School business manager
Encyclopedia
A school business manager (SBM), sometimes known as a bursar
, is a senior member of non-teaching staff responsible for managing non-teaching activity in a school. They oversee the business management of schools – all the administrative and logistical aspects of running a school so that these are done in the most effective and efficient way possible. Through this, they free up the school’s headteacher to focus on leading teaching and learning.
Although generally not in possession of Qualified Teacher Status
, SBMs with appropriate training and experience are increasingly serving on the school’s leadership team, bringing additional leadership skills and a commercial outlook to the school’s strategic decision making. Almost all secondary schools and about a third of primary schools have school business managers serving on their leadership team.
The SBM role has evolved from that of the school bursar
, but whereas bursars typically focus on purely financial administrative matters, SBMs have a broader remit. SBM duties vary from school-to-school and include:
- Financial management, including setting budgets, negotiating contracts with suppliers
- Financial reporting, fundraising and making best use of resources
- Management of support staff, such as teaching assistants, catering staff and cleaners
premises management
- Human resources, including overseeing staff training strategic planning, including meeting long-term education challenges and developments, such as the Every Child Matters
Agenda
- Health and safety
- Relationship management with other schools and external partners
In secondary schools – or where groups of schools are working together in a cluster or federation – SBMs will often have a broader, more strategic role, with some functions delegated to administrative support staff. In primary schools, an SBM may have an even more hands-on role, spending time on detailed administrative and financial tasks.
The SBM position is still evolving, with higher-level, more strategic roles, such as Advanced School Business Managers and School Business Directors, emerging. The potential of these is being tested through a series of demonstration projects.http://www.ncsl.org.uk/programmes-index/sbm-index/bdp-sbmfuture-index/bdp-sbmfuture-demonstrationprojects.htm
School business managers can study for a number of professional qualifications through the National College for School Leadership
and its School Business Manager Development Programme.http://www.ncsl.org.uk/programmes-index/sbm-index/bdp-sbmfuture-index.htm These qualifications are the Certificate of School Business Management (CSBM)http://www.ncsl.org.uk/programmes-index/csbm-index.htm and the Diploma of School Business Management (DSBM),http://www.ncsl.org.uk/programmes-index/dsbm-index.htm with a pilot Advanced Diploma of School Business management launched in March 2008.http://www.ncsl.org.uk/aboutus-index/press_office-index/pressoffice-latestreleases.htm?id=17624 They are delivered through a series of cohorts during the year, using a mixture of including face-to-face residential elements, self-directed study and e-learning. The qualifications are internationally accredited by the Institute of Administrative Management.http://www.instam.org/
The National Association of School Business Management (formerly the National Bursars Association) is the UK’s leading association working exclusively on behalf of the school business management profession.http://www.nasbm.co.uk/
Bursar
A bursar is a senior professional financial administrator in a school or university.Billing of student tuition accounts are the responsibility of the Office of the Bursar. This involves sending bills and making payment plans with the ultimate goal of getting the student accounts paid off...
, is a senior member of non-teaching staff responsible for managing non-teaching activity in a school. They oversee the business management of schools – all the administrative and logistical aspects of running a school so that these are done in the most effective and efficient way possible. Through this, they free up the school’s headteacher to focus on leading teaching and learning.
Although generally not in possession of Qualified Teacher Status
Qualified Teacher Status
Qualified Teacher Status is required in England and Wales to become, and continue being, a teacher of children in the state and special education sectors...
, SBMs with appropriate training and experience are increasingly serving on the school’s leadership team, bringing additional leadership skills and a commercial outlook to the school’s strategic decision making. Almost all secondary schools and about a third of primary schools have school business managers serving on their leadership team.
The SBM role has evolved from that of the school bursar
Bursar
A bursar is a senior professional financial administrator in a school or university.Billing of student tuition accounts are the responsibility of the Office of the Bursar. This involves sending bills and making payment plans with the ultimate goal of getting the student accounts paid off...
, but whereas bursars typically focus on purely financial administrative matters, SBMs have a broader remit. SBM duties vary from school-to-school and include:
- Financial management, including setting budgets, negotiating contracts with suppliers
- Financial reporting, fundraising and making best use of resources
- Management of support staff, such as teaching assistants, catering staff and cleaners
premises management
- Human resources, including overseeing staff training strategic planning, including meeting long-term education challenges and developments, such as the Every Child Matters
Every Child Matters
Every Child Matters is a UK government initiative that was launched in 2003, at least partly in response to the death of Victoria Climbié...
Agenda
- Health and safety
- Relationship management with other schools and external partners
In secondary schools – or where groups of schools are working together in a cluster or federation – SBMs will often have a broader, more strategic role, with some functions delegated to administrative support staff. In primary schools, an SBM may have an even more hands-on role, spending time on detailed administrative and financial tasks.
The SBM position is still evolving, with higher-level, more strategic roles, such as Advanced School Business Managers and School Business Directors, emerging. The potential of these is being tested through a series of demonstration projects.http://www.ncsl.org.uk/programmes-index/sbm-index/bdp-sbmfuture-index/bdp-sbmfuture-demonstrationprojects.htm
School business managers can study for a number of professional qualifications through the National College for School Leadership
National College for School Leadership
The National College for Leadership of Schools and Children's Services is a British government-funded non-departmental public body which offers head teachers, school leaders and senior children's services leaders opportunities for professional leadership development.- History :Established in 2000...
and its School Business Manager Development Programme.http://www.ncsl.org.uk/programmes-index/sbm-index/bdp-sbmfuture-index.htm These qualifications are the Certificate of School Business Management (CSBM)http://www.ncsl.org.uk/programmes-index/csbm-index.htm and the Diploma of School Business Management (DSBM),http://www.ncsl.org.uk/programmes-index/dsbm-index.htm with a pilot Advanced Diploma of School Business management launched in March 2008.http://www.ncsl.org.uk/aboutus-index/press_office-index/pressoffice-latestreleases.htm?id=17624 They are delivered through a series of cohorts during the year, using a mixture of including face-to-face residential elements, self-directed study and e-learning. The qualifications are internationally accredited by the Institute of Administrative Management.http://www.instam.org/
The National Association of School Business Management (formerly the National Bursars Association) is the UK’s leading association working exclusively on behalf of the school business management profession.http://www.nasbm.co.uk/