Course overview

This Apprenticeship running initially in our Yeovil centre will give you the opportunity to work as a School Business Professional (SBP), a role that’s unique to schools, administering and managing the financial, site and support services within the school context. As an SBP you provide essential support to school leadership teams, implementing their financial and business decisions.

This role takes place in any school phase (primary, secondary, special) and in different school structures: single academy trusts, multi academy trusts (MATs), local authority maintained schools and federations, etc. This enable you to work in very different settings with varying numbers of people that you report to, including the headteacher or School Business Director (SBD).

The role typically includes:

- drafting and monitoring the school budget, setting up financial controls and reporting on performance to ensure best value for money is achieved; managing payroll, maintaining accounts and financial reporting to the headteacher and governors

- management of the school; procurement of goods and services to achieve best value and oversee contract management, e.g. staff, catering and maintenance contracts

- identification of income generation opportunities on a small scale, supporting the SBD in larger opportunities preparation of marketing materials and lead a range of marketing activities to add value and promote the school externally

- responsibility for managing office and other support staff and for developing and maintaining effective administrative systems, e.g. student record-keeping systems; implementation of school HR processes ensuring compliance with and implementation of safeguarding and Health & Safety policies so that all stakeholders work in a safe and healthy

- and more.

The range of job titles this occupational profile relates to includes School Business Manager, HR Manager, Finance Manager, Office Manager, School Administrator, Business Support Officer, Bursar, and more.

As an Apprentice, you will be working for an employer full-time and studying for a qualification at a college or training provider for 20% of your time. That means you’ll actually be paid to study.

You will be in the workplace and have face-to-face delivery in one of our centres every fortnight. The course is for 18 months.

If you’re interested get in touch with us, or look through our vacancies that are already available. You can also contact us on our website.

Course assessment

End- Point Assessment - The EPA will test the Apprentice against the entire standard. It consists of 2 assessment methods:

• Simulated task. The Apprentice will be given a scenario situation, and, in timed controlled conditions, asked to write a short report and make a presentation, which is followed by questions.

• Project report & presentation with questions and answers (Q&A). The Apprentice will write a formal, detailed structured report on the on-programme workplace project they have completed.

Both the project and the project report must be verified as the Apprentice’s own work. The project report and presentation must be started and completed post-gateway. Verification must be provided by the employer confirming that the work produced is that of the Apprentice. The presentation is followed by questions.

Course progression

On completion, successful individuals will be able to perform the role of the School Business Professional. The qualification may also be used as a stepping-stone for those aspiring to a senior or strategic role in the school business profession.