EdExec Digital Wrap Magazine - March 21

EDUCATION

EXECUTIVE

MARCH 2021

Digital wrap edition

SUPPORTING BUSINESS AND F INANCIAL EXCELLENCE IN SCHOOLS AND ACADEMIES

Getting help with technology during COVID The help available to schools to improve pupil accessibility

P A R W L A T I G I D ALSO INSIDE THIS MONTH: HOW HAS GAVIN WILLIAMSON SURVIVED

SUSTAINABILITY IN SCHOOL PROCUREMENT

LOOKING BACK TO HELP OTHERS SPRING FORWARD

Analysing a year of controversial decisions, policies and statements

It’s time to make a change, and schools can lead the way

The WORKING SBM offers some pearls of wisdom for new SBLs

OUR NEW, ENHANCED WEBSITE IS LIVE!!

Take a look at our new offering at

edexec.co.uk

We wanted our website to better support its many and increasing users on a daily basis, so we built a bigger and better website that does exactly that!

The new website allows you to scroll through a shop-window style home page that showcases the latest, and most interesting, content across the most relevant categories to you role.

From finance and funding, to management and leadership, to ICT and case studies from your colleagues, there’s a wealth of filtered, relevant content to inform, innovate and advise. We hope you like it!

edexec.co.uk

your one stop shop for school business management and leadership support!

Contents NEWS & VIEWS

06

NEWS Latest school business management news in brief

08

FRUSTRATION, FRUSTRATION, FRUSTRATION

Laura Williams on why being mad isn’t always a bad thing

10

HOW HAS GAVIN WILLIAMSON SURVIVED The first of our two part analysis of the education secretary’s trials and tribulations LEADERSHIP BY EXAMPLE

14

2021: A NEW HOPE After a year of challenges, Val Andrew remains optimistic for 2021

14

18

HOW HAS GAVIN WILLIAMSON SURVIVED The second part of our two part analysis of the education secretary’s trials and tribulations

Education Executive is the first business management magazine written exclusively for school business managers and bursars, bringing you the latest issues affecting your role, from finance to premises, procurement to HR. EdExec delivers the lowdown on all the hottest topics in education management.

20

SUSTAINABILITY IN SCHOOL PROCUREMENT Why it’s time to make the buying process greener

MANAGEMENT

22

COMMUNICATIONS THAT BRING PARENTS CLOSER Simon Hay discusses why communication is key

24

LOOKING BACK TO HELP OTHERS SPRING FORWARD The WORKING SBM offers her advice for new SBL’s

26

HOW ACADEMY ORDERS CAN BE REVOKED Updated DfE guidance on intervention powers

22

ICT MATTERS

@EdExec

Design

Graphic designer Amanda Lancaster alancasterdesign.com

28

GETTING HELP WITH TECHNOLOGY DURING COVID How to access the grants and schemes available

Editorial

Editor and social media lead Ellie Potter eleanor@intelligentmedia.co.uk

LIVE IT

Sales

info@intelligentmedia.co.uk

30

LIVE IT Close your eyes. Inhale. Count to five… now exhale. Time to take a few moments out for some light and interesting reading – a well-earned break from numbers and statistics!

32

60 SECONDS WITH Nicky Hodgson, school business manager at Manor Leas Junior Academy

Publisher

Vicki Baloch vicki@intelligentmedia.co.uk

26

So, we finally have the date – March 8! After months of waiting for an update, last week it was finally announced that schools would fully reopen on March 8. Although many pupils have been missing from the classroom over the last year, you have all continued to work harder than ever to battle a stream of constant changes and challenges and for that you should all be giving yourselves a massive pat on the back! With the arrival of Spring coinciding with the slow lifting of restrictions, it seems that the light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter both metaphorically and meteorologically.

As we are now nearly a year on since the first national lockdown (crazy, I know!), we take a look back focusing on Gavin Williamson’s decisions and the impact of the many policies and statements made in the last year on education. This year has definitely tested our patience more than any other – but Laura Williams explains why this frustration isn’t always a negative. Val Andrew looks to 2021 with hope and the WORKING SBM gives advice to those SBL newbies who are just setting out on the daunting, yet exciting journey of school business leadership. We also take a look at parental engagement, sustainability in school procurement, revoking academy orders and how to get help with technology during the pandemic.

As always, we’d love to hear any suggestions you have for the magazine. If you’d like to get involved with EdExec, or if you’d like us to cover a certain topic, please do let us know. Contact eleanor@intelligentmedia.co.uk or tweet @edexec with ideas, opinions or success stories.

Contributors

Editor’s comment The education sector can be difficult to navigate at times, and those in school business management play a pivotal role in steering schools to success. Tasked with everything from finance and procurement, to HR and admin, you keep the education cogs turning.

Education Executive addresses the most pressing matters faced by SBMs, offering meaningful insights and practical advice – essentially, all you need to run your school.

Our contributors, drawn from the Education Executive team and sector innovators and experts, offer invaluable business insights from both the sidelines and front line.

ELEANOR POTTER Editor Education Executive

NICKY HODGSON School business manager Manor Leas Junior Academy

EMMA GRAY Finance director Cotswold Beacon Academy Trust

LAURA WILLIAMS Consultant LJ Business Consultancy

ED EXEC WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

EDITORIAL TEAM

Is your school doing something wonderful? Do you have an opinion or experience you’d like to share? A story suggestion? Or some advice you’d like to share with your peers?

Get in touch – email eleanor@ intelligentmedia.co.uk

GET YOUR DAILY DOSE OF SBM NEWS, ADVICE AND GUIDANCE AT

WWW.EDEXEC.CO.UK

Education Executive is published by Intelligent Media Solutions

NEWS STORIES R E SOURCES Tel 020 3794 8555 | Fax 020 3794 8554 E X P E RT BLOGS Email info@intelligentmedia.co.uk Intelligent Media, 115 Mare Street, London, E8 4RU

Web www.intelligentmedia.co.uk

EDUCATION EXECUTIVE

Transforming Academy Banking We can: • Increase the returns you achieve from your cash deposits and cash management* • Review your Cash Deposit and Investment policy* • Provide training for your Finance team to support Fraud Awareness (Fraud losses to the Education sector rose by 280% from 2017 to 2018)*

Where needed, advice and support on the following is also included in order to: • Significantly reduce the need for Mandate variations across Multi Academy Trusts* • Reduce control and fraud risks in your banking function and set up* • Remove annual card fees for Multi Academy Trust charge cards/procurement cards whilst giving central oversight and control* • Help you reduce cash in your schools and streamline procurement* In addition, we can:

• Offer a review of your DPO function and supply a compliant professional DPO service • Audit and advise on your HR & Risk Management approach • Supply a professional Clerking service

*

These services are provided on a “Net Negative Cost” to you with our fee being a percentage of the first-year modelled uplift in your interest earnings and banking fee reductions.

Interest guidance will be based on your own risk appetite in accordance with your Cash Deposit and Investment policy (we include the drafting of a policy if one is not in place or requires updating).

www.educationbanking.co.uk ianbuss@educationbanking.co.uk 07796 940193

Thursday 5 July 2018 Leicester/Northampton

www.isbl.org.uk/regionalconferences For more information and to book your place please visit:

EBC Ad1.indd 1

Boosting relationships Boosting relationships with with external stakeholders external stakeholders through through excellent customer excellentservice customer service

MASTERING MASTERING DIFFICULT DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS CONVERSATIONS

EDUCATIONAL EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE EXCELLENCE

The best approach The bestwhen approach facedwhen faced with challenging with challenging conversations conversations

Exploring the Exploring impact the new impact the new education white education paperwhite will have paper will have

April 2016 April 2016

A PIECE OF A PIECE THE PIE OF THE PIE

PLAYINGPLAYING IT SAFE IT SAFE

TAKING FOR TAKING GRANTED FOR GRANTED

Which schools Which areschools thinkingare thinking outside the outside box to save the box andto save and generate extra generate income? extra income?

What shouldWhat SBMs should be doing SBMs be doing to counter an to counter increasean in increase in sexting cases sexting in schools? cases in schools?

Exploring the Exploring impact the of the impact of the Education Services Education Grant Services Grant (ESG) phase(ESG) out phase out

ONE STE ONE STE P P

AD AHEAD The most The AHE commmost common school school swindles swindon and howles and how you you can avoid being avoid being can the next the victim next victim

ISSU E 124

ABOVE AND ABOVE BEYOND AND BEYOND

One SBM shares One SBM her innovative shares her innovative approach toapproach the deployment to the deployment of of school resources school resources

June 2016June 2016

CASE STUDIES  AV AND PROJECTION  SBM DEBATE

CASE STUDIES  AV AND PROJECTION  SBM DEBATE

SUMMER TRIPS  MANAGEMENT  LEADERSHIP

SERVICE SERVICE WITH A SMILE WITH A SMILE

SUMMER TRIPS  MANAGEMENT  LEADERSHIP

FAIRER FUNDING FAIRER FUNDING

Supporting Supporting business and business f inancial and f inancial excellenceexcellence in schoolsinand schools academies and academies

ISSU E 124

ISSUE 125

ISSUE 125

Supporting Supporting business and business f inancial and f inancial excellenceexcellence in schoolsinand schools academies and academies

us about theus about the One SBM tells One SBM tells of goodnce of good importanceimporta planningion planning succession success

What a long-awaited What a long-awaited funding consultation funding consultation means for your means school for your school

game in a big game wayin a big way

MAY 2016 / ISSUE 124

E E BRIGHT FUTUR A BRIGHTAFUTUR

putting noses putting out ofnoses joint out of joint

MAY 2016 / ISSUE 124

GERS GERS GAME CHAN GAME CHAN

future of future of What does the What doesforthe in store in store for edtech haveedtech have educators? educators? students and students and

to procurement to procurement

ISSUE 123

GREAT LEADERS GREAT LEADERS

al f inancial f inanci and ss and ConsideringConsidering 1:1 tablet 1:1 tablet A unique approach A uniquetoapproach pupil to pupil When it comes Whentoitmedicines comes to medicines What makes What a great makes leader? a great Ronleader? Ron busine businessmies rting mies Supporting Suppo Adner and Adner Humphrey and Humphrey Walters Walters excelle excelle charging charging sorted solutions sorted Positivity’s SBM and what’s and bestwhat’s practice? best practice? share their share insighttheir insight One SBM tells OneusSBM about tells her us about her solutions Expert HR advice Experton HR resolving advice on resolvingPositivity’s We findSBM out We howfind one out primary how one primary ry 2016 ry 2016 Februa Februa award-winning award-winning approach approach conflict in the conflict workplace in the without workplace without school’s upping school’s its technology upping its technology

ISSUE 123

ISSUE 126

ISSUE 122

ISSUE 122

ISSUE 126

CHANNELING CHANNELING POSITIVITY POSITIVITY MANAGING MANAGING MEDICINES MEDICINES

EDUCATION EXECUTIVE

EDUCATION EXECUTIVE

APRIL 2016 / ISSUE 123

ISSUE 121

July 2016 July 2016

acade acade provision? Your provision? storage Your and storage andBRIDGES engagement engagement with Channeling with Channeling in schools who’s in schools responsible who’s responsible ls andHEAD ls and DREAM TEAMS DREAMnce TEAMS IN HEAD THE GAME IN THE GAME BUILDING BUILDING BRIDGES HITTING HITTING THE MARK THE MARK in schoo nce in schoo

In tough financial In tough times financial times should you should be considering you be considering a a staff restructure? staff restructure?

Thursday 7 June 2018 North Wales

Supporting Supporting business business and f inancial and f inancial excellence excellence in schoolsinand schools academies and academies

March 2016 March 2016

FULLY CHARGED FULLY CHARGED

APRIL 2016 / ISSUE 123

ISSUE 121

Supporting Supporting business and business f inancial and f inancial excellenceexcellence in schoolsinand schools academies and academies

EDUCATION EXECUTIVE

JULY 2016 / ISSUE 126

JULY 2016 / ISSUE 126

EDUCATION EXECUTIVE

EDUCATION EXECUTIVE

EDUCATION EXECUTIVE

Titles and content are subject to change

MARCH 2016 / ISSUE 122

tablet 1:1 tablet How to get 1:1 How to get spot on spot on implementation implementation

MARCH 2016 / ISSUE 122

JUNE 2016 / ISSUE 125

AND ONEAND ONE ALL FOR ONE ALL FOR ONE FOR ALL FOR ALL JUNE 2016 / ISSUE 125

bank bank Is your chosen Is your chosen bang for bang for you the most you the most your buck? your buck?

EDUCATION EXECUTIVE

/ ISSUE 121 FEBRUARY 2016

/ ISSUE 121 FEBRUARY 2016

EDUCATION EXECUTIVE

EXECUTIVE EDUCATION

EXECUTIVE EDUCATION

IT ON IT ONBANK BANK CAN YOU CANYOU giving giving

EDUCATION EXECUTIVE

EDUCATION EXECUTIVE

EDUCATION EDUCATION EDUCATION EDUCATION UCATION UCATION EXECUTIVE EXECUTIVE EDUCATION EDUCATION UCATION UCATION EXEC EXECUTIVE EXEC EXECUTIVE UTIVE UTIVE UTIVE UTIVE EXECUTIVE EXECUTIVE N N ED EU TIO DC CTAIO CA UA CTAIO DU ED EU TIO NN E E IV IV EX EE T T XC EDUCATION EDUCATION U U EU EC CT XC UIV EX EE T IV EE EXECUTIVE EXECUTIVE

24/09/2019 09:46:30

NO STONE NO STONE UNT UNT

URNED URNED One SBM One SBM tells aboutells merits of meritus t theus about the of worki workings close ly ng closely with heads and head andwith goversnors governors

May 2016 May 2016

STAYING STAYING SAF SAF

E ONLINEE ONLINE Looking at Looking at the progr the ams that ams that can divert can progr studedivert nts students away potentially potenaway from from tially harm harmful ful sites sites

CASE STUDIE S  ICT TREND S  CATER ING

CASE STUDIE S  ICT TREND S  CATER ING

CASE STUDIES  SEXTING  PAYROLL

CASE STUDIES  SEXTING  PAYROLL

ONLINE SAFETY  CASE STUDIES  60 SECONDS WITH

SBM DEBATE  LEGAL 

SBM DEBATE  LEGAL 

ONLINE SAFETY  CASE STUDIES  60 SECONDS WITH

CASE STUDIES

CASE STUDIES

will make in the future • Recognise the contribution that our members have made, continue to make, and G OGIONIGN GG LGOLBOABLA L ER TR ETE and their schools BE BT N A AN TH TH E Fmeet AE SA SF • Guarantee that the standards the needs of the profession, their employers RY RY R O O S S other professional sectors AC AC HH I EI V E IVNI N G GA *A * • Raise the profile of school business demonstrating peer parity with MM Aprofessionals, R AR KK E TE ITNI N GG

THE PER THE PER FEC FEC

T FIT T FIT Laurance Laurance Haine Prima Haines Prima School’s Schosol’s ry ry SBM share SBM s her shares her approach appro to recruach to recruitmen itmen t t

Thursday 3 May 2018

SShhoowwmm Exeter ththeemmoonn ee Thursday 22 March 2018 eeyy! !Cardiff

SIX SIXMONTHS MONTHSFREE FREE ir their andsthe and SBMtsSBM wha nglori ngt wha Explori Exp do to tips Topon tipshow on to how reduce to reduce waterwater consumption consumption cansdo cantoTop team ip steam lead leadipersh iorersh seniorsen and become moremore energy energy efficient efficient secure and become areure oolssec schirools schare ir the the ure ensure ens We asked We asked if SBMs if SBMs are adequately are adequately remunerated remunerated and the andexperts the experts answered answered

How does How does the role theofrole of the SBM the SBM in theinUK, theUS, UK, US, Canada, Canada, Australia Australia and and Scandinavia Scandinavia differ?differ?

WWW.EDEXEC.CO.UK

WWW.EDEXEC.CO.UK

WITH WITHEVERY EVERYSUBSCRIPTION SUBSCRIPTION One SBM One SBM explainexp lains why s wh contradcon a ictitrad iction iny a on in pay grapay needs nee desgrades ds to be to be addresadd sed ressed soonersoo ner rath er rath thanerlate than late r r

WWW.EDEXEC.CO.UK

WWW.EDEXEC.CO.UK

WWW.EDEXEC.CO.UK

WWW.EDEXEC.CO.UK

for the profession and how the Institute of School Business Leadership will: our new Executive Director of Professional Development. He will share his vision The 2018 conferences will also benefit from a plenary delivered by Steven Gasser, WWW.ED

WWW.ED

Our host Our of host experts of experts shareshare tips on tipshow on to how best to best capture capture the attention the attention of perspective of perspective parents parents

Thursday 17 May 2018 Liverpool

SupportinSupportin businessg business excellenc excegllenc and f inan and f inan e in scho e in scho cial cial ols and acad ols and emieacad emies s

LOCATION/DATES *Conditions apply - see website

Non-members Members

EXEC.CO

EXEC.CO

.UK

.UK

WWW.EDEXEC.CO.UK

WWW.EDEXEC.CO.UK

WWW.EDEXEC.CO.UK

WWW.EDEXEC.CO.UK

PRICES

At At Education Education Executive, Executive, wewe understand understand that that thethe school school across allbusiness areas ofmanager’s the school and the impactever-growing, on staff and morale. business manager’s role role is ever-changing, is ever-changing, ever-growing, The 2018ever-challenging Regional Conferences will focus on ‘Confidently approaching changes’ ever-challenging and and ever-rewarding. ever-rewarding.

AsAs thethe firstfirst and and quoting quotingreference reference“EESUB6” “EESUB6”totoqualify qualify only only business business management management publication publication forfor school school leaders, leaders, ourour aimaim is to is to support support and and champion champion business business 020 3794 3794 8555 8555 CALL CALL : : 020 of children and deliver a world-class education system. and and financial financial excellence. excellence. and meaningful dialogue, peer to peer, about how they can improve the life chances subscriptions@intelligentmedia.co.uk EMAIL EMAIL : : subscriptions@intelligentmedia.co.uk Every Every month month wewe offer offer inspiring inspiring articles, articles, sector sector news news and and Our regional conferences allow school business professionals to engage in a rich edexec.co.uk WEB WEB : : edexec.co.uk easy-to-read easy-to-read management management advice. advice.

AllAll thisthis cancan bebe yours yours forfor free free – how’s – how’s that that forfor best best value? value?

Contact Contactus ustoday today

ISBL 2018 REGIONAL CONFERENCES

TERMS TERMS & CONDITIONS & CONDITIONS Subscription Subscription is free is free for for six months six months for for firstfirst timetime subscribers. subscribers.

Those Those whowho qualify: qualify: bursars, bursars, school school business business managers, managers, ICT ICT managers, managers, finance finance managers, managers, headteachers, headteachers, assistants, assistants, or other or other 68 for each each subscription. subscription. purchasing purchasing decision decision makers makers withwith the the authority authority to spend. to spend.

For For those those whowho do not do not qualify: qualify: usual usual annual annual fee fee is 68 is for

£79.00 FREE*

News and views {NEWS}

NEWS

The latest news and views from the world of education

Education unions unite to reject government pay freeze remains unallocated Organisations representing the overwhelming majority of teachers and school leaders in England have united in opposing the government’s pay freeze. In a joint statement, the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), National Education Union (NEU), and Voice Community, have called on the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) to recommend a pay award which will restore the value and competitiveness of teacher and school leader pay. They have warned that the government’s planned pay freeze will inflict yet another real-terms cut to salaries, adding to the damage caused by below-inflation awards since 2010. It will further worsen teacher shortages because of the long-term impact on recruitment and retention.

@Lisa_FinanceMgr: First day with a new job title tomorrow.

Working from home per Trust guidance. With the current chaos surrounding education it’s going to be rough... but, bring it on! #WomenEd #sbltwitter #sbl #sbm #lovemyjob

06

March 2021

@merseysbl: #sbltwitter Tell me now why School Business Managers shouldn‘t be on a payscale unequivocally comparable to the teachers(school) leadership pay range, LA maintained or not? Been said before. Current situation is justification.

Time for change. #edutwitter

Digital divide ‘locking children out of education’ Barnardo’s chief executive Javed Khan said “urgent action” was needed to make internet access more affordable. Ofcom said six per cent of UK families struggled with broadband costs, while five per cent could not afford their mobile bills. The Department for Education (DfE) said it had delivered 54,000 4G routers to low-income families. A government scheme to distribute one million laptops to schoolchildren had delivered 801,524 machines as of 17 January, but many are still unable to get online while schools are shut during the pandemic.

An Ofcom report from 2020 estimates between one million and 1.8m children do not have access to a laptop, desktop or tablet at home. Low-income households are also less likely to have an internet connection in their home, instead relying on expensive mobile phone data packages at a time when paying for weekly food and heating bills is already extremely challenging.

News and views {NEWS}

News in brief

Histon and Impington Junior School awarded Teaching School Hub status Histon and Impington Junior School, part of Cambridge Primary Education Trust (CPET), will be the designated Teaching School Hub for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough schools, following an announcement by the Department for Education (DfE) on 10th February. A total of 81 new Teaching School Hubs have been selected to provide high-quality professional development to teachers and leaders in England, with a £65m investment from the DfE over an initial three years. Each hub, all of which will be operational and helping schools from September, will have its own defined geographical patch and will be expected to be accessible to all schools within that area, serving on average around 250 schools each.

DfE announces new education recovery package Following the announcement of the roadmap which laid out a cautious easing of restrictions, the government has announced further elements of the recovery support package so children and young people can catch up on missed learning and development due to the pandemic. The return to school on March 8 will be supported with a new £700m package, focusing on an expansion of one-toone and small group tutoring programmes, as well as supporting the development of disadvantaged children in early years settings, and summer provision for those pupils who need it the most.

A new one-off Recovery Premium for state primary and secondary schools, building on the Pupil Premium, will be provided to schools to use as they see best to support disadvantaged students.

Catch-up narrative causes ‘huge pressure’, psychologists say Many pupils have missed out on months of face-to-face teaching, and the PM has appointed a catch-up tsar to lead educational recovery in England. But the British Psychological Society says children’s wellbeing, rather than their learning, should be the focus. The government said it was funding support for pupils’ mental wellbeing. Dr Dan O’Hare, co-chair of the BPS division of educational and child psychology, said it was “absolutely understandable” that parents are concerned children have “been missing out on many aspects of their formal education” – but warned against setting expectations too high. “The notion that children need to catch up or are ‘behind’ at school due to the pandemic reinforces the idea that children have ‘one shot’ at their education and puts them under even more pressure to perform academically after what has been a challenging and unprecedented time for everyone,” he told the PA News agency.

@Alice_Saltburn: @SBLconnect it’s now normal for #SBM #SBLtwitter folk to wake up at 5 thinking about Covid testing isn’t it?

March 2021

07

News and views

, N O I T A R T S FRU

{COMMENT}

FRUST RATIO N,

N O I T A R T S U FR

LAURA WILLIAMS, of LJ Business Consultancy Ltd, on why, sometimes, getting mad is okay

08

March 2021

News and views {COMMENT}

R

ecently, I watched an old episode of The Big Bang Theory – the one where Sheldon is in denial that he has a pathological need for closure.

His girlfriend Amy tests this theory by taking him through a series of exercises including starting a sentence and not finishing it, stopping a game before anyone can win and not letting him blow out all of the candles on a birthday cake.

All of these things make Sheldon so mad that he tells her he wants to pull his face off and shred it!

This got me to thinking about what makes me mad… ● D rivers who cut me up and then have the cheek to thank me – seriously?! ● S elf-service checkouts - no, it’s not an unexpected item – I put it there! ● S omeone telling me to ‘calm down’ when I’m actually perfectly calm – well, I was!

DON’T CALM DOWN Now, I know that this stuff is totally unimportant in the grand scheme of things – especially with everything that is going in the world and in our profession. There are many other things much worthier of my wrath like: ● T he lack of appropriate recognition and support for support staff in schools – which has become even more apparent over the last twelve months. ● T he inequity of SBL salaries – it’s not rocket science; pay us what we are worth because we ARE worth it! ● T he idea that, without a teaching qualification, the contribution of SBLs is seen as less credible. I have the utmost respect for the teaching profession (I certainly couldn’t do it!) but an in-depth knowledge

of pedagogy doesn’t help when it comes to renovating toilets, setting and managing a budget and negotiating a photocopier contract with Bob the sales guy (no idea who Bob is but it sounded better with a name!) We are experts in what we do!

(NB: I know these things don’t apply to every school or school leader - many are fabulous - but there’s still too much of it about!)

Many of you have been feeling the rage a little - okay, a lot - more than usual recently with the mention of Edenr** causing much chaos and cussing – as well as the whole testing debacle. It’s all adding to the ‘normal’ level of rage that we’ve grown disturbingly accustomed to during the pandemic.

So, my message to you is not to calm down (though it would be ironic) but to try and find balance.

You are entitled to be mad, to rage, to challenge; these are perfectly rational responses - but you are also entitled to stop, to rest, to enjoy time with your family, to be the person you normally are when you’re not running around at a million miles an hour, navigating crazy politics and trying desperately hard to keep your cool.

In the midst of all this craziness try and find half an hour each day to do something just for you – something that makes you smile, laugh or just forget about the endless stress that has become normal life.

And if that doesn’t work… it’s time to phone a friend or a colleague. We’re all in this together, and being able to talk things through, and normalise what we are feeling, is so much better for our wellbeing than trying to bottle it up.

Reach out, keep smiling and remember – you are not alone.

You are entitled to be mad, to rage, to challenge

March 2021

09

News and views {COMMENT}

How has Gavin Williamson survived?

PART ONE

In a two-part anlaysis Sean Coughlan, BBC News education and family correspondent, explores how, after nearly a year of catastrophies, Gavin Williamson is still education secretary

10

March 2021

News and views {COMMENT}

G

avin Williamson’s political obituary has been written so many times he must sometimes feel like the walking dead. So, how has England’s under-pressure education secretary survived in his job? Or is there a counter-narrative that he’s been unfairly blamed for decisions not really his own?

On a single day, he saw the demolition of two of his biggest policies; the commitments to keeping schools open and continuing with exams were swept away in the new lockdown.

Having told millions of families of the vital importance of getting primary school children back into class, on the very same day he had to tell them of the vital importance of staying at home.

Insiders say it wasn’t his choice, and he’d been overtaken by changing evidence about the virus, but it cut the ground from under him and left Williamson, once again, looking beleaguered and besieged, fending off hostile questions.

Labour taunted him for bringing ‘chaos and confusion’ wherever he went. In a poll of 6,000 teachers, 92% thought he should resign, and a leader article in The Times pronounced that Williamson was the cabinet’s ‘worst performer’ who had ‘sacrificed his own future in government’.

EXAMS FIASCO But how much of the criticism is justified, and what is the reality behind a politician who gets accused both of being a ruthless Machiavelli and a hapless bungler, like Private Pike in Dad’s Army?

Former Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw says there has to be some sympathy for Williamson for facing the overwhelming disruption of the pandemic - and having to defend decisions that were not always of his making. But the sympathy doesn’t go much further.

“Confidence needs to be restored. This is a weak secretary of state. No-one knows if he’s got the autonomy to make decisions or whether the strings are being pulled by Number 10,” says Sir Michael. “The exams fiasco was a major problem - and he didn’t take responsibility.”

Sir Michael, aged 74, was back teaching in schools last term, as they struggled with staff shortages because of COVID outbreaks. He thinks the education secretary has shown no real understanding of the front-line pressures and has not inspired trust. “Education is in a bad place,” says Sir Michael.

But allies of Williamson think he’s being

Confidence needs to be restored.

This is a weak secretary of state

March 2021

11

News and views {COMMENT}

unfairly condemned for decisions driven by the changing pandemic. Political historian Sir Anthony Seldon defends the education secretary for facing competing demands that were impossible to meet - whether from teachers, parents or factions within his own party.

GOOGLING ‘FRANK SPENCER’ Either way, his character seems to intrigue the Googling public because among the most common searches alongside ‘Gavin Williamson’ is ‘Frank Spencer’, the 1970s sit-com character who destroyed everything he tried his hardest to put right.

People are also searching his age - and maybe it’s because he looks and sounds younger than his 44 years. That’s not necessarily an asset in a political storm - as ‘youthful’ for his supporters will be ‘immature’ for his critics.

He described himself as ‘mid-life’ according to the woman who sold him a pet tarantula, who recalled that the MP described it as a ‘mid-life choice’ between the spider and a sports car.

Williamson has been chief whip - a parliamentary enforcer - and in a message that

12

March 2021

was as hairy and unmissable as his spider, he called the tarantula ‘Cronus’ - a mythical figure who devoured his own children and castrated his father.

But back to the question of taking responsibility. He has become a lightning rod for criticism of the government’s handling of schools during pandemic, and a fellow Tory MP shares the view, privately, that Williamson now looks even weaker because he didn’t make a dignified exit after the summer exams chaos - when the head of the exams watchdog and the Department for Education’s top civil servant were forced out.

HOW THE U-TURNS STARTED It’s worth going back to how accusations about Williamson being the U-turner in chief began.

It started when plans were made last summer to bring primary pupils back into school.

Many parents, whose voices often get lost in education debates, were keen to get children back into lessons, particularly among those not able to work from home. This was going to be the voluntary return of specific year groups in early June – and, despite some pushback from teachers’

News and views {COMMENT}

There was irritation and confusion among families already feeling the frustrations of the lockdown unions, from the government’s perspective this would have been seen as a good news story.

Except - and it’s an open question as to how - the government’s wider announcement also included the unexpected ambition for all primary pupils to go back for a month in the summer term, a claim school leaders immediately warned was an impossibility when social distancing had cut classroom capacity by half. The Department for Education had to go along with a claim that everyone in the school sector knew would have to be dropped.

When this suggestion was, inevitably, scrapped there was irritation and confusion among families already feeling the frustrations of the lockdown - with a bigger impact than might have been realised.

Around this time Gary Lineker tweeted a claim that a football game shown live on BBC television had given the English premiership its biggest ever TV audience in the UK, with 5.7m watching; but the story on the BBC website about the U-turn on primary schools had been read by almost 6.1m people - it was important to many people, and a narrative had begun.

LATE NIGHT, LAST MINUTE For journalists covering what became a series of U-turn stories - whether on free school meals, exams or closing schools - it’s often not been clear whether the decision-making, often late night and last minute, has been in the same place as the blame.

You can see how public opinion shifted in a YouGov tracking survey; from the first lockdown last March, and through to May, the public mostly thought education was being well-handled. However, from June onwards, public opinion switched to being unimpressed and stayed that way, with YouGov figures this week showing that about 60% think education is being badly handled.

The leader of the ASCL head teachers’ union, Geoff Barton, says headteachers have been “exasperated” by so many last-minute announcements and sudden changes in direction. School leaders, acutely aware of their accountability on results, have not taken kindly to political leaders appearing to shirk accountability for their own. Mary Bousted, co-leader of the National Education Union, accused Williamson of only being an expert in “putting his head in the sand”.

TO READ PART TWO This is an edited version of an article that orginally appeared on BBC News https://www. CLICK HERE bbc.co.uk/news/education-55640335

March 2021

13

Leadership by example {LOOKING FORWARD}

a new hope It’s time for school business leaders to look beyond the wearying pandemic restrictions and plot a more optimistic course in 2021, says VAL ANDREW

G

ood riddance to 2020. It was a gruelling year and, unfortunately, the uncertainty is still with us as we get into the swing of 2021. SBLs will still be in crisis management mode, a situation which has become almost routine over the past 12 months.

But we can’t stay in a ‘blue light’ mode for too much longer. There are glimpses of hope on the horizon, and it makes a lot of sense to start plotting a more optimistic course when we will, at some stage later this year, move beyond this dreadful period. It makes sense to plan.

It’s clear from the professional forums that SBLs are coping heroically with the uncertainty and showing an admirable persistence in the face of setbacks. There was a good example of

14

March 2021

this attitude before Christmas, when schools heard - at alarmingly short notice - that they needed to implement a testing regime at the beginning of term. SBLs needed some downtime as much as everyone else, but they dedicated time and effort over the break so that their schools would be ready.

In the event another belatedly announced lockdown intervened, but the work was done, and it will stand schools in good stead when they return on March 8.

SBLs are also looking on the brighter side by adopting a more positive ‘growth’ mindset.

I’ve seen this in the way they’ve implemented strategies to help students, parents, colleagues face the prospect of another disruptive year.

Leadership by example {LOOKING FORWARD}

TIME FOR REFLECTION SBLs should also take some time to focus on their own development. Find some time for reflection - if you can - and ask if you can adapt your own skills further and be better prepared for what’s ahead.

This is a more complex prospect these days. The increasing diversity of the school business role means that there are now many CPD options, and choosing the right route can be confusing. A good place to start is a critical analysis of your own CPD needs, which can be achieved through a simple, step-by-step approach: Assess your current level of skill/competency using the ISBL professional standards.

Supplement this with more diagnostic analysis. For example, a simple SWOT analysis, or a more detailed analysis that determines different levels of administrative, management and leadership activity within your existing role.

Review the strategic direction of your school, including how your existing role might evolve.

Think about the existing staffing structure at your school, and what opportunities there could be in terms of succession planning.

Consider your own medium/long term career aspirations within the SBL profession.

Discuss this with your line/performance manager and/or an SBL colleague.

Although most of your conversations will be with school colleagues and peers, you might also consider plugging into a wider network of professionals to discuss your development needs. For example, that finance consultant you work with could be a valuable critical friend

1 2

3 4 5 6

and informal appraiser, lending an objective view on how your role fits in the school. This is something SBS consultants often help their schools with.

If you are considering a generalist SBL role then a course offering baseline core technical skills that cover the wide range of SBL disciplines would be a valid starting point; the DSBM (Diploma in School Business Management) Level 4 from Best Practice Network fits the bill.

There are a wide range of courses on offer, including apprenticeship levy funded routes.

Find some time for reflection and ask if you can adapt your own skills further For aspiring SBLs currently working either inside or outside education the process is similar, but you also need to consider the type of school and SBL role you feel that your existing skills might favour. The options for progression beyond Level 4 open up for existing or aspiring SBLs, with a range of specialist qualifications in finance, HR and procurement available.

If you are aspiring to a more specialist SBL role within a MAT, or a federation of schools, then the DSBM Level 4 is, again, a valid starting point - beyond that you would need to explore options in relevant specialist areas, for example CIPD routes for HR, CIPFA for finance qualifications, or alternative accountancy qualifications offered by a range of providers, all of which would support a finance-focused role.

March 2021

15

Leadership by example {LOOKING FORWARD}

CPD doesn’t always mean formalised courses of study SBLs aspiring to develop their leadership potential may want to consider an NPQ route, particularly NPQSL and NPQEL. If you are looking for formal CPD then you need spend time analysing your own specific needs. The wider choice of CPD routes now available can make the decision harder, but time invested in this initial analysis should pay dividends in the long run. Most training providers offer online programmes so that learners can fit their learning into their busy lives.

support. This is becoming a popular route for SBL professionals.

There is also a wealth of free webinars or bitesize training courses from service providers such as SBS that can bolster your skills and equip you with information on the latest requirements.

SBLs are usually excellent communicators, so it’s good advice to talk to colleagues and find out what routes they’ve chosen, what worked well and, perhaps, not so well, and what they would recommend.

Box title Adopting a cyclical approach will help you to retain a focus on your own needs, says Val Andrew

ALTERNATIVE ROUTES CPD doesn’t always mean formalised courses of study – SBLs can develop their skills in different ways too and these are examples of alternative routes that are equally beneficial: ● M odular programmes offering specific units of study in relevant topics, such as finance and procurement. ● N etworking with other SBLs, either via local networking forums or individual SBL colleagues. ● M entoring – accessing individual mentoring

16

March 2021

Apply new skills and competencies

Reflect on learning experience

Critical analysis of learning need(s)

Access learning

Identify and prioritise learning goals

Seek out best CPD options

Pilot launches... the writing instruments brand takes a step forward with an initiative that will contribute to fight against plastic pollution.

PILOT, is proud to launch into the European market a complete range of pens containing reclaimed ocean plastic, collected from marine environments*.

“The problem of plastic in our oceans and on our shores is a worldwide concern. Fighting against plastic pollution is essential and for this reason, we are happy to partner with TerraCycle to create a unique range of pens which contains reclaimed ocean plastic material*”, said Fumio FUJISAKI, CEO and Urban MARTELL, VP Sales & Marketing, of PILOT COROPORATION OF EUROPE. From 2021, the iconic B2P Gel pen will contain ocean plastic within its 89%** of recycled plastic bottles, already used in its composition.

And end of January, PILOT will enlarge the B2P range with a newcomer; B2P ECOBALL. A ballpoint pen made of 86%** of recycled post-consumer plastic bottles, including ocean plastic*, with a minimum quantity of colorant additives, and refillable.

The B2P pens are a part of the BEGREEN range, the first range of sustainable writing instruments, launched by PILOT in 2006. Made of at least 70% of recycled plastic and refillable, the Begreen pens allow to each of us to save up to 95% of CO2, thanks to the use of recycled plastic, and as soon as the pen is refilled 3 times!

With this initiative, PILOT adds a new R - Recuperating, less plastic in the oceans to reduce pollution - to its sustainable approach, that can be summed up in 4 words: DO BETTER WITH LESS, and that is embodied by its 3-R policy;

recycling,

less waste going to landfills, to turn old into new, by using recycled plastic material to manufacture our pens.

refilling,

less disposable to extend life duration, by making 63% of our ranges refillable to reduce landfilling.

reducing,

less plastic to reduce waste, by using preferably recycled carton material in our packaging.

And because sustainability is a part of our DNA, this initiative will concern other markets out of Europe, starting by Japan, the country of origin of PILOT. This initiative is not the final stage of a long journey initiated more than 10 years ago for producing eco-designed pens, contributing to reduce the impact of our products on the Planet, but the starting point of a larger program with concrete initiatives to act against pollution, which will be announced in the coming months.

* from oceans, beaches, rivers, lakes and the banks of those waterways. ** excluding replaceable parts.

PILOT GREEN PACKS the trash can wait!

Refilling your pen rather than the bin is now much easier with the PILOT GREEN PACKS Convenient sets of either 10 or 12 pens made from recycled materials with additional refills.

At Pilot, we do not expect you to throw away your pen just because you have used up all of the ink, and we encourage the use of refills.

Using a refill when the ink runs out, rather than a new pen will extend the products life and further reduce the amount of plactic which would otherwise prematurely go to landfill.

CO2 facts

Using refillable pens and PILOT GREEN PACKS can also help reduce “greenhouse gases” because manufacturing an entire pen produces more CO2 than just the refill components. From the manufacturing through to the end of the product life, it is estimated that using all of the pens and the refills in a PILOT GREEN PACK gives the following cumulative CO2 savings (compared to using the equivalent number of new pens and not refilling them): • B2P GREEN PACK -69% CO2 • G2 GREEN PACK -71% CO2 • V7 CARTRIDGE SYSTEM -81% CO2 • V-BOARD MASTER -75% CO2

Leadership by example {COMMENT}

PART TWO

How has Gavin Williamson survived?

Following on from the first part of our analysis, Sean Coughlan, BBC News education and family correspondent, explores how, after nearly a year of catastrophies, Gavin Williamson is still education secretary NOT ABOUT POPULARITY In many ways Williamson could do with more ‘big beasts’ such as Sir Michael Wilshaw around him, offering a wider range of opinions beyond those already seen as ‘fellow travellers’. Although as Ofsted chief he sparred - and often disagreed with the then education secretary Michael Gove, Wilshaw was a strong independent voice on the education landscape.

Under increasingly intense criticism during the pandemic, in political terms, Williamson has been the only tree standing in no man’s land, and the only visible target for those wanting to complain about schools.

Laura McInerney, a former teacher, education pundit and head of the Teacher Tapp research firm, says what has really damaged Williamson has not been his unpopularity, but a perception that he is also ineffective.

Her survey of teachers showed 92% thought Williamson should resign, but she says education secretaries - particularly Conservative ones who can blame the unions - could still be seen as successful despite a lack of classroom support.

It’s the claims of chaos and lack of forward planning that have really harmed the education secretary; a headteacher who

emailed the BBC last week described it as being like the TV comedy, Blackadder Goes Forth, with generals out of touch with the reality of their decisions.

‘SLICK OPERATOR’ Such accusations of incompetence are strongly rejected by Sir Anthony Seldon, biographer of prime ministers and a former headteacher, who says calls to sack Williamson are missing the point. He says the education secretary is a “canny politician” and a “slick operator”, who faced an impossible “maelstrom” in the pandemic.

“It’s been an absolute nightmare. I can’t think of any time since 1945 when it’s been more difficult to make policy.” Education needed its own SAGE-style group of experts to come up with an evidence-based, agreed, approach, says Sir Anthony.

He says England’s school system is riven by “very low levels of trust and high levels of suspicion” between government and teachers and there was no chance of the shared decisionmaking that was needed.

Another complaint from Williamson’s allies is that he has faced snobbery - that the northern, non-Oxbridge politician from a comprehensive school is the member of the cabinet taking more than his fair share of public pressure.

GONE IN A RESHUFFLE A source close to the education secretary says Williamson has stayed positive - and while the media narrative has been about U-turns and politicking, the priority within the Department for Education has been to keep responding to the pandemic, and to keep children and staff safe.

But a senior Conservative politician puts Williamson’s latest difficulties in a harsher light - the Department for Education is seen as dysfunctional, and Williamson will be removed

18

March 2021

News and views {BIG ASK}

from office as soon as there is a reshuffle, or when a head is needed to roll. He has lost so much political capital he can no longer stand up to other Whitehall departments, even over key issues such as opening schools, says the senior Tory. Another suggests Williamson will be removed when Boris Johnson wants to re-set his post-pandemic domestic policy and renew his agenda on ‘levelling up’.

LONDON- 30th September 2021 MANCHESTER- 12th October 2021

HIDDEN DIVISIONS So, how has Williamson survived so far? He was once considered a bright enough star to be a leadership contender and now the questions seem to be about how he has avoided the chop.

Politics works on many different levels. Before becoming education secretary Gavin Williamson was sacked as defence secretary, after an inquiry into leaks from the National Security Council - claims that Williamson denied. While he was defence secretary he had faced accusations of being out of his depth - including his comments to Russia that it should “go away” and “shut up”.

In politics old enmities can run deep, even when out of sight, particularly among MPs who are meant to be on the same side... conversations about Williamson often circle back to his time

He knows where the bodies are buried, says one MP as chief whip. He knows where the bodies are buried, says one MP. When he was in deep trouble over exams last summer, Williamson posed for a photo in his office in which a prominent item on his desk appeared to be a large whip. The message, again, was there to be seen - and was also a reminder that he has a track record of surviving in politics despite unpopularity.

Another source, close to the inner workings of Whitehall, says there is a balance shifting between those in his party who have been fearful of him, and those who are seeing his power ebbing away.

The final decision will be with Boris Johnson, who previously intervened to rescue his career - and it’s this relationship which will decide his future.

It’s a prime minister who seems to thrive on other people’s approval, and an education secretary who needs to show he can survive without it.

This is an edited version of an article that orginally appeared on BBC News https://www.bbc. co.uk/news/education-55640335

Get your diaries out!

We’re back with dates for our 2021 events!

It’s been a tough 12 months, with more challenges to come – so we thought we would bring a little slice of (professional) happiness for us all to look forward to...!

Get ahead of the professional curve, network and re-charge by joining us at EdExec LIVE – our leading school business management conference

SAVE THE DATE! LONDON - 30TH SEPTEMBER 2021 MANCHESTER - 12TH OCTOBER 2021

email hello@edexeclive.co.uk to reserve your place March 2021 Learn more at edexeclive.co.uk

19

Leadership by example {PROCUREMENT}

Sustainability in school Sustainability stopped being just a buzzword a long time ago – it‘s time to make a change, and schools can be an inspiration to the wider community by improving their green credentials through the procurement process

F

orty-two per cent of carbon emissions from the schools sector come from procurement – the dayto-day buying choices and decisions made by each school. This is nearly one per cent of total carbon emissions in the UK. So how can schools make their procurement process more eco-friendly?

DEVELOP PROCUREMENT EXPERTISE Nominate and train someone to co-ordinate everything centrally.

20

March 2021

Developing professional skills in any area of your work helps to improve your efficiency and effectiveness.

PLAN AHEAD Identify what you need early on to get the best deal Thinking about basic procurement questions before buying can help you to incorporate sustainable factors into any purchase. ● I s your purchase really necessary? ● W hat alternative solutions may be available, e.g. sharing equipment or services with another school?

Leadership by example {PROCUREMENT}

● C an

●

you time your purchasing to avoid peak buying periods (such as the end of the financial year)? High demand reduces your scope to secure good deals with suppliers. ould you gain from economies of scale by C delaying short-term purchases where possible? Bundling together purchases from the same supplier can cut down delivery costs – less mileage means less fuel consumed to supply you.

BUY ENERGY-EFFICIENT AND SUSTAINABLE CONSUMER GOODS Schools can already routinely purchase many products and services, including: ● r ecycled paper and stationery products; ● c leaning products with reduced environmental impacts; ● o ffice machinery which is energy-efficient (look for the Energy Star label); ● k itchen equipment which is energy-efficient (look for the A-G energy rating); ● v ehicles which are fuel-efficient (denoted by an A-M rating); ● w ater efficiency equipment.

DON’T BUY UNLESS YOU NEED TO Does anyone have a spare?

Before going ahead with a purchase: ● C heck whether someone else can spare or lend you the item you need. Don’t just look within your own school – can specialist equipment be shared between schools (for example, equipment for field trips)? ● H old a ‘stationery amnesty’ – collecting in unused pens, staplers, highlighters and other supplies from classroom cupboards and desks, to restock the main stationery cupboard. Think about other commonly-used materials and supplies that may have been mis-stored and lost (cutlery, IT accessories, books) – is there scope for regular amnesties or scavenger hunts?

DON’T SPEND HOURS SAVING A POUND Your time is a procurement cost – it’s a false economy when a tiny purchase price saving takes many hours to achieve. Sustainable procurement means focusing your efforts on the areas of greatest potential impact over time, like energy and water efficiency, purchasing of paper, ICT and furniture, rather than the most visible or dramatic ‘green’ purchases.

More than half of the waste produced by schools is paper or card LOOK FOR ALTERNATIVES TO BRANDED PRODUCTS Our familiarity with big-name brands doesn’t guarantee that they offer best value for money.

Less well-known brands may be as good and reliable as their well-advertised rivals –at a more competitive price. Why not carry out market testing in your own school?

THINK SUSTAINABLY ABOUT THE PAPER YOUR SCHOOL BUYS AND USES More than half of the waste produced by schools is paper or card. Take simple action; buy recycled paper, use paper wisely (only printing when necessary, printing on both sides), replace paper communications with e-mail where appropriate, and make sure that any remaining wastepaper is recycled. If these actions were standard practice across the school sector we could see a reduction in carbon emissions of over 150,000 tonnes by 2020 - that equates to over seven percent of procurement emissions saved from paper alone.

BUY FOOD LOCALLY AND SEASONALLY School food accounts for 22% of the procurement carbon footprint. Reduce carbon by buying locally and encouraging suppliers to provide fresh and seasonal produce. Some organic products are also less carbon intensive than nonorganic foods. Find out more about healthy and sustainable options from the School Food Trust.

SHARE BEST PRACTICE If you’ve made a good, sustainable deal, let other schools know about it.

Find out if your existing suppliers are offering deals on sustainable products to other local schools. This opens up possibilities to pull together to get an even better deal from the supplier.

March 2021

21

MANAGEMENT {PARENTAL ENGAGEMENT}

Communications that bring parents closer Schools are closer than ever before to their parents as a result of the pandemic.

It’s time to cement that relationship by focusing on the nuts and bolts of effective parental communications, says SIMON HAY of Firefly

22

March 2021

P

arents are, perhaps, the school’s most important partner in children’s learning. In an ideal world parents are there, supporting their children at home and supporting the school community, as well as acting as volunteers and fundraisers.

Over the past year the role of parents has become even more important; with the country currently in lockdown, and the majority of children learning at home, parents have had to step up and try as best they can to juggle the role of surrogate teacher with jobs and

MANAGEMENT {PARENTAL ENGAGEMENT}

Here are six suggestions that will help to make your communications with parents work more effectively: GET PLANNING Communication with parents shouldn’t be seen as a bolt-on, or by-product, but as an activity to plan and schedule. Start by critically reviewing your communications’ aims and current approaches.

The planning cycle should include a timetable of key calendar events and announcements, including online or face-to-face parents’ evenings, tests and exams, sport fixtures, music and drama.

ASK THE PARENTS An online survey will help you to establish parents’ favourite communication methods and the data provided by tech platforms can help you to decide when to send communications out depending on parents’ work patterns.

THINK ABOUT YOUR AUDIENCE. Plain, crisp English is always preferable to waffly jargon and buzzwords. Seek clarity wherever you can and keep the detail down to only the information they need to know. Structure messages so that the key point is at the top and highlight key details so that they can be understood at a glance.

STANDARDISE YOUR STYLE Agree a set of standards for how you communicate so that there is a consistency in the way you present your information to parents. Set out where and when to use bullet points, bold text, capitalisation - and standardise the terms you use in a brief style guide.

TRAIN STAFF

Agree a set of standards for how you communicate hectic family lives. Keeping parents informed and engaged is even more important today than it has ever been. Unfortunately, many schools still struggle in this area.

Communications is one important area. The temptation is often to over-communicate, using too many methods of communication such as paper, email, text and website - in the process. The result is that the information you want your parents to hear and take notice of can become fragmented and they don’t hear your messages. This can add to the frustration of parents.

It makes sense for staff to learn how best to harness parent power. Full working knowledge of school communications systems is key to this. Training mentors is the most effective way to spread best practice, as is providing people with a forum where staff can post queries, share what’s worked for them, and post sample newsletters or trip forms and proformas for others to use.

JOIN IT UP Today’s parents are increasingly tech-savvy, running their lives through a smartphone. To give them a seamless experience, and reduce frustration, look into integrating all your platforms into one ecosystem across your school.

If this ecosystem can be accessed through a mobile app and browser, even better. And remember that, in an age of GDPR and cyber security fears, parents want and expect secure access to sensitive information relating to behaviour, attendance, and academic progress.

March 2021

23

Leadership by example {WORKING SBM}

Looking back to help others spring forward The WORKING SBM offers some pearls of wisdom to those school business managers who may be starting out on the exciting, but challenging, journey of school business leadership

T

he most exciting change in my life is that I will become a gran early in 2021. My father gleefully told me that I would now have to behave with a little decorum, although there is no such expectation of a great grandparent he reckons. Having come this far through life without worrying too much about what others think of me, I do not intend to start now!

One thing about moving up the generational ladder is that I can now look forward to what this new age might bring. I can revisit all the simple things I loved about having my own children - countryside bug hunting, singing songs, simple toys and children’s television - as well as finding new experiences which were out of reach financially at that earlier time in my life.

I’m also excited about what these personal changes mean for my role as a school business manager - and retirement couldn’t be further from my mind! I won’t pretend that I am suddenly going to become wise and perceptive but, as I also near the milestone of 20 years as a school business manager, surely I can impart some advice to those embarking out on this wonderful career path?

So, to all you new SBMs out there wondering what you have let yourself in for, here it is.

Black and white, no holds barred, with very little decorum and a sprinkle of good humour.

My top ten things I have learned to keep me afloat in my role as an SBM.

24

March 2021

1

AT THE END OF THE WORKING DAY PUT IT DOWN This has always been a big one for me. There are no prizes for a tidy desk. As long as your workspace is secure, walk away (and if it isn’t just sweep it all into a lockable drawer). The work will still all be there in the morning to pick up and carry on.

Looking after you is the most important piece of advice on this list!

2

DEMAND TRAINING Your role is one of the most important in the school (a controversial statement, but true) and you can’t do your job without the proper equipment and training. Take responsibility for this and don’t make excuses; allocate the budget to your training needs, complete the course and then take time to apply what you have learned to your setting. I would also advise you keep a record of your training which will help you to identify gaps. Remember, nothing is too small, and reading Education Executive is training.

3

READ THE ACADEMIES FINANCIAL HANDBOOK Every year. Even if you are a maintained school or part of a big trust.

Even if you are not yet an SBM. These are your industry regulations. You need to know them, and how to apply them in your setting. Then follow them. To the letter. No exceptions. (Have I made this point clear enough?)

Leasdership by example {WORKING SBM}

Don’t let errors get you down or erode your confidence

4

BE CONFIDENT Following points oneto-three will help give you the gravitas you need to assert yourself in your role. You were appointed to manage the school operations.

Welcome the support others give, but don’t let anyone try to do it for you. I once, rather bluntly, told my head that it was not an efficient use of our time to both attend an operations meeting, so he left me to get on with it.

5

Which leads me to… be honest, and say what you think. The most important word you will need to use in your role occasionally is ‘no’. Don’t skirt it with a ‘maybe’ or fudges, if you mean it, say it. The SBM voice comes from a different angle of school leadership - that is what makes it so important.

6

WHEN THINGS GO WRONG (AND THEY WILL) CONFESS QUICKLY AND PRESENT A SOLUTION Everyone makes mistakes, and the SBM workload means things sometimes get overlooked. Don’t let errors get you down or erode your confidence; learn from what has happened and find a way to ensure that it doesn’t happen again.

7

ENSURE A PROFESSIONAL PERSONAL PRESENTATION AT ALL TIMES You are the business manager of your organisation. I believe it’s my job to help set an example of professional demeanour to both staff and students and, in my view, I can’t do that in jeans or with overfamiliarity. Of course, this can make the SBM role an isolated one, but you’ll be grateful for this distance if you ever have to discipline a member of your team.

8

SO NETWORK Do not be an island in the SBM world. There are local and regional support networks to join, and the Institute of School Business Leaders (ISBL), your professional organisation, to be part of.

There are also a variety of social media groups to connect with and @SBLconnect on Twitter is a good place to start. At the very least, introduce yourself to SBMs (of all phases) in your immediate area and ask if you can get together

over coffee. You will be grateful for the support, I promise, and so will they.

9

WORK YOUR CONTRACTED HOURS... and we all know I don’t mean SBMs skip off early! Maybe you are term time only, or work four days a week. If you have identified that you can’t do your job in the contracted hours, talk to your headteacher. Noone should be expected to work in their own time on a consistent basis. Of course, there will be times when a few extra hours are needed, but that is where TOIL comes in. Oh, and take your holiday entitlement!

10

BE AN ACTIVE PART OF YOUR SCHOOL’S SLT This doesn’t necessarily mean you go to every meeting, are always consulted on every decision, or stay late every night of the week.

It just means your role is considered to be part of the leadership structure in your setting and you can work on building effective relationships with the other leaders. If not already in place, you will likely need to walk the walk before you can ask for it to be formalised. Don’t wait for it to happen. Make it happen!

Being a school business manager is about being a positive and resilient force in the school, especially when the going gets tough for other staff. There is no ‘one size fits all’ and no one-way route to success. In my experience, there is no age at which you become a better SBM, or a time when you stop learning. It’s a tough job, no doubt, and you’re on your own sometimes - a VfM voice against a constant tide of improvement initiatives.

It is hugely satisfying and worthwhile, but it is most definitely NOT for the faint-hearted.

WorkingSBM has worked as an SBM for over 14 years – ‘supporting constant change and running the engine room!’ An active member of the SBM community, you can find her on Twitter @workingsbm or you can read her excellent blog at https://workingsbm.wordpress.com

March 2021

25

Management {ACADEMIES}

How academy orders can be revoked The Department for Education has updated its guidance on intervention powers - which includes how and when academy orders can be revoked

G

enerally, academy orders are handed out to schools deemed ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted; however, ministers have been able to reverse these orders for some time. Now, the vague direction of the guidance has been made more specific to outline other ways in which orders can be reversed.

The Department for Education deems it essential that action is taken wherever a school is judged inadequate, or where there is financial mismanagement or failure of governance.

26

March 2021

Optional school support will be offered to schools that have been judged as ‘requires improvement’ by Ofsted.

Intervention is different from school support, and refers to the formal action taken by local authorities and regional school commissioners (RSCs) in schools that are causing concern. Interventions are about acting swiftly to address underperformance, and financial or governance failures, and helping schools to deliver the best outcomes for their pupils.

Management {ACADEMIES}

THE UPDATED GUIDANCE – KEY POINTS The updated guidance describes the processes local authorities and RSCs may take in schools that are eligible for intervention within the meaning of Part 4 of the Education and Inspections 2006 Act. These include: ● S chools that have failed to comply with a warning notice: local authorities may give warning notices to their maintained schools where they have concerns about unacceptable educational performance, a breakdown in leadership and governance, or where the safety of pupils or staff may be being threatened. RSCs may give a warning notice to a maintained school where they have concerns about a breakdown in leadership and governance, or where the safety of pupils or staff may be being threatened.

Where a maintained school does not comply with a warning notice, it will become eligible for formal intervention. ● S chools that have been judged ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted: an academy order must, in line with statutory requirements, be issued for all maintained schools that have been judged inadequate by Ofsted, requiring them to become sponsored academies. When an academy is judged inadequate by Ofsted. The RSC is able to terminate the funding agreement with the existing academy trust and move the academy to a new trust.

The power of the secretary of state to revoke an academy order Section 5D of the Academies Act 2010 enables the secretary of state to revoke an academy order that was made because a maintained school is eligible for intervention.

This power can be used at the discretion of the secretary of state and will only be used in exceptional circumstances and not just because a school’s Ofsted rating has improved.

It is the secretary of state’s view that schools, in general, should benefit from being part of an academy trust. In the secretary of state’s view, transferring underperforming maintained schools to

academy trusts is the most effective means of securing their rapid improvement. Ministers will make decisions on any revocations of academy orders. Examples of ‘exceptional circumstances’ include where: The secretary of state considers that the school would not be viable as an academy (in these cases, they would expect the local authority to close the school; the secretary of state can direct them to do so if necessary); The school has been re-inspected

by Ofsted and judged ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’, and the secretary of state is satisfied that the improvement can be sustained without the support of a strong sponsor. Ofsted’s findings will be one of a number of sources of information the secretary of state will consider when deciding whether improvement can be sustained without the support of a strong sponsor; The school was rated inadequate

by Ofsted solely on safeguarding grounds, having previously been judged ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’. If the school has reverted to its previous Ofsted rating, and the secretary of state is satisfied that the safeguarding concerns have been addressed, and can be sustained without the support of a strong sponsor or multi-academy trust.

The examples above are not exhaustive, and the secretary of state will consider each case on its individual merits, taking account of any reasons put forward by the governing body as to why revocation is in the best interests of the pupils served by the school.

The secretary of state will only consider revoking an academy order if the school’s governing body are in agreement, and have requested to do so. In circumstances where the maintained school is not viable, and the decision has been taken to revoke the academy order, the local authority will be expected to close the maintained school following the statutory school closure process and, if necessary, ministers may use the power to direct them to do so.

1

The secretary of state will only consider revoking an academy order if the school’s governing body are in agreement

2 3

March 2021

27

ICT matters {REMOTE LEARNING}

Getting help with technology during COVID A quick guide on how to access the resources and guidance provided by the Department for Education (DfE) to help with remote learning

T

28

March 2021

he Department for Education (DfE) is providing a range of support to schools through its get help with technology programme. Parents, carers and pupils cannot apply for digital devices or internet access through this scheme themselves; they should contact their school to discuss requirements for accessing remote education.

ICT matters {REMOTE LEARNING}

1

GET LAPTOPS AND TABLETS FOR CHILDREN WHO CANNOT ATTEND SCHOOL DUE TO CORONAVIRUS

Schools can access funded advice from the EdTech Demonstrators

For the 2020 to 2021 academic year DfE is providing laptops and tablets to schools to help children and families in need to access remote education during coronavirus. Devices have been made available for disadvantaged children in certain year groups who: ● a re affected by disruption to face-to-face education at their school; ● h ave been advised to shield because they are clinically extremely vulnerable.

GO TO: Get laptops and tablets for children who cannot attend school due to coronavirus (COVID-19) which provides information for schools, trusts and local authorities about how to apply.

wireless routers in the summer should log in to the support portal to identify unused routers and reallocate these to children and young people with the greatest need.

The guidance on getting internet access includes information on: ● h ow schools can request additional mobile data for disadvantaged children and young people; ● h ow schools can order 4G wireless routers; ● t he pilot schemes DfE ran using BT Wi-Fi hotspots and increased mobile data allowances.

2

3

GET INTERNET ACCESS FOR DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN

DfE is working in partnership with mobile network operators to help schools support disadvantaged pupils in years 3-to-11 who rely on a mobile internet connection when their face-toface education is disrupted by coronavirus.

Disadvantaged families may be able to benefit from free increases to their mobile data if they’re a customer of: ● EE ● O2 ● Sky Mobile ● SMARTY ● Tesco Mobile ● Three ● Virgin Mobile ● Vodafone The amount of data available to families will vary by provider. Data will be increased until the end of July 2021. Schools, trusts and local authorities will be able to request these free mobile data increases for families during the spring and summer 2021 terms if they’re experiencing disruption to face-to-face education.

The DfE is also giving schools, trusts and local authorities 4G wireless routers that they can lend to disadvantaged children in the event of disruption to education; this is in addition to routers dispatched to local authorities and academy trusts in the summer 2020 term.

Local authorities and trusts that received 4G

MANAGE LAPTOPS, TABLETS AND 4G WIRELESS ROUTERS RECEIVED FROM DFE

Technical guidance for local authorities, academy trusts and schools that received devices from DfE during the 2020 summer term can be found in the laptops, tablets and 4G wireless routers provided during coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance. This includes information about: ● online safety; ● mobile device management; ● warranties; ● h ow to contact a support desk.

4

APPLY FOR A GRANT AND SUPPORT TO GET SET UP WITH A DIGITAL EDUCATION PLATFORM Schools can apply for government-funded support to access G Suite for Education or Office 365 Education. Get funding and support to set up a digital education platform has information to help schools choose and apply for the most appropriate platform for them; you can get funded training and support to set up and use technology effectively.

Schools and colleges can access funded advice, guidance and training from the EdTech Demonstrators, a network of schools and colleges expert in the use of technology.

March 2021

29

Live it

LIVE IT Time to take a few moments out for some light and interesting reading – a well-earned break from numbers and statistics!

WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD Caption competition Let us know your funny caption ideas by tweeting us @edexec

Did the elephants come in two-by-two?

BBC News has reported that scientists are using pictures from an Earth-observation satellite orbiting 600km (372 miles) above the planet’s surface to count African elephants from space. The breakthrough could allow up to 5,000 sq km of elephant habitat to be surveyed on a single cloud-free day.

All the laborious elephant counting is done via machine learning - a computer algorithm

trained to identify elephants in a variety of backdrops.

“We just present examples to the algorithm and tell it, ‘This is an elephant; this is not an elephant,’ Dr Olga Isupova, of the University of Bath, explained. This approach could vastly improve the monitoring of threatened elephant populations in habitats that span international borders, where it can be difficult to obtain permission for aircraft surveys.

LIFE HACK

30

March 2021

Pub quiz 1. Who plays Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders?

2. H ow many legs does a lobster have?

3. W hat’s the bestselling book of all time?

4. W hat are the four Little Women sisters called?

5. In which century did Leonardo da Vinci paint The Last Supper?

Answers: 1. Cillian Murphy 2. Eight 3. The Bible 4. Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy 5. Fifteenth century

Anybody who eats boiled eggs knows the frustration of having one crack. Throwing a little vinegar into the boiling water will keep the egg whites from seeping out. The vinegar also eases the peeling process when you’re ready to eat.

Live it

A cheesy gift As reported by BBC News, a nurse said she was “lost for words” after school pupils clubbed together to buy pizza for staff at their local critical care unit. Tina Waltho tweeted a photo of pizza boxes which she said turned up this week at the Royal Stoke University Hospital.

A bit of investigating revealed they were a gift from a group of sixth form students. The tweet prompted a huge outpouring of praise on social media. “At a time when healthcare staff feel so low and deflated, responses like this remind us that we are supported,” critical care nurse Tina said.

“

QUOTE OF THE MONTH Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.”

“

– Mother Teresa

Well, knock me down with a feather!

SNOW IN THE SAHARA Snow has fallen in the Sahara desert after temperatures dropped to -3C, Sky News has reported.

Karim Bouchetata recorded the rare event in Ain Sefra, Algeria, with thawing ice creating beautiful patterns on the sand.

The Sahara, which covers most of northern Africa, has gone through shifts in temperature over the past few hundred thousand years - but snow and ice are still very rare. The town, in the Naama province, has experienced snow only three other times in 42 years - in 1979, 2017 and 2018.

Did you know?

The largest known living organism is an aspen grove.

Pando (Latin for ‘I spread out’) is a group of genetically identical ‘quaking aspens’ in Utah which have an interconnected root system. It’s an estimated 80,000 years old, and takes up more than 100 acres.

March 2021

31

Live it {60 SECONDS}

60 seconds with We speak to NICKY HODGSON, school business manager at Manor Leas Junior Academy, about meeting royalty and why for her the sky really is the limit!

What led to your current role?

Nicky Hodson School business manager, Manor Leas Junior Academy

I was working in an infant school in an attendance/welfare role. I was made redundant which gave me the push to apply for SBM roles. I had recently completed my Level 5 DSBM so the time was right, and I am so glad it happened as my new school is amazing!

Tell me something unusual or interesting about yourself.

My son is a Paralympian, who competed in Rio and is now waiting to see if he qualifies for Tokyo. We were fortunate enough to go to Rio to watch him compete and what an experience that was! One of the many highlights of our trip was when we were in British House (hospitality house for athletes and families), when a gentleman asked if he could talk with us. We were chatting away about absolute trivia and I thought he looked vaguely familiar - then I had that ‘lightbulb’ moment and realised it was Prince Edward!

What has been your favourite aspect of working as a school business professional so far?

The variety - every day is so different and there is never a dull moment. I enjoy being part of the Senior Leadership Team and making decisions that impact on the learning of all our children.

What’s been your greatest professional achievement to date?

Every day is so different and there is never a dull moment

Starting a new SBM role in the year of COVID, and keeping things going whilst trying to find my way! My headteacher has given me so much praise that I believe I have done a great job.

How do you ensure that you continue to grow personally and professionally?

I subscribe to lots of webinars (especially

32

March 2021

LONDON- 30th September 2021 MANCHESTER- 12th October 2021

My fellow SBLs on Twitter are my inspiration during COVID/working from home). I try and undertake educational courses when time and funds allow. I have just signed up for the Certificate in Strategic Educational Leadership.

Personally, I am an Air Cadet instructor and have recently taken over the running of a squadron of 45 cadets. I try and join in with all activities and thoroughly enjoy taking the cadets on annual summer camps! I push my limits whenever possible as I know that whilst I may not enjoy it at the time, I get that sense of achievement afterwards.

Where do you take inspiration from, both work and life-wise?

My fellow SBLs on Twitter are my inspiration.

They are such characters with so much experience between them.

What three words would you use to describe your role?

Crazy, busy, varied.

If there was one thing about your job you could change, what would it be?

A national salary scale for SBM’s as there are too many variations around the country.

Funniest SBM moment you would care to share?

There are too many to compare - every day is something new - perhaps I should start a book! 

Get your diaries out!

We’re back with dates for our 2021 events!

It’s been a tough 12 months, with more challenges to come – so we thought we would bring a little slice of (professional) happiness for us all to look forward to...!

Get ahead of the professional curve, network and re-charge by joining us at EdExec LIVE – our leading school business management conference

SAVE THE DATE! LONDON - 30TH SEPTEMBER 2021 MANCHESTER - 12TH OCTOBER 2021

email hello@edexeclive.co.uk to reserve your place Learn more at edexeclive.co.uk