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School business professional

School business professional

Business and administration

Level 4 - Higher Technical Occupation

Administering and managing financial, site and support services within the school context.

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Reference: OCC0575

Status: assignment_turned_inApproved occupation

Average (median) salary: £40,440 per year

SOC 2020 code: 2322 Education managers

SOC 2020 sub unit groups:

  • 2322/00 Education managers
  • 2329/01 Bursars
  • 3549/01 Business support officers
  • 4131/01 Admissions officers
  • 4141/00 Office managers
  • 4213/00 School secretaries

Technical Education Products

ST0575:

School business professional

(Level 4)

Approved for delivery

Employers involved in creating the standard:

Ercall Wood Technology College, Pershore High, Farmor’s School, Stroud High, Langley School, Churchdown Parton Junior School, Barnwood Pk, Diocese of Gloucester Academies Trust, Cirencester Deer Park School, NASBM, Serco, Adfecto

Summary

School Business Professionals (SBPs) perform a role which is unique to schools, administering and managing the financial, site and support services within the school context. They provide essential support to school leadership teams, implementing their financial and business decisions. SBPs may work in any school phase (primary, secondary, special) and in different school structures: single academy trusts, multi academy trusts (MATs), local authority maintained schools and federations, etc. Consequently, they can work in very different settings with varying numbers of people that they report to including the headteacher or School Business Director (SBD). Within this context, SBPs have a shared number of roles which shape their day-to-day activity to make this a homogeneous role in schools.

Administering and managing financial, site and support services within the school context.

Employers involved in creating the standard:

Ercall Wood Technology College, Pershore High, Farmor’s School, Stroud High, Langley School, Churchdown Parton Junior School, Barnwood Pk, Diocese of Gloucester Academies Trust, Cirencester Deer Park School, NASBM, Serco, Adfecto

Typical job titles include:

Bursar
Business support officer
Finance manager
Hr manager
Office manager
School administrator
School business manager

Keywords:

Admin
Business
Business Professional
Management
Professional
School
School
School Business Professional

Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)

K1: Understands the range of educational funding streams available which are applicable to their educational setting. Has a working knowledge of accounting practices and understands how to apply business principles to the optimum use of funding to support learning outcomes. Understands school compliance issues. Recognises business efficiency and knows the range of data required to inform school business decisions.
K2: Knowledge of school procurement regulations and requirements and how to achieve value for money, including collaborative procurement.
K3: Understands how to manage collaborative processes with other schools in order to share good practice and secure financial efficiencies. Has an awareness of the complexities of procurement law.
K4: Understands the complexities of teaching and support staff contracts, terms & conditions of employment and payroll. Understands educational HR policies, safer recruitment, and compliance with safeguarding priorities and equality legislation. Has an awareness of when to seek legal advice.
K5: Knows the impact of educational policies at an operational level in order to support the school development plan. Understands the influence of educational regulatory bodies (DfE, Ofsted, etc). Is aware of Ofsted requirements and the implications these have for the workforce and planning in a school. Knows how to manage the DfE pupil and workforce census and their impact on the school.
K6: Has practical knowledge of the supporting documentation governors need. Understands the process of risk management and procures and manages insurance cover for the school to mitigate risks as appropriate. Has relevant knowledge enabling compliance with charitable status and education law. Understands the impact of, and how to implement, safeguarding policy in a school environment.
K7: Understands how marketing can be used to underpin school funding. Knows the marketing priorities of their school and the impact marketing activities can have. Understands marketing activities to promote their school and takes into account e-safety when doing so.
K8: Awareness of the optimum deployment of resources targeted to raise pupil attainment. Understands the significance of physical facilities and digital processes in an educational setting, e.g. facilities repair logs, student data analysis, data security and safe use of social media. Has knowledge of relevant legislation that schools must comply with, such as Health & Safety, Freedom of Information, Employment and Data Protection policies.
K9: Understands and demonstrates the highest standards of personal and professional conduct, and applies statutory regulations and provisions.

S1: Manages strategies set by senior personnel and drafts budgets that reflect them. Manages the accurate recording and reporting of the school’s finances to inform the senior leadership team who set the priorities for school spending. Completes pre-audit checks. Produces reports that present information and data using a range of analytical processes.
S2: Plans, organises and manages processes to ensure value for money for the school whilst supporting education delivery, e.g. contract management, payroll, building maintenance and small development projects. Uses multiple IT packages and specialised schools MIS (management information systems) platforms. Prepares and collates reporting data.
S3: Embraces change in a school and influence others in a positive manner.
S4: Works constructively within a team environment.
S5: Communicates appropriately and effectively with a range of stakeholders including students, parents, governors/trustees, staff, government and local government departments, e.g. DfE/ ESFA, to gain positive outcomes. Has the confidence to question or seek clarification of aspects of school practice when unsure or unclear.
S6: Manages support services across an entire school whilst also providing guidance to colleagues on the most appropriate use of school funding. Effectively line manages small teams to drive efficiencies.

B1: Keeps up to date with educational policies and embraces change. Self- motivated and supportive of others in working through change.
B2: Demonstrates a confident approach to decision-making and prioritisation, thus gaining the confidence of others.
B3: Open, approachable and is able to build trust with others. Consults and seeks the views of others and values diversity.
B4: Behaves in a collaborative way with other internal and external stakeholders. Promotes a team spirit and actively demonstrates professional competence in all settings and situations.
B5: Has the ability to adapt to different, changing and challenging situations whilst promoting the highest professional standards.
B6: Is willing to ask difficult questions whilst demonstrating an ethical, fair and consistent approach. Offers a business perspective and supports discussion and debate with professional knowledge and evidence.

Duties

Duty D1

Drafting and monitoring the school budget, setting up financial controls and reporting on performance to ensure best value for money is achieved; managing payroll, maintaining accounts and financial reporting to the headteacher and governors.

Duty D2

Management of the school site to ensure that it provides a safe and suitable learning environment; procurement of goods and services to achieve best value and oversee contract management, e.g. staff, catering and maintenance contracts.

Duty D3

Identification of income generation opportunities on a small scale, supporting the SBD in larger opportunities.

Duty D4

Preparation of marketing materials and lead a range of marketing activities to add value and promote the school externally.

Duty D5

Responsibility for managing office and other support staff and for developing and maintaining effective administrative systems, e.g. student record-keeping systems; implementation of school HR processes.

Duty D6

Ensuring compliance with and implementation of safeguarding and Health & Safety policies so that all stakeholders work in a safe and healthy.

Occupational Progression

This occupational progression map shows technical occupations that have transferable knowledge and skills.

In this map, the focused occupation is highlighted in yellow. The arrows indicate where transferable knowledge and skills exist between two occupations. This map shows some of the strongest progression links between the focused occupation and other occupations.

It is anticipated that individuals would be required to undertake further learning or training to progress to and from occupations. To find out more about an occupation featured in the progression map, including the learning options available, click the occupation.

Progression decisions have been reached by comparing the knowledge and skills statements between occupational standards, combined with individualised learner movement data.

Technical Occupations

Levels 2-3

Higher Technical Occupations

Levels 4-5

Professional Occupations

Levels 6-7

This is the focused occupation.
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Level 4

Progression link from focused occupation.
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Level 5

Progression link from focused occupation.
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Level 6

Business and administration