1. The professionalisation of the education workforce Stephen Morales Chief Executive, NASBM

2. Increased status and profile of the school business leader
Pivotal leadership role in the DfE’s financial health and efficiency strategy
Continued reference in policy reform documents
Call for increased influence and status in the schools’ buying strategy DfE publication
Critical to realising education reform ambitions, particularly in light of a diminishing role for local authorities and new emerging collaborative structures

3. Professionalisation – sequence of 7 steps (Wilensky, 1964)
Role is recognised as a full-time occupation
Associated training and development pathways
Specific programmes of study created
Professional groups established locally
Professional association established nationally
Professional standards established
Institute created overseeing standards and ethics (Following a membership resolution and approval from Companies House, NASBM will transition from association to institute status during 2017)     

4. Future – Institute status
The journey so far
Future – Institute status
Responds directly to emerging landscape – taking ownership of our profession
1994
Creation of national organisation dedicated to representing the profession
2008
National Association of School Business Management created to reflect wider remit
2014
National College – devolved SBM competency framework & oversight of standards to sector
1997
National Bursars Association incorporated
Early 1990s
Local gatherings of pioneer SBMs

5. The audience for institute status
Icons made by from

6. The audience for institute status
Practitioners: traditional SBMs, SBDs, FDs, COOs, CFOs; indeed, anyone responsible for school business operations – providing them with professional status, recognition and validation
The sector at large: governing bodies, trustees, directors, leaders of pedagogy, parents, pupils, DfE, the general public – providing them with confidence in our practice

7. Sector for the sector – taking back control of our profession
Peer-led research
Special interest groups
Advisory board
Collaborative research – MMU, OEE, 2020, global issues

8. What we have learnt from overseas colleagues and systems
A trend towards decentralisation
Some evolving, some mature systems – lessons from both
Tension between autonomy and accountability
How some have been successful in breaking through false glass ceilings – aspiration and ambition
The relationship across the leadership triangle – pedagogy, business and governance
International collaborative research

9. Emerging structures and leadership convergence
White Paper superseded by recent Green Paper – less prescriptive in terms of academisation
However, continued encouragement for schools to come together in collaborative structures
Inevitability that leadership will see some rationalisation and there will be convergence at an executive level
This means new roles, a new focus and a sector with professional development needs – pedagogy leaning into business operations and vice versa

10. What’s your flavour of leadership? Something for everybody
Executive
Generalist
Specialist

11. Mature system career pathways
School operations & admin
Teacher 
Middle leader
Head teacher
School business professional
Director of education
CEO
Other professions
–legal
–finance
–business

12. So what? Understand your place in the current landscape
Position yourself through a clear articulation of your portfolio of skills, experience and qualifications
Assert yourself as a highly skilled professional
Choose your flavour of leadership
Engage in meaningful professional development opportunities and seize the moment

13. Emerging school structures
CEO
(Senior executive) FD
(Executive/ specialist)
COO
(Executive/ generalist)
HR Director
MAT executive team
Local school level
Head of learning
Head of learning
Head of learning
SLT
Business support
SLT
Business support
SLT
Business support

14. Developing capacity CEO COO FD (Senior executive)
(Executive/ specialist)
COO
(Executive/ generalist)
HR Director
MAT executive team
Local school level
Head of learning
Head of learning
Head of learning
SLT
Business support
SLT
Business support
SLT
Business support

15. Professional Standards

16. Qualifications and training
Toolkit training, workshops, seminars and briefings
SBM quals – Dip 4, 5 & 6
APEL route to graduate level
Funded SBM apprentice route
COO/CFO specific qualification
Post-graduate programmes
Qualifications and training

17. How well do you know your organisation?

18. Thank you