruiting and selecting staff

scameron — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 14:48:40 +0000

The recruitment and selection of staff is one of the most important processes in the management of an organisation. In schools, staffing costs typically represent between 70% and 80% of the budget, and however good your vision and strategic plans may be, they will not be achieved successfully unless you have the right people in post to share and implement them.

Specialist schools: what are the financial implications?

scameron — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:59:37 +0000

Specialist schools are an important part of the government’s plans to raise educational standards. They are likely to benefit from the funding and staffing to undertake and lead collaborative ventures with other schools, and have the capacity to work with like-minded organisations within their local community, not to mention time to trial and develop all sorts of innovations for their own students. But specialist status also brings a particular set of issues to the desks of those responsible for their financial management.

A new fund to increase choice and diversity of provision

scameron — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:41:49 +0000

In June 2007, SFM described the Targeted Capital Fund (TCF), a budget held by the DCSF to which schools could bid. The fund was initiated to provide sums of money for schools working together to develop joint facilities (buildings and IT) and to enhance collaborative activity, consisting of both hard and soft federations of schools working on a joint project. Other groups that could apply were schools in a joint trust and Fresh Start schools. The bidding procedure was very straightforward and sums of up to half a million pounds were available.

Arson in school: what you need to know

scameron — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:18:26 +0000

With the summer holidays looming – and hopefully, for some of you, a well-deserved break – the one job you probably don’t want to be reminded about is checking your Fire Risk Assessments. However, it really is an appropriate time to do so, as the risk of arson is ever present and the disruption that can be caused by a summer holiday fire should not be underestimated.

Academies: legal issues

scameron — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 09:33:38 +0000

What legislation is applicable to an academy?

Asset management in secondary schools

scameron — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:55:10 +0000

The school revenue funding settlement, which was announced by Jim Knight, school’s minister at the DCSF, in November 2007, ensures that schools are fiscally, and lawfully, aware of their budget spends. For many schools, prioritising resources in a strategic way is not currently high on the agenda, and this needs to be addressed. As with all new initiatives, schools, headteachers and teaching staff are wary of how to implement new procedures, and where the funding will come from to meet each target.

Encouraging science activities with external funding

scameron — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 11:47:42 +0000

Despite the ongoing debate about the need to improve standards, in many respects science is still the Cinderella of the curriculum when it comes to looking for ways of funding projects. Science has not enjoyed the most exciting of profiles and, as a consequence, while many people are attracted to ‘technological advances’ and can see the benefit of investing in IT, there is very little interest in investing in developing scientific awareness.

Building Schools for the Future: a personal view

scameron — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:58:15 +0000

I decided to respond to the request in a recent issue of School Financial Management for anyone with personal experience of Building Schools for the Future (BSF) to come forward. I am a school business manager at Stoke Newington Media Arts and Science College in the London Borough of Hackney and building work has just started on our site.

Reflecting on a school private finance initiative (PFI)

scameron — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:40:58 +0000

Our PFI story has three parts. Previously in Secondary Headship I have described the chase by different consortia, all competing for the possibility of negotiating a contract with my local authority (LA).

School bursars: advice when joining the senior leadership team

scameron — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:36:37 +0000

I have been a business manager in my present school for 18 months, and this represented my first experience of being a member of the senior leadership team. The transition to becoming a fully blown member of the leadership team in any school can be a difficult one, and this article provides some guidance for those who are readying themselves for the challenge.

The school business manager's role in sustaining a VLE

scameron — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:34:09 +0000

In our previous article we described what a virtual learning environment (VLE) is, and then considered the process which a school may go through in establishing a VLE. We can all identify occasions in schools when large sums of money have been spent on purchasing IT systems, yet, over time, they have become forgotten.

Education employment law: statutory leave and pay entitlements

scameron — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 16:02:10 +0000

One of the defining features of the last 11 years of New Labour government has been its apparent commitment to, and promotion of, measures designed to encourage a work-life balance and to facilitate what is termed a family friendly working environment.

‘Good’ employers, therefore, have taken the view that the remuneration and benefits package should in some way exceed the statutory minimum requirements in terms of leave and pay.

Your positive moments in leadership and management

scameron — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:52:26 +0000

“There are so many it's difficult to decide - so many on a personal level within school and those that are in association with others. I think I have to choose this - working towards, and subsequently achieving the LPPA - the Leading Parent Partnership Award. The day I was told, "Congratulations! You are worthy recipients of the Award", was up there with the day we were deemed 'Outstanding' by OFSTED!

Grants for schools: the Foyle Foundation

scameron — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:59:21 +0000

When you think of Foyles you probably think of the famous bookshop in London, or you might connect it with the Poetry Society’s Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award. However, its association with education and creative arts is considerably more complex as can be seen by the work of the Foyle Foundation. This is an independent grant-making trust that distributes grants to charities whose core work is in the areas of learning, the arts and health.

Does a new headteacher spell trouble for staff?

scameron — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:36:28 +0000

Literature and folklore are full of stories of what happens when new bosses take over, even if the morals drawn are a little equivocal. Traditional proverbs tell us that ‘A new broom sweeps clean.’ And the Bible describes how Rehoboam ignored the advice of the old men who had advised his wise father, Solomon, and listened to the young ones – with disastrous results, one might add.

Guide to school employment tribunals

scameron — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:40:56 +0000

Most employment claims are heard in the employment tribunals. The process can be daunting for those involved, whether they are legally represented or not. The tribunal is more informal than the civil courts, but increasingly regulated.

Those who properly engage in the litigation process at an early stage are more likely to succeed — or at least to minimise cost and management time. This article is a guide to tribunal procedure — to allow your school, if faced with a claim, to engage as successfully as possible.

The claim

The school business manager's role in implementing a VLE

scameron — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:50:57 +0000

Virtual learning environments (VLEs) have become one of the hot educational topics among both senior leadership teams and at partnership meetings between groups of schools. The government’s direction that all schools should have an operating VLE embedded in their working practices and those of students has certainly concentrated the minds of many school leaders. School business managers may have been part of debates over the respective merits of different VLE platforms, and many colleagues will understandably have been asked to investigate their suitability in the context of cost.

SEN delegated funding vs. statements

scameron — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 11:52:09 +0000

The law on assessment and statementing has changed very little since 1981. Local authorities (LAs) should identify, assess and, where necessary, provide statements for pupils with the most severe learning difficulties.

The theory