Certificate of School Business Management

Transcription

1 Certificate of School Business Management This document provides additional information about each module of the programme to assist prospective applicants. DEVELOPMENT MODULES DM1: Understanding School Business Management establishing your professional learning needs analysing the school setting and the role of the SBM exploring the cultural and organisational context of school business management evaluating your professional learning and impact on the workplace DM2: Planning and leading projects in schools identifying and negotiating development projects developing project plans leading and managing development projects reflecting on project management skills OPERATIONAL MODULES Managing School Finances basic principles of school financial management key sources of funding for schools how to plan and manage the budget school financial procedures with probity principles of cash management processes for the management of debtors and creditors value for money from procurement activities monitoring the school s financial transactions Managing School Facilities strategic site management operational management ICT facilities school meals and catering Managing HR in Schools personnel management staff development labour relations and collective bargaining payroll administration Managing Risk in Schools management of risk health and safety fire safety emergency and contingency planning Page 1 of 9

2 Managing Office Services (not part of the full programme but available as a standalone module) Organisation and management Operational design and evaluation Quality communication Learning Outcomes: The learning outcomes of the CSBM programme are to enable you to: extend your knowledge of technical and professional aspects of school business management manage resources within your school more efficiently and effectively deepen your understanding of business management in an educational context evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of business management in a specific school setting develop your professional competence in relation to the role of the school business manager demonstrate the impact of your professional learning on yourself and on a school setting prepare you for further study on the SBM programme Further Information: This course is designed to develop your professional knowledge, understanding and competence so that you will be able to contribute effectively to a number of key areas of school business management. The CSBM equips existing and potential school business managers (SBMs) to fulfil a range of roles which in the past may have been undertaken by senior members of teaching staff. We recognise that participants on the programme will be at different stages in terms of their career development. Some will be experienced business managers who wish to consolidate and extend their skills in particular areas; some will be comparatively inexperienced and seek to extend their skills; some may be new or potential SBMs, perhaps with experience in a related profession, who are now seeking to transfer those skills to the new context of school business management. The programme s structure allows participants to focus on their particular learning needs in the context of a school setting. The programme will also provide you with many opportunities to meet and discuss issues with fellow SBMs. We believe this can be one of the most valuable aspects of the programme. Page 2 of 9

3 Programme Aims: The CSBM programme aims to provide you with a framework for developing your learning and improving your professional practice, and through this to enhance the outcomes for the school and community in which you work. To this end, the programme seeks to give you the opportunity to explore and develop leadership, administrative and management skills and to acquire professional knowledge. A key feature of the programme is the notion of the participant as a reflective practitioner. This is someone who is able to deepen their learning about concepts and techniques related to their professional practice, and then apply this to themselves and their school, reflecting on their personal experience as they progress. The programme therefore aims to act as a catalyst for change at both a personal and an organisational level. The specific aims of this programme are to provide: an opportunity to enhance the leadership, administrative and managerial capacity of participants in an educational setting a framework to facilitate the acquisition of knowledge, understanding, skills and experience, which, in turn, will enhance participants' ability to understand and contribute to the effectiveness of their own educational institutions a framework within which the participant may negotiate tasks and areas of experience to suit their individual needs and development where appropriate a range of established techniques to enable participants to initiate and undertake critical analysis of information, proposing solutions to problems arising from that analysis an opportunity for participants to communicate information, arguments and analysis effectively, in a variety of forums, to specialist and non-specialist audiences access to tutorial support that enables participants to deploy key techniques of school business management effectively and engage in reflective debate and practice a foundation for future advanced professional development as a school business manager Page 3 of 9

4 Module Content: Understanding school business management (DM1) The module is made up of four units: Unit 1: Unit 2: Unit 3: Unit 4: Describing the school setting and the role of the SBM Establishing your professional learning needs Exploring the political and organisational context of school business management Evaluating your professional skills and impact on the workplace Planning and leading projects in school (DM2) The four units of the module follow a logical sequence and mirror the stages you will probably go through as you design, implement and evaluate your project: Unit 1: Unit 2: Unit 3: Unit 4: Identifying and negotiating development projects Developing project plans Leading and managing development projects Reflecting on Project Management Skills This module is focused on the development of skills related to project management and change leadership. The assessment task for this module requires you to plan and deliver a project designed to develop systems, processes or facilities in your school setting. This online module will guide you through the key processes you should undertake in order to deliver a development project which matters to your school, and a project report which meets the assessment requirements for this module. Page 4 of 9

5 Managing School Finances In this module, you will cover all the key aspects of managing school finances, including the principles of school finance, financial planning and budgeting, financial monitoring, reporting and evaluation, cash management and procurement. State funded schools are required to apply sound financial principles to ensure that the public money is managed honestly, reliably and efficiently, with regard to obtaining value for money. The role of the school business manager has evolved since LMS and the need for someone with sound financial management skills is even greater. Underpinning all of these modules are the financial regulations and financial procedures that all schools should have in place. Please note that the module follows general accounting principles, but it isn t a course in accounting, rather an overview of the necessary requirements for the operation of school accounting systems. During the module you will need to refer to your financial regulations and procedures manuals, your latest audit report and other documents that highlight best practice. understand the basic principles of school financial management access key sources of funding for schools plan and manage the school budget manage school financial procedures with probity understand the principles of cash management establish processes for the management of debtors and creditors establish processes to ensure value for money from procurement monitor financial transactions and provide reports to key stakeholders Page 5 of 9

6 Managing School Facilities In unit one, we investigate the implications of developments for the management of premises and facilities and the role of the SBM in managing these developments successfully. The responsibility for managing and servicing premises increasingly rests with SBMs. School leaders rely on information gathered by the SBMs about the site to support planning, decision-making, co-ordination and control. Schools are expected to take a strategic approach to building asset management which will: raise standards, both physical and educational keep abreast of, and provide for, future ICT needs accommodate and increase community use of the site contribute to, and enhance, other local authority development plans In unit two we consider how a well-planned and effectively delivered building maintenance and improvement programme is an essential basic requirement. In unit three, we consider how the management of ICT provision has become an aspect of facilities management in schools. In unit four, we review expectations placed on schools associated with developments such as the Healthy Schools Initiative; the establishment of nutritional standards; the provision of free school meals; and evolving arrangements for the supply of catering services. know the key principles and concepts necessary for effective strategic facilities planning understand how to monitor evaluate and review projects to ensure continued resonance with school strategic developments and plans. know how to devise and implement processes and systems for the operational management of facilities understand how to plan and implement appropriate ICT infrastructure devise policies, liaise and engage with external relevant agencies regarding implementation of safe transport strategies. understand the principles and legal context regarding Catering Services, and the role of the SBM in implementing relevant policies regarding nutrition and health Page 6 of 9

7 Managing Human Resources in Schools: School business managers are expected to lead and manage a broad spectrum of organisational tasks and processes across the school. As a school s most important asset is the people making up its community, managing human resources is an area of responsibility of particular significance. The competent SBM should be able to provide direction, facilitate change and work with people to support the school to achieve the goals as described in these strategic plans. The competent SBM provides direction, enabling school leaders to act responsibly in relation to their staff, pupils and the communities they support. Managing Human Resources also includes the management of staff performance and development. The competent SBM monitors the progress and quality of work produced against the standard of performance expected. Staff training should take into account the needs of the organisation, legislative requirements (for example child protection training) and personal and career development. This module concentrates on ensuring that the school business manager understands the legal, financial and technical obligations of human resources management. The module is made up of four units: Unit 1: Unit 2: Unit 3: Unit 4: Personnel management Staff development Labour relations and collective mediation Payroll administration understand the responsibilities inherent in managing Human Resources in a school context, with particular reference to current educational policy know the key terms of reference of common law concerning recruitment, selection and training of new staff with particular reference to safeguarding be able to develop and implement policies and procedures relevant to development programmes and performance management systems understand the key concepts and principles associated with financial reward systems (payroll, benefit packages etc) and data acquisition and management know and understand the principles behind best practice in HR, including outsourcing when required Page 7 of 9

8 Managing Risk in Schools: The module is made up of four units: Unit 1: Unit 2: Unit 3: Unit 4: Management of risk Health and safety Fire safety Emergency and contingency planning The module will therefore address areas which are key to the role of the School Business Manager (SBM). In particular, it will help the SBM to identify those areas of legislation which are crucial to ensuring that her/his school complies with the relevant legislation. More specifically, it will help the SBM to evaluate how her/his school might improve its fire safety arrangements. It will also enable the SBM to improve the ways in which her/his school plans for disasters and other contingencies. For those schools which are maintained by the Local Authority there will be a variety of arrangements in place with regard to taking responsibility for particular matters in relation to managing risk. It is important that individual schools and their SBMs are clear about where the exact responsibility lies. For those schools not maintained by the Local Authority (including Academies and Free Schools), it will be the case that the Governing Bodies will take overall responsibility for particular matters in relation to managing risk, and so need to certain that the necessary steps have been taken and arrangements in place. know the benefits of risk management in schools understand how her/his school manages risk know what should be included in a school s health and safety statement and the key areas of responsibility associated with various roles in schools understand the implications of particular risks for their school be able to evaluate their school s approach to recruitment know how their school might improve its fire safety measures know how to put in place appropriate contingency planning and recovery measures Page 8 of 9

9 Managing Office Services: The Managing Office Services module has specific relevance to all School Business Managers (SBM) whether at the beginning of their managerial career or for those further in their career development. Schools need high quality robust office systems if they are to operate smoothly and effectively on a day-to-day basis, and if they are to plan for the future confident that the data used to inform their decisions is sound. In Unit One Data Management, we consider the features of effective Management Information Systems, and some of the challenges SBMs face in choosing the right system, ensuring value for money, understanding technical features and ensuring that the school is not data rich but information poor. In Unit 2 we will shift our focus from the management of information to the communication of information, looking at both internal and external communication, as well as considering the benefits and drawbacks of the different methods of communication used by school. In Unit 3 we consider four stakeholder groups teachers, pupils, parents, governors and how the school office can ensure that vital services reprographics, print management, messaging, word processing, filing etc are provided smoothly, efficiently and to these groups. In Unit 4 we investigate the overall management of the school office, beginning with the structure of the office and the roles allocated to individuals. know how to establish effective systems for the management of information in their school be able to make sound judgements when choosing management information systems for their school understand the range and type of communication systems available to schools and be able to select appropriate methods for different contexts be able to manage the provision of a range of office services designed to meet the needs of different stakeholder groups understand the importance of office design, organisation and structure in creating a high performing office team be able to make sound judgements about the efficiency, effectiveness and value for money of office system within their school Page 9 of 9