Why do primary headteachers need highly skilled school business managers?
Initial research carried out by McKinsey for NCSL suggests improved school business management could save up to one third of a headteacher’s time. Headteachers, particularly in the primary sector, are reporting that their role has grown significantly with increasing organisational complexity and a demand for more external partnerships. The proposed introduction of ‘advanced school business managers’ and ‘school business directors’ aims to make the role of head more effective and more attractive in complex contexts such as federations of schools. It will create additional space for heads to focus on leading teaching and learning within their schools by relieving them of many organisational tasks connected with the day-to-day running of a school or group of schools. These new posts would also mean that procurement can be spread over several schools with a more joined-up approach to purchasing and a range of other activities that may span more than one school. This could save both time an
