SCHOOL SUPPLIERS


Get set for September: is your school getting the most from its suppliers?


September brings a fresh start – and the summer break is the perfect opportunity for schools to step back, take stock and assess whether their current suppliers and services are delivering the value, support and expertise they need. Here, we take a look at the key questions schools should be asking themselves.


T


he start of a new academic year is more than an opportunity to update timetables, refresh classrooms and welcome new pupils. For school leaders, business managers and bursars, it is also one of the best times to review whether the suppliers and services supporting the school are still delivering real value. Over time, contracts become familiar, systems become routine and ways of working naturally evolve. But the needs of a school can change significantly from one year to the next. A supplier that was the perfect fit several years ago may no longer meet every requirement, while an existing partner may be offering more support than you realise. The aim of a review is not necessarily to replace suppliers, but to ensure every partnership is helping your school achieve its priorities.


Before making any procurement decisions, it pays to take a step back and ask a few key questions.


Are your day-to-day operations running efficiently? School staff continue to face increasing workloads, making efficiency more important than ever. Whether it’s managing attendance, communicating with parents, processing finance, handling HR or supporting teaching and learning, every unnecessary administrative task takes valuable time away from pupils.


Take a fresh look at the systems your staff use every day. Are they genuinely making work easier, or have they become another layer of administration? Are staff entering the same information into multiple platforms? Are there manual processes that could now be streamlined? This isn’t simply about investing in new technology. It’s about ensuring your existing systems are being used effectively and continue to meet your school’s needs. In many cases, suppliers offer additional functionality, training or updates that schools are not fully utilising.


Speaking to the people who use these services every day can often reveal 4 www.education-today.co.uk


straightforward improvements that increase efficiency without requiring significant new investment.


Are you getting the most out of your budget? With school budgets remaining under pressure, every pound matters. However, getting value for money is about more than finding the lowest price.


Take time to review what your suppliers are delivering against what your school actually needs today. Have your priorities changed? Are you paying for services that are underused, or missing opportunities to make better use of those you already have?


This applies across a wide range of services, from catering and cleaning through to financial services, facilities management and curriculum resources. A supplier review can also be an opportunity to explore whether contracts can be updated, expanded or better aligned with the school’s priorities. Sometimes the best outcome isn’t changing suppliers but getting more from an existing partnership.


Is your school safe, secure and compliant?


Safeguarding, health and safety, cybersecurity and statutory compliance remain fundamental responsibilities for every school, and suppliers play an important role in helping schools meet those obligations. Whether reviewing premises maintenance, visitor management, safeguarding systems or specialist compliance services, now is a good time to consider whether current arrangements still provide the level of protection and support your school requires.


It’s also worth thinking about resilience. If an issue arises, are support arrangements clear? Does your supplier respond quickly when problems occur? Do staff have confidence in the systems and services they rely on? A regular review helps ensure that compliance remains an ongoing priority


July/August 2026


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