School Resource Management Advisers

1. School Resource Management Advisers • About School Resource Management Advisers • In 2017-18, the ESFA piloted the introduction of independent and accredited School Resource Management Advisers (SRMAs). • SRMAs are practicing sector experts that work collaboratively with schools and trusts identified by the ESFA as having the greatest financial need. • They provide peer-to-peer, expert and tailored advice on how schools and trusts can make best use of their revenue and capital resources to deliver the best possible educational outcomes for their pupils.

2. SRMA • The overall objective of the SRMA visit is to support the school to make best use of available resource to provide an outstanding education to its pupils. • In cases where a school has a deficit, this will involve looking at the underlying reasons for this position and supporting that school to develop strategies to eliminate that deficit. • In cases where a trust forecasts a deficit, it will involve developing a strategy that will prevent that school from going in to deficit. • The Institute of School Business Leadership is contracted to deliver induction and accreditation for all SRMAs to ensure they have the right skills and experience for their role. • The ESFA is working with 9 organisations who manage and supply SRMAs across the country. • There is a list of all 9 organisations appended to these slides and a breakdown of individual SRMA’s who have expressed an interest in being involved in any collaboration.

3. SRMA • To be accredited the ISBL drew on its membership and those categorised as Fellows. Fellows have already undergone robust selection criteria and peer review. That group where requested to provide an expression of interest in the SRMA project. • Currently all SRMA’s have been accredited by ISBL (contracted by Department for Education)

4. SRMA • ISBL Professional Standards • A major priority for NASBM in 2015 was the development of a suite of professional standards for school business leaders, comparable to those already available for other staff in schools. • There have been significant developments in the education sector since then, and we felt the time was right to review these standards to ensure both their natural evolution and relevance. • There are many new iterations of school business leadership; some operating as generalist, some as specialist and indeed now a number of practitioners operating at senior executive level. These are now all accommodated within our revised standards. • Many SBLs will now be working across multiple establishments and in some cases multiple regions as centralisation becomes more commonplace. But with greater opportunity comes increased accountability. • These standards are intended to:  • Set out the core and specialist areas of competence required to be successful in a role as a School Business Leader • Assist those currently working in, or aspiring to work in, the school business profession to perform their role as expertly and efficiently as possible; • Set out the content of both initial and continuing professional development for those entering or developing their career in the profession; • Provide a framework for the development of qualifications and other professional recognition for school business professionals. • The standards have been used by head teachers and governors to inform and underpin the recruitment and performance management of school business professionals.

5. SRMA • Typically a SRMA Professional would look at the following to put together a well informed Recovery Plan where a deficit is evident: • Management accounts • Published accounts • Staff structures • Timetable • Pupil numbers • Academic outcomes • Existing Recovery plan • Other funding options • Benchmarking data • Ask questions Holistic View – Concept is to Think Big and Dig Deep Small consistent steps more effective than the “Silver Bullet” approach Eg: Staff costs at c. 90% of Operating Income? Is it teaching staff? Class size / pupil numbers Poor staff utilisation Average pay grade TLRs & R+Rs Over delivery 16-19 provision Is it support staff? Is it SLT being oversized? Is it all of the above and other issues as well?

6. SRMA • School Efficiency Matrix

7. SRMA KPI’s • Context Checking • Answers may lead to more questions • Don’t be put off from asking • Don’t forget to check the context • Number of teaching staff FTE • Number on roll divided by 20 • SLT FTE • 1 per 200 on roll • Support Staff FTE • Number on roll divided by 40 • Excess middle leaders • How many on leadership spine? • Self Generating Income • Catering and lettings: are they better than cost neutral? • Non Pay – robustness • Is contract management and procurement robust? • Non Pay – is available budget sufficient? • Staff costs as % of operating income

8. SRMA • Questions that may be asked: • A long list covering: • Income • Expenditure • Culture • Ratios & Other Questions • Procurement • Includes the reason for asking • Not an exhaustive list • Key Concepts of Lean • Value Your core purpose. If your “customers” could “pay”, what would they pay you to do? What would they not pay for? • Value added activities Activities that directly contribute to achieving the ‘Purpose’ • SBM Value Statement “To maximise the proportion of the school’s resources (people, money, materials, equipment) that are devoted to the school’s core purpose; helping children to learn” • Waste Anything that does not add value (Everything else)

9. SRMA • Waste Spotting Template

10. SRMA • The Output of a plan • A top ten list of recommendations • Include potential savings • Include other funding options • Sign post other support • Questions to ask: • Are the recommendations well reasoned? • Are they proportionate? • Will they stand up to scrutiny? • Am you confident presenting them? • Have you considered pupil outcomes?

11. SRMA • Licence Holders – Contracts in place with Department for Education for deployment of School Resource Management Advisers – Direct liaison with ESFA. • THEODORE AGNEW • Lord Agnew Kt DLParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the School SystemSanctuary Buildings • Great Smith Street • Westminster • London • SW1P 3BT • tel: 0370 000 2288 • www.education.gov.uk/help/contactus • Chris StottAMSD Forecasting and Adviser Support • Mobile: 07584 277 269 • Telephone: 0114 274 2926 • 2 St Paul's Place 125 Norfolk StreetSheffieldS1 2FJ • Chris.Stott@education.gov.uk • The team mailbox is ESFA.SRMA@education.gov.uk

12. School Resource Management Advisers

13. School Resource Management Advisers