Dear colleagues,
The Department for Education (DfE) recognises and supports the importance of having a professionalised school business profession where every individual is well-qualified, working towards qualification, or suitably skilled. This includes school business professionals (SBPs) having access to high-quality training, underpinned by employers who understand and support their SBPs career development.
Working in conjunction with the Institute of School Business Leadership (ISBL), DfE are pleased to offer fully funded Regional In-Person Training for SBPs working in or with, local authority maintained schools, academies, and trusts. The sessions are aimed at SBPs whose responsibilities include, but are not limited to, finance, procurement, HR, admin and operational leadership.
There are two types of fully funded sessions available offering practical professional development across a range of topics, including:
- Integrated curriculum and financial planning
- Financial planning and budgeting assumptions (separately for LA maintained schools and trusts)
- Procurement
- Strategic planning and operational leadership
- Human resources and flexible working
- Leadership and leading change
- Professional development
Open sessions are being held across all nine DfE regions and are available to book on a first come, first served basis. Sessions are currently available to book for the summer term for the first 4 topics listed above. More sessions will be available up to March 2027.
Closed sessions are a great way for academy trusts, a group of schools or federation or a local network to host a bespoke session. The group selects the topic, provides the venue and SBPs, and ISBL deliver the session – all fully funded by DfE.
For further information on both open and closed sessions, including how to book or register your interest, please visit: Regional In-person Training Sessions — ISBL or email SBP.Policy@education.gov.uk.
