The Optimus blog

The blog that inspires leaders in the UK education sector

The Optimus blog

The blog that inspires leaders in the UK education sector

NASBM

John Viner

The coming of age of the school business manager

John Viner returns to the starting blocks with a focus on what has happened in the increasingly professional world of SBMs. The professionalism of the school business manager (SBM), with its high expectations and high accountability is in significant contrast to its amateur beginnings and it may be...
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Liz Worthen

When finance met fine dining: modelling efficiencies in MATs

Our MATs Summit prelude brought financial management heads together to discuss fairer funding and money-saving in multi-academy trusts. Models for growth The afternoon began with an exploration of models and structures led by Matthew Clements-Wheeler, business manager and deputy headteacher at...
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Matthew Clement...

Fairer funding or financial catastrophe? Stephen Morales on challenging the status quo

I recently asked Stephen Morales, CEO of the Institute of School Business Leadership, for his view on the impact of recent funding issues on schools. Throughout the interview, Stephen was as measured and diplomatic as you would expect of someone in his position. ISBL (formerly NASBM) is an...
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Alex Masters

NASBM awards celebrate SBM transformation

The recent NASBM awards ceremony showed how dramatically the role of the SBM has changed. But there is still more to be done to promote understanding. The education landscape is in a constant state of flux: from policy change and academy growth to MATs expansion and LA contraction. These changes...
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Alex Masters

Bravo to the NASBM awards: celebrating our unsung heroes

Optimus content lead Alex Masters supports the crucial role of the SBM and welcomes this year’s NASBM awards . It’s distressing to hear a grown man crying on the phone. This was someone I’d never spoken to before: a school business manager sitting alone in his office and at his wit’s end. This SBM...
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Alex Masters

NASBM and the Professional Standards Framework

NASBM are currently consulting on their Professional Standards Framework: this could be transformational for school business managers. Optimus content lead, Alex Masters reports. We have heard some depressing stories over recent months: SBMs have told us how they often feel disrespected and...
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