Overview

School business professionals (SBPs) leadplay a vital role in ensuring the successful financial and operational management of schools and trusts. AnThey SBPwork oftenacross hasa responsibilitywide range of functions, helping schools and trusts run smoothly and make the best use of their resources. Their work helps make sure that every pound delivers for achildren. school’sExamples orof trust’s:SBP responsibilities include:

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

Continued professional development for SBPs playhelps amake vitalsure roleschools inand ensuringtrusts remain compliant with regulatory expectations and that theSBP focusexpertise ofis avalued and recognised within the school orsector. trustDfE remainsprovides ontraining improvingand educationaldevelopment outcomes.

Continuedopportunities investmentto SBPs working in theirlocal professionalauthority developmentmaintained schools and trainingin is essential.trusts.

The

Free Departmentregional forin-person Educationtraining (workshops

DfE) currentlyfunds providesa programme of in-person training workshops delivered by the Institute of School Business Leadership (ISBL). The workshops are 2.5 hours long and developmentare available to SBPs working in local-authority-maintainedacademies, trusts, local authority maintained schools and academyfederations.

Topics trusts.include integrated curriculum and financial planning, procurement, HR and flexible working. Visit DfE RITs Funded Training — ISBL to find out which topics are currently available.

ThereThese workshops are also:offered in two formats:

• peerOpen networks tosessions helpare schoolsdelivered at regional venues and trustsSBPs workcan togetherbook anddirectly shareonto theira knowledgesession via SheepApp. Further sessions will be added through to March 2027.
• resourcesClosed onsessions workloadare for groups such as trusts, federations, local authorities and wellbeinglocal forSBP schoolnetworks staffwishing to deliver training to their own SBPs and colleagues. Find out more about the closed sessions, including the topics available.

Qualification bursaries

WeDfE fundfunds a limited number of bursaries coveringwhich cover 75% of the total cost forof SBPs to complete the following qualifications:

• CIPFA Level 7 Diploma in School Financial and Operational Leadership.

• ILM Level 4 Diploma for School Business Managers (DSBM)

To be eligible for a bursary,bursary for the level 7 diploma, you must bebe:

• a employedpermanent inemployee of a maintained school or ana academytrust, trust.and be a school business professional with strategic leadership responsibility

To be eligible for a bursary for the level 4 diploma, you must be:

• a permanent employee of a maintained school or a trust, and have responsibility for finance in your role

YouTo be eligible for a bursary for either qualification, you must also confirm that:

• your employer endorses the training and will allow you the time to complete it
• you or your employer canwill meet the remaining 25% cost of £915the course.
• you can commit to the full duration of the course (about(approximately 12 to 18 months)
• you agree to take part in pre-course and post-course evaluation

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

Training workshops

WeSBPs fundwho in-personare trainingunsuccessful workshops,in deliveredsecuring bya thebursary, Instituteor ofwho Schooldon’t Businessmeet Leadershipthe (ISBL).

Theseeligibility arecriteria, availablemay wish to trustsexplore andthe regionalrange networkof groupsqualifications whoavailable wouldfor beSBPs interestedwhich incan facilitatingbe afound workshopthrough forvarious theirproviders.

SBP procurement SBPsand orcontract colleaguesmanagement withintraining

CIPS theirProcurement region. TheFundamentals workshopstraining runfunded by DfE

The Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) Procurement Fundamentals trainingTraining is a one-day,facilitated, 6-hourone-day (6-hour) virtual workshop thatcovering covers essential procurement processes and techniques.

ItThe training is particularly suitable for:

• for school business professionals who carryundertake out procurement as part of their role
• staffrole, as well as procurement specialists who are new to procurementthe roles

Theprofession. trainingIt provides participants with an introductionunderstanding toof the fundamental principles of procurement.

WeMulti-academy aretrusts offeringinterested additionalin fullythe fundedProcurement sessionsFundamentals ontraining 10being datesdelivered into thea autumngroup term.of Placestheir arestaff limited.may wish to contact CIPS directly.

CIPS-DfE Procurement Foundations training pilot: funded by DfE

The CIPS-DfECIPS-DfE Procurement FoundationsFoundation trainingProgramme Pilot is a newfree, self-ledself-paced online course designed specifically for thecolleagues educationworking sector.

Itin isschools aimedand attrusts. The programme supports staff who are new to procurementprocurement, or workingwhose inrole juniorincludes procurement roles.responsibilities, Theby coursecovering covers:

• core procurement principles
• principles, compliance requirements
• procurement and best practice

practice.

Procurement and contract management training

TrainingSchool startsbusiness inprofessionals earlycan October.also Thereaccess areprocurement 400and fundedcontract placesmanagement available.development opportunities through a range of sector partners and organisations. These include:

Apply

• Contract forManagement theCapability CIPS-DfEProgramme Procurement(CMCP) FoundationsCatalogue: trainingFoundation. Applicationsdesigned closeto onhelp 24education Julyprofessionals 2026.

  Cabineteffectively Officemanage contractsupplier managementrelationships, trainingcontracts, (foundationand level)

  Youperformance canthroughout accessthe contract managementlifecycle. foundationYou levelwill trainingneed throughto register to use the site.

• Government Commercial College. regional procurement training sessions, which provide practical guidance and peer learning opportunities on procurement topics relevant to schools and trusts. You will need to register to use the site.

  Estate

• Procurement management:workshops competencydelivered frameworkby andESPO, relevantcovering training

  Guidancekey onprocurement theprocesses, functions,compliance skills,requirements, knowledge and trainingbest neededpractice towithin manage the schooleducation estate.sector.

Estate Themanagement: competency framework and relevant training

The estate management competency framework helpsand schoolsrelevant totraining contains recruitguidance andon develop the essentialfunctions, levelsskills, ofknowledge skills and competenciestraining for estateneeded managementto roles.manage the school estate.

SBPFree mentoring programme for SBPs

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

Thisbusiness programmemanagers, school finance managers and chief financial and operating officers. This helps to buildbuild SBP SBPs’ knowledge, ability and confidence through establishing a supportive peer-to-peer relationship with an experienced professionals.professional.

Places are limited. Email academy.questions@education.gov.ukEmail DfE.SRMA@education.gov.uk for for more information.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 is the professional body for those in public finance
• Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply is is the professional body for those in procurement
• Confederation of School Trusts is is the national organisation and sector body for school trusts in England

• ISBLThe Institute of School Business Leadership represents and supports supports SBPs and and has published published professional standards for for the profession

• localLocal 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.