School business professionals: training and development

School business professionals (SBPs) lead the financial and operational management of schools and trusts. An SBP often has responsibility for a school’s or trust’s:

• operational leadership
• finance
• procurement
• estate management
• marketing and communications
• human resources

TheySBPs play a vital role in ensuring that the school’sfocus orof trust’sa focusschool or trust remains on improving educational outcomes.

Continued investment in their professional development and training is essential.

The Department for Education (DfE) currently provides training and development to SBPs working in local authority maintained schools and academy trusts.

There are also:

• resources, tools and case studies on school resource management
• peer networks to help schools and trusts work together and share their knowledge
• resources on workload and wellbeing for school staff

Qualification bursaries

We fund bursaries covering 75% of the cost for SPBsSBPs to complete the Level 7 Diploma in School Financial and Operational Leadership.

To be eligible for a bursary, you must be employed in a maintained school or an academy trust.

You must also confirm that:

• your employer endorses the training and will allow you the time to complete it
• you or your employer can meet the remaining cost of £915
• you can commit to the full duration of the course (approximately(about 12 months)

Bursaries are limited. If you wish to apply, email sbp.policy@education.gov.uk for more information.

Training workshops

We fund in-person training workshops, delivered by the Institute of School Business Leadership (ISBL).

These are available to trusts and regional network groups who would be interested in facilitating a workshop for their SBPs or colleagues within their region. The workshops run for up to 3 hours and are available for up to 30 attendees per session.

To find out more information on hosting a session, email training@isbl.org.uk or sbp.policy@education.gov.uk.

School resource management webinars

We provide a series of live webinars that are free-to-access across a range of topics aimed at supporting:

• SBPs
• school leaders
• governors
• trustees

View the upcoming webinars and register online.

SBP procurement training

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You can access CIPScontract management foundation level training through the Government Commercial College. You will need to register to use the site.

Estate management: competency framework and relevant training

Guidance on the functions, skills, knowledge and training needed to manage the school estate. The Estate management competency framework helps schools to recruit and develop the essential levels of skills and competencies for estate management roles.

SBP mentoring

As part of the school resource management advisers (SRMA) programme, we offer a free one-to-one mentoring programme for SBPs.

This programme helps to build SBPs’ knowledge, ability and confidence through establishing a supportive peer-to-peer relationship with experienced professionals.

Places are limited. Email academy.questions@education.gov.uk for more information.

Further sources of training and development

The following organisations provide training and development for school and trust leaders:

• Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy is the professional body for those in public finance
• Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply is the professional body for those in procurement
• Confederation of School Trusts is the national organisation and sector body for school trusts in England
• ISBL represents and supports SPBsSBPs and has published professional standards for the profession
• local authorities often offer training in financial management for their local schools and to other schools and trusts too

This list is not exhaustive. Other organisations provide training and support that may meet your needs.