Interview for School Biz Manager - help!

[ApprehensiveMama]

I have an interview for a school business manager role coming up really soon. As someone who is changing role after a career break of 10 years I am panicking a bit!

There is an interview (which I expected) and also two tests (which I did not)!

Anyone who is currently/or has been recently in a similar role? Could you shed light on what these tests might involve? I’m hoping they are not Excel based as I have only used it at a very basic level. 😬

Any advice on what I can prepare for greatly appreciated.

TIA

Hello, congrats on the interview.

I’d definitely brush up on your excel skills - YouTube have brilliant step by step videos. I’d expect a budget task - they’ll give you an anonymised 3 year budget for you to comment on expenditure and income. They’re likely to give you the staffing structure too. Staffing costs typically run at 70-80% of a school’s delegated budget.

Look at rates for pupil premium, sports premium, covid catch up, national funding formula, SEN funding, grants, formula capital, increased teacher costs for 2022 etc.

The other task could be a data one (teacher assessments input to mark sheets on SIMS and export to their assessment tracker software), HR scenario, H&S audit etc. One of my team recently went for an SBM interview, and one of the tasks was producing reports from FMS (the school’s finance system).

There will definitely be a safeguarding question, so ensure that you check who the DSLs are and know the reporting procedure.

Read the Ofsted report, research the school, go on the website, and tailor your answers to THAT school, not schools in general (HTs want to be flattered), don’t say you want the job because of the holidays/family life. Draw on your previous work experience, and stress how those skills will transfer to the school environment.

Good luck!

There are lots of YouTube videos on in-tray exercises. I'd expect you to get one of those; make sure you have your eyes up for safeguarding/child protection issues there

Thanks so much for this! I’m really grateful for the insights.

I have been clear in my application that I haven’t any experience with school-specific software so I’m hoping there isn’t anything too scary!

:)

@LadyMonicaBaddingham - what a great username, made be spit my coffee!

If you are not already a school business professional, look up ISBL (sector org) and ICFP (way of optimising school resource management - SRM) as potential to make the school more efficient. Look up top planning tips for school governors/trustees on gov.uk.

Talk about working closely with the head/SLT to discuss the affordability of any planned curriculum. Most schools have to submit 3 year advance plans to the DfE to explain how they will remain in surplus so a school business professional (SBM) will need to be involved in early discussions.

Talk about maintaining good relationships with the ESFA (in charge of what money you get) as well as the RSC office -often called RDD- who will decide if the school can change age range etc.

Talk clearly about how you want to support the Head/governors to deliver the best education possible within the resources you have available.

Thanks so much. This is very helpful. I appreciate it.

@FijiCavanaugh

If you are not already a school business professional, look up ISBL (sector org) and ICFP (way of optimising school resource management - SRM) as potential to make the school more efficient. Look up top planning tips for school governors/trustees on gov.uk.

Talk about working closely with the head/SLT to discuss the affordability of any planned curriculum. Most schools have to submit 3 year advance plans to the DfE to explain how they will remain in surplus so a school business professional (SBM) will need to be involved in early discussions.

Talk about maintaining good relationships with the ESFA (in charge of what money you get) as well as the RSC office -often called RDD- who will decide if the school can change age range etc.

Talk clearly about how you want to support the Head/governors to deliver the best education possible within the resources you have available.

Please dont say any of that- it isnt accurate