Catch up with a School's Business Manager

Education Viewpoint

Holistic approach leads to successful tender outcome.

Insight talks to Clare Curchin, Business Manager from Bishop Stopford School.

The new UK guidance on uniform might seem like an examination for retailers, but before issuing their tender, one school set about asking a few questions of their own. The results were surprisingly helpful in reaching an outcome that met the needs of all concerned.

‘In many ways, the most important questions we asked were not on the tender document at all,’ says Clare Curchin, Business Manager at Bishop Stopford school. ‘And that’s because we started our process by asking what it was that we most wanted to achieve. We also thought carefully about the impact on parents and pupils, and how any changes would fit with the ethos of our school.’

Taking this holistic approach meant considering a range of factors that went deeper than first envisaged. ‘It quickly became clear that focusing purely on the price of garments was too simplistic,’ Clare explained. ‘We needed first to review the range of items were we asking parents to buy. We also asked ourselves if we had the balance right between uniform and sportswear, and whether our uniform policy fitted the principles we strive to live by?’

Bishop Stopford is a large secondary comprehensive of 1,400 pupils. Drawing from a wide and varied catchment summarised in its commitments to faith, justice, responsibility, truth and compassion. ‘We wanted a uniform that represented those values, meaning it needed to affordable, responsibly made and able to help pupils feel part of our community,’ says Clare.

In preparing the tender, some clear themes emerged. Clare explains:

‘We realised that while our core uniform was simple and inexpensive, our sports requirements had gradually grown over the years. Pupils were required to buy six compulsory items and sometimes more if they were on representative teams – we wanted to find ways of reducing this expense as well as offering the pupils some choice in which items they bought. In speaking to parents, they were also clear that they wanted to buy from a local shop not just an online supplier.’

The outcome was a simplification of the uniform policy, but in a way that would work for retailers and parents too. ‘By allowing choice but not discontinuing items, it meant that existing stock would not go to waste—we could also continue to sell quality second hand garments.’

The new policy not only considered the overall price of the average basket but also looked to address wider issues too. For example, under the old policy, boys needed to buy more sports items than girls—the new approach eliminates this by favouring unisex garments that reduce cost and promote gender equality.

By limiting the tender to a selection of local suppliers the school ensured that parents’ preference for a local stockist was guaranteed. ‘The school uniform is a visible part of our community,’ says Clare. ‘Our chosen supplier is established in the area and a regular sponsor of events and teams; this commitment matters and fits our overall ethos.’

When Clare explained that the winner of the tender, had also been the previous incumbent we asked if the process had been worthwhile after all?

‘Absolutely!’ she replied. ‘It was almost ten years since we’d reviewed our uniform suppliers, and we learned a great deal in doing so. For example, I hadn’t been aware that our school tie is made entirely of recycled materials. Over time we want to look at the same for other garments so we have as ethically sourced a uniform as possible.’ And this, says Clare, is an example of how the process can be a springboard for partnership. By consulting with retailers and parents before issuing the tender it helped Bishop Stopford School set goals that worked for all. ‘Looking ahead, this is a dialogue we want to continue so that we learn and work together- keeping cost low while making progress on service, responsible sourcing and community involvement.’

It’s clear there is more to tenders than simply forms for retailers to fill out. And if Bishop Stopford is anything to go by, it’s by asking questions as much as answering them that we get the best results.