Case histories — shared bursar arrangements
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The White Paper ' Schools — Achieving Success' confirmed the Government's commitment to train 1,000 bursars by 2006. However, some smaller schools may not be able to afford to employ a full time bursar/business manager, even though their needs and responsibilities may be similar to larger schools. One solution to this problem is to share the services of a bursar among a group of schools.
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Linda Brook is the School Finance Team Leader at the City of York LEA. The LEA already offers popular financial and peripatetic bursar sevices. However, consultation with schools showed the need for support at a higher level, especially to help smaller/primary schools to implement the 'remodelling' agenda sucessfully. The LEA are therefore piloting a School Business Manager (SBM) Service to assist head teachers by working along side them in a management role — helping with strategic planning, human resources, premises, office management and training. Early feedback from heads include — "the sevice has undoubtedly started to impact on my workload" and "the SBM's wider experience of schools means that good ideas and good practice can be disseminated".
Clare Sanders is the Lead Business Manager of a shared School Business Manager (SBM) programme in North Bristol. The programme involves three SBM's covering eight primary schools, which had no previous bursarial support. Each SBM specialises in different aspects of school management, such as Health & Safety, human resources, and facilities. The schools soon experienced tangible benefits from the programme, such as - £25,000 'missing funds' located on an LEA account; and reduction in class management time by improved use of pupil data base. Headteacher comments include — "I have already noticed that I am giving more quality time to children and teachers in and out of the classroom".
Nine primary schools from the Nottingham Inner City Schools Consortium share a Budget Management Assistant, who works closely with all school-based personnel involved with the budgetary process, particularly Headteachers. The consortium set up management group made up of the three Headteachers on rota, for day-to-day coordination and management of the programme.
Firle primary school decided to advertise for a part-time 'finance assistant' (four hours per week with extra during peak times). The Headteacher, Lesley Mason, targeted existing bursars who would be interested in extra work. A bursar from a local school was appointed and Lesley discussed the arrangement with the Headteacher of the bursar's main school to effectively "clear the way" by explaining that this would not impinge on the bursar's main role. Lesley is enthusiastic about the benefits of such shared arrangements as "...we have the huge advantage of using an experienced bursar".
