Diploma in School Business Management advice please

[candlelight22]

Hi, has anyone done a Level 4 Diploma in School Business Management?
I'm considering doing this online with Serco.
Can't find much information about it.
I'm not currently working in school admin.
Has it led to employment for any of you?
Any thoughts greatly appreciated!
Thanks

[candlelight22]

Anyone?

[lavendersun]

I know someone who has registered to do this through Anglia Ruskin, fits with her existing qualifications really well. Local accountant who wants to do something new and something family friendly.

It is Ofqual registered and in view of the ever increasing privatisation of our school system I can't see how it won't be useful in the future.

There must be something on the Anglia Ruskin web page I would have thought.

[candlelight22]

Thank you lavendersun. Same with me - fits in with transferable skills.

Has she started it?

I've heard it's a growing market, so thought it would be good course to pursue. Career change for me.

[lavendersun]

No, starts in the spring I believe. I think it can only be a good thing to do candle with the changes going on. Wouldn't mind it myself tbh.

Are you going to start at Level 4 or go straight for Level 5?

[candlelight22]

Thanks lavendersun. I'm starting at Level 4.

I was told that Level 5 is more about strategic/forward planning and Level 4 is about "rolling your sleeves up and day to day running of the school."

It was suggested you'd need Level 4 before going onto Level 5 whilst in post.

[VeniceQueen]

I completed this last year under its old name (CSBM) but I was and still am working in a school.

Have you found a school that will host you and support you through the programme? A great deal of the course content was based on you having knowledge or access to the knowledge of a school environment.

[lavendersun]

I think it will be really useful candle, Anglia Ruskin are helping my friend to find a school (they seem to charge a fee for that though). She was called something else - aspiring school business manager or something like that I think.

Not sure what level she is doing tbh, I will ask her.

We share an office sometimes, have discussed it at length as we ponder our futures in dull moments.

[tedhis]

Do you have an existing HR or accountancy qualification?

[MrPorky]

I'm currently waiting on my results!

I already have a 2:1 in Finance from a Russell Group Uni, but schools do like to think they're special and still ask for this qualification, no matter how many other relevant qualifications you have.

TBH, I was surprised how hard it was I expected to be able to wing it in view of my previous qualifications and lots of practical experience in finance, HR and management and in school.

You have to submit 5 assignments over the year of either 3000 or 6000 words and do a project in school over the year. So no matter how much you already know, you still have to put the work in IYSWIM

If you want to be an SBM it's definitely worthwhile but you do need to be prepared to put the hours in. I think it would be very difficult if you weren't working in a school. You would certainly need to find a school that would support you, where you could do your project and they'd have to be prepared to share some pretty confidential information with you too.

I started a new job in September, on the assumption that I'll pass!

[candlelight22]

Well done Mr Porky! Sounds like a lot of work!

I've got a supporting school - starting in November. Background in management and HR with a bit of finance thrown in.

Looking forward to the challenge. Hope I can get a position out of it. Can I be cheeky and ask what salaries are like?

Really something I would enjoy.

[tedhis]

The issue with salaries is that there is no benchmark. Outside London- Primary anything from 20-30K. Secondary 25-40k. Sometimes as much as £50k in a large academy trust. You don't just work term time, it is often an all year round post or term time plus X.

[candlelight22]

Thank you tedhis.
I'd assumed it wasn't term time, but what is term time plus?

[tedhis]

The working weeks var by school, some may be term time only- much more likely at primary then secondary. Term time plus varies by school- so it may be term time (39 weeks) plus 4 weeks or term time plus 5 weeks etc. More basic office jobs are usually term time or term time plus 1.

[FartyTette]

I'm a Business Manager in a SEN school. I am a graduate with an accountancy qualification and plenty of experience in different sectors, and I agree with you MrPorky the educaution sector is quite fixated on qualifications! I went straight into the DSBM, and in order to bypass the old CSBM (the level 4 qual) I had to demonstrate prior knowledge and experience in the key areas.

Is your course all on line OP? I am doing another SBM qual by distance learning with serco at present, and it's tough going! You will need to find a supportive school, especially for the level 4 as there's a strong operational bent to that qualification.

I work all year round, salary at the upper end of those that tedhis quotes - I have responsibility for finance, HR, and premises in my school.

[candlelight22]

Tedhis - thanks. That's really helpful.

FartyTette - thank you for replying.

My course with Serco is a blended one, meaning that most of it is online but there are several face to face workshops.

Have you been happy with the course you're currently doing and with Serco itself?

I'm funding myself so need a little reassurance I think!

[FartyTette]

I have found the Serco website pretty uninspiring. When the courses were run through the National College for School leadership there were really useful discussion boards where you could share good practice and ideas with other SBMs, not limited to those in your cohort. This isn't the case with Serco, and as there's a very small number of participants on my course, I'm feeling pretty isolated!
Having said that I am a member of a couple of 'real life' SBM groups, which are really helpful.

[CristinaSimon]

Hello VeniceQueen,

I hope this message finds you safe and well.

I was wondering if you have any tips on how to find a support school? I very much wish to start my application for the Level 4 diploma for SBM, but sadly it is not possible to apply until I find a support school.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much!

Best wishes,
Cristina

[Bozlie09]

Hi
I'm currently doing this course and just wondered how those who have already completed it found it? I'm having difficulty getting started on each assessment task, I don't know if I'm putting too much thought into it instead of just answering the question!

[CristinaSimon]

Hi Bozlie09, how did you find your supporting school?
Do you have any tips for people who are thinking to enroll for this course?
Thank you

[Bozlie09]

Hi CristinaSimon, I work in a school, I’m currently PA to the Principal but feel the need to get some sort of qualification so I can aspire to move up the ladder. I’m finding it very hard to stay focussed, it’s not the most exciting course but hopefully will be worth it in the end.