Management
A helping hand with the
school budget
Whatever the size of the school, there is more
aspects of running a site so that force reform adviser with the
support than ever before for headteachers
these are done in the most effective local authority. Norbury Manor
and efficient way possible. They was struggling and I decided that
managing the finances. Larger schools may opt
can also lend additional expertise one way to raise standards was
for a dedicated school business manager while
and strategic insight to support the to increase leadership capacity in
smaller ones may outsource their financial
progress of a school. the school by employing an SBM.
But how does an SBM work I recruited Jo and she is now part
management. Headteacher Update hears what
in practice and what benefits can of a three-strong leadership team
the NCSL has to say and talks to two headteachers
they bring? alongside me and the non-teaching
deputy who leads on learning and
about what support works best for their schools
The SBM model teaching.
Paul Mathews, headteacher at ‘Jo takes care of HR, market-
T
he role of the primary a school business manager (SBM) Norbury Manor Primary School ing, finance, health and safety,
headteacher has grown – a 61% increase since 1997. in Croydon, has appointed a full- and premises management. She
significantly in recent There are nearly 4000 SBMs and time SBM, Jo Watts. She’s had a line-manages 13 staff, including
years, with increasing organisa- bursars in England today and significant effect in a short time, administration and premises staff,
tional complexity. The days of a seven out of 10 hold one of helping the management team to and after-school and breakfast
hero headteacher working alone the National College for School turn the school around. Jo has a club staff.
are over, given the modern-day Leadership’s (NCSL’s) accredited very high level of responsibility ‘This frees me to concentrate
challenges of running a twenty- qualifications in school business and oversees the running of the on leadership and the benefits are
first century school. As a result, management. school, allowing Paul to concen- visible in many ways. One of Jo’s
more options than ever before are Put simply, an SBM is a senior trate on leadership and strategy. roles in the school is to monitor
available to support headteachers member of staff who is responsi- Crucially, by appointing an SBM, Legionella testing, for example,
with the financial and managerial ble for managing all non-teach- Paul can concentrate on teaching and she has organised training for
aspects of leading a school. For ing activities. They oversee the and learning. site staff in how to conduct the
example, around 20% of primary finances of schools, including all He says: ‘I had returned to tests, thereby releasing funds by
schools across England

now

have

the admin

istrative and logistical headship after a spell as work- removing the need to bring in out-

and cheese. The difference between our old school building and the new one.
We’d had interactive whiteboards before, but our new

SMART Classroom
gives my teachers a powerful and integrated set of tools to sup

port our
transformation of learning.
Seeing this technology in use right from the day we moved in and realising
that the decisions I made will last my school a lifetime – well that was a pretty
good moment.
To find out more, take the SMART Classrom Tour at:
www.ym sam rtspaces.co.uk/classrootm our or call 08450 724 758

Teachers in nearly three quarters of a million class

rooms around the world use SMART
hardware, software, and resources to inspire learning. Memorable moments that last
a lifetime – that’s SMART.



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