School Business Manager

Applicant Pack

CONTENTS

PAGE

Welcome letter 3

Advertisement 5

Further Information/Timeline/How to apply 7

Safer Recruitment 8

Policy Statement on theRecruitment of Ex-Offenders

9

Job Description 11

Person Specification 14

Headteacher: Mrs Jane Scardifield

January 2020

Dear Applicant,

Thank you for your interest in the position of Part Time School Business Manager. We are seeking to appoint a high quality practitioner with drive, enthusiasm and a real passion for primary education to complement our current dedicated team of staff on our journey to further improve standards and maintain excellence.

Over time we have worked to include the whole school community in our successful vision for improvement and we are proud of the strong team spirit and commitment to excellence that has been achieved. Our emphasis is on ensuring that learning is an enjoyable and challenging experience for all our pupils and this is reflected in their positive attitude to school where they are well behaved, enthusiastic and love to learn.

Commitment to our successful school is hard work, yet rewarding and great fun with many opportunities for professional development. Team work is highly valued at Northowram Primary School.

If you feel that you have the ambition, enthusiasm and initiative for this position and wish to discuss this exciting opportunity please contact the school office on 01422 202704 and ask to speak to either Julia Lindsey (existing School Business Manager) or myself.

Visits to the school are warmly welcomed. If you would like to visit our school please call the school office (number as above) to arrange a visit – the following dates are available:

Wednesday 5th February 2020 8.30am Friday 7th February 2020 3.00pm

The following documents are enclosed:

Application Formo Please ensure that this is fully completed, paying particular attention to the employment history

section. The information given must be in the specified format, i.e. dd/mm/yy.o When providing details of referees one must be your current or most recent employer. References will

not be accepted from relatives or from people writing solely in the capacity of friends.o Please note that incomplete application forms will not be accepted.

Application pack

The person specification contains the essential and desirable criteria that the selection panel will be looking for and your application should address these accordingly.

I hope that the information provided in this applicant pack will encourage you to apply for the position of School Business Manager

Northowram School is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its children and therefore we will carry out all relevant employment checks and ask that you complete a Disclosure & Barring Service form.

INSPIRING SUCCESS

BEYOND EXPECTATION

I look forward to receiving your application.

Yours sincerely

Jane Scardifield Headteacher

Part-Time School Business Manager

‘Inspiring success beyond expectation’OUTSTANDING SCHOOL – OFSTED (2016)

18.5 hours per week – (Days to be negotiated) Term-time plus 2 weeksPO1 – 4 (£29,909 - £32,233) pro rata

(£13,435 - £14,479 actual)To start as soon as possible

We are looking for a suitably experienced individual to join our management team as a Part-Time School Business Manager. The successful applicant will have sound financial acumen and effective management skills in other key areas of responsibility (as detailed in the job description).

We are a large two-form entry primary school with a school ethos that sets high expectations, recognises achievement and celebrates success for all our children. We are a thriving and happy school with a great team of staff and we now require an excellent School Business Manager to take a lead on either HR or Finance. You would work in partnership with our existing part-time School Business Manager with energy and enthusiasm to fill this key role in school.

We are looking for an individual with: Current School Business Management or Bursar experience A collaborative team work approach to role sharing A passion for involvement in progressing our whole school vision

In return we offer: An ambitious, successful and vibrant workplace with great staff and children Children who enjoy school and have a positive attitude to their learning Generous investment in staff CPD to develop the quality of teaching and maximise opportunities

The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants to posts that are exempted

from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act will require a DBS check from the Disclosure and Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed. Full employment checks will be completed.

If you would like to join our family of committed and enthusiastic professionals, please download our application pack from http://northowram.calderdale.sch.uk/ or from www.calderdale.gov.uk

Visits to the school are warmly welcomed and can be arranged by telephoning our school office on (01422) 202704 or by e-mail: admin@northowram.calderdale.sch.uk

Please return your application form via e-mail: recruitment@northowram.calderdale.sch.uk or alternatively post to: Northowram Primary School, Baxter Lane, Northowram, Halifax, HX3 7EF.

Closing date: Monday 24th February 2020 at 9.00amShortlisting: Monday 24th February 2020 - PMInterviews: Friday 6th March 2020

Northowram Primary SchoolBaxter Lane

NorthowramHX3 7EF

(Tel: (01422) 202704

Further Information

Background information for the role:

The School Northowram Primary School is a two form entry school located in the heart of the village of Northowram (located between Halifax and Queensbury) and the majority of the pupils come from the local area. We have approximately 420 pupils on role, with a further 50+ pupils in the nursery taking up places over a variety of morning and afternoon sessions up to 30hours a week. Wrap around care is provided by an external provider based in a local church hall.

We are proud to have received Outstanding at our last OFSTED and are an oversubscribed School. We are a Local Authority Maintained School under Calderdale Council control, and currently have no plans to become an academy.

StaffingThe school employs its own cleaning and catering teams which are line managed by the Site Manager and Catering Manager respectively. This gives a staff of approximately 90, and we offer a living wage to staff where this is appropriate.

This roleThe School Business Manager role is split into two half time posts. The work is currently separated by function with one post taking a lead on financial matters and one leading on HR tasks with other tasks being split and shared between the two posts (site Health and Safety and First Aid are managed by the Site Manager and Pastoral team). The job description attached covers both posts as it would be expected that both post holders would have an awareness and ability to cover all tasks and that there would be some flexibility between task allocation between the two posts.

The School uses FMS6 for finance, itrent for HR matters and SIMS for student data. The post is a half time role with some room for negotiation regarding the days worked.

How to ApplyPlease complete the application form provided. The Personal Statement should be no longer than 2 sides of A4 and should address the selection criteria detailed in the person specification. Please note that any supplementary submissions in excess of these limits will be disregarded.

Prior to submitting an application, please check that you meet the essential criteria with regard to essential qualifications requested. If you are invited to interview you will be expected to bring your original educational certificates with you.

Please e-mail your completed application (subject heading: “Confidential – School Business Manager”) to: recruitment@northowram.calderdale.sch.uk

Applications will also be accepted by post. If applying by post, please mark the envelope “Confidential” and return to: Northowram Primary School, Baxter Lane, Northowram, Halifax, HX3 7EF

CommunicationE-mail is our preferred method of communication. Candidates will receive all communication via their e-mail address and we would advise you to check your e-mails on a regular basis.

Acknowledgement of receipt of applicationsWe do not acknowledge receipt of paper applications. Applications submitted on line will however, receive an acknowledgement upon request.

Shortlisted CandidatesShortlisted candidates will be contacted shortly after the closing date. If you do not hear from us within 4-6 weeks, please assume that on this occasion your application has been unsuccessful.

Safer RecruitmentSafer recruitment practice aims to minimise the risk of appointing an individual who is unsuitable to work in a post where they will be in contact with children or vulnerable adults and could cause them harm. This school is fully committed to the principles of safer recruitment

Our selection processes observe best practice in selecting the appropriate candidate by ensuring equality of opportunity for all applicants whilst excluding any who may be unsuitable to work with our children. All candidates are expected to understand their own duties and responsibilities in regard to child protection and safeguarding with due relevance to the specific post advertised.

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) helps employers to make safer recruitment decisions and to prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups, including children. It is a criminal offence to offer (or indeed to apply for, or to accept an offer of) employment in certain designated posts (those which involve working with children in what is defined as regulated activity) to a barred individual.

Accordingly, some or all (depending on the precise role) of the following steps will be taken as part of the recruitment processes:

Confirmation of identity by sight of original official documents (Birth Certificate, Passport etc) Confirmation of professional qualifications (those required to fulfil the post) by sight of original

documentation. Full scrutiny of employment history with clarification to be sought (from candidate or referees as

appropriate) in the event of identified gaps or discrepancies. Satisfactory references – a minimum of two written references (one of which must be from most recent

employer) will be taken up prior to interview. The identity of all referees must be open to verification.

In accordance with DBS regulations all candidates for relevant posts are required to provide details of any relevant unspent convictions. Additionally, for those posts involving “regulated activity”, all “spent” convictions must be disclosed under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

A DBS check will be requested for appointments to all relevant posts. For those involved in “regulated activity” this will include an additional check of the Children’s Barred List.

Any conditional offer of employment will be made strictly subject to receipt of all required documentation (as specified) and satisfactory verification of all checks as above.

Northowram Primary SchoolPolicy statement on the recruitment of ex-offenders

New legislation now requires all registered bodies and prospective employers to ensure that any applicants, subject to Disclosure and Barring Scheme (DBS) checks, who have a criminal record must not be unfairly discriminated against because of a conviction or other information revealed.

In addition registered bodies and employers who undertake Regulated Activity (Schools) must have a written policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders, a copy of which can be given to DBS applicants at the outset of the recruitment process.

As a Regulated Activity provider (RAP) all paid employees at Northowram Primary School provide regulated activity and are therefore subject to checks with the DBS.

This policy statement should be read alongside our Equal Opportunities policy.

Policy Statement As an organisation using the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checking service to assess applicants’ suitability for positions of trust, Northowram Primary School complies fully with the Code of Practice. We undertake not to discriminate unfairly against any subject of a DBS check on the basis of a conviction or other information revealed.

Northowram Primary School is committed to the fair treatment of its staff, potential staff or users of its services, regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, responsibilities for dependants, age, physical / mental disability or offending background.

A summary of this written policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders is made available to all DBS applicants at the outset of the recruitment process by inclusion in the information pack for applicants

Northowram Primary School actively promotes equality of opportunity for all with the right mix of talent, skills and potential and welcome applications from a wide range of candidates, including those with criminal records. We select all candidates for interview based on their skills, qualifications and experience.

In relation to volunteers and contractors, we only request a DBS check after a thorough risk assessment has indicated that one is both proportionate and relevant to the position concerned.

For those positions where a DBS check is required, all application forms, job adverts and recruitment briefs will contain a statement that a DBS check will be requested in the event of the individual being offered the position.

We encourage all applicants called for interview to provide details of their criminal record at an early stage in the application process. We request that this information is sent (under separate, confidential cover) to the Head teacher and we guarantee that this information will only be seen by those who need to see it as part of the recruitment process.

We ensure that all those in our school who are involved in the recruitment process have been suitably trained to identify and assess the relevance and circumstances of offences. We also ensure that they have received

appropriate guidance on the relevant legislation relating to the employment of ex-offenders, e.g. the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and know how to access advice and support e.g. from our HR service, registered body, the DBS, etc.

At interview, or in a separate discussion, we ensure that an open and measured discussion takes place on the subject of any offences or other matter that might be relevant to the position. Failure to reveal information that is directly relevant to the position sought could lead to withdrawal of an offer of employment.

We make every subject of a DBS check aware of the existence of the Code of Practice and make a copy available on request.

We undertake to discuss any matter revealed in a DBS check with the person seeking the position before withdrawing a conditional offer of employment. This discussion and any subsequent risk assessment may be undertaken by senior leaders in school or by our HR service.

NORTHOWRAM PRIMARY SCHOOL

JOB DESCRIPTION – School Business Manager (shared role)

Prime Objectives of the Post

The School Business Manager assists the Headteacher in her duty to ensure the school meets its educational aims including responsibility for financial resource management/administration /office management / information and ICT/human resource management.

The postholder is responsible for providing professional leadership and management of office staff to enhance their effectiveness in order to achieve improved standards of learning and achievement in the school and ensuring the effective use of resources in support of the school’s learning objectives.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership and Strategy Attend appropriate Governors’ sub-committee meetings Plan and manage change in accordance with the school development plan Lead and manage school office staff

Financial Resource Management Evaluate information and consult with the Senior Team and Governors to prepare a realistic and balanced

budget for school activity Submit the proposed budget to the Headteacher and Governors for approval and assist in the overall

financial planning process Discuss, negotiate and agree the final budget Use the agreed budget to actively monitor and control performance to achieve value for money Identify and inform the Headteacher and Governors of the causes of any significant variance and take

prompt corrective action Propose revisions to the budget if necessary, in response to significant or unforeseen development Provide ongoing budgetary information to relevant people Advise the Headteacher and Governors if fraudulent activities are suspected or uncovered Maintain a strategic financial plan that will indicate the trends and requirements of the school

development plan and will forecast future year budgets Seek and make use of specialist financial expertise Maximise income through lettings Select types of investment which are appropriate for the school, taking due account of risks and views of

stakeholders, and identify possible and suitable providers in order to maximise return Present timely and fully costed proposals and recommendations Put formal finance agreements in place with suitable providers for agreed amounts at agreed times and

ensure that all costs and repayment schedules remain fit for purpose Monitor the effectiveness and implementation of agreements

Administration Management

Manage the whole school administrative function and lead office staff Design and maintain administrative systems that deliver outcomes based on the school’s aims and goals Manage systems and link processes that interact across the school to form complete systems Develop process measures that are affordable and that will enable value for money decisions for those

managing resources Establish and use effective methods to review and improve administrative systems Use data analysis, evaluation and reporting systems to maximum effect by ensuring systems are

streamlined to maximise efficiency and avoid duplication Benchmark systems and information to assess trends and make appropriate recommendations Prepare information for publications and returns for the DfES, LEA and other agencies and stakeholders

within statutory guidelines

Office Administration & ICT Management Consider approaches for existing use and future plans to introduce or discard technology in the school Consult with relevant parties to introduce new technology or improve existing technology for different

purposes Ensure that the school has a strategy for using technology aligned to the overall vision and plans for the

school ensuring value for money Communicate relevant strategy and policies, including Data Protection, for use of technology across the

school Establish systems to monitor and report on the performance of technology within the school Ensure resources, support and training are provided to enable work colleagues to make the best use of

ICT Ensure contingency plans are in place in the case of technology failure Ensure data collection systems providing information to stakeholders are streamlined to maximise

efficiency of data supplied

Facility and Property Management Manage, with the Buildings Manager, the letting of school premises to external organisations for the

development of extended services and local community requirements Seek professional advice on insurance and advise the Headteacher on appropriate insurances for the

school and implement and manage such schemes accordingly

Human Resource Management Undertake administration duties for all staff in connection with personnel changes/amendments

(including payroll) Maintain and monitor staff sickness and absence records for all staff Manage recruitment, performance management, appraisal and development records for office staff Create, maintain and update confidential HR records for all staff Arrange for attendance management meetings when required (and take notes at such meetings) Seek and make use of specialist expertise in relation to HR issues Support school leaders with disciplinary/managing allegations etc Provide help and advice to staff and external parties, as and when required, in relation to personnel

matters Organise recruitment processes, from review to appointment, for staff vacancies in line with recruitment

and safeguarding procedures Ensure the school’s HR policies are clearly communicated to all staff in school Ensure that staff have a clear understanding of the policies and procedures and the importance of putting

them into practice Monitor the way policies and procedures are actioned and provide support where necessary Identify the skills, knowledge, understanding and experience required to undertake existing and future

planned activities

Other To have professional regard for the ethos, policies and practices of the school in which you teach, and

maintain high standards in your own attendance and punctuality Perform any reasonable duties as requested by the headteacher

Note

This job description is not your contract of employment or any part of it. It has been prepared only for the purpose of school organisation and may change either as your contract changes or as the organisation of the school is changed. Nothing will be changed without consultation.

School Business Manager (shared role)

Person Specification

Essential – EDesirable – DIdentified at A (Application) I (Interview) R (Reference) E(Exercise)

Qualifications and training E D IDRelevant vocational/NVQ qualification at level 4 or equivalent ✓ ADegree level qualification in a related subject or equivalent eg accountancy ✓ ASchool Business Management qualifications (CSBM, DSBM) or equivalent ✓ AProfessional development activities undertaken within last 2 years ✓ A

ExperienceProven track record in developing and maintaining financial systems and procedures

✓ A/I/R

Proven track record in developing and maintaining administrative systems and procedures

✓ A/I/R

Experience in analysing data and preparing reports for senior management ✓ A/I/RExperience of risk assessments, health and safety and traded services ✓ A/I/RExperience of successful budget management (including tracking performance) ✓ A/I/RExperience of leading day to day finance operations in school context ✓ A/I/RExperience of managing the performance of staff ✓ A/I/R

Knowledge and skillsExcellent oral, interpersonal, organisational, communication and problem solving skills

✓ A/I/E

Ability to negotiate and monitor contracts ✓ A/I/EA knowledge of legal /compliance requirements in schools eg finance, health and safety, reporting etc

✓ A/I/E

Ability to develop and maintain professional relationships with individuals (internal/external)

✓ A/I/R

Ability to effectively use a range of Microsoft IT packages eg word, excel, access, publisher etc

✓ A/I/E

An understanding of school sector finances, resources and management information systems (eg SIMS)

✓ A/I/R

A working knowledge of FMS6 Finance system ✓ A/I/RAn understanding of recruitment processes and the role of safeguarding within it ✓ A/I/RAn understanding of GDPR and its application in schools and an understanding of the importance of confidentiality

✓ A/I/R

Initiative/circumstancesAbility to self-motivate ✓ A/I/RProven effectiveness in decision-making and ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines

✓ A/I/R

Ability to work flexibly ✓ A/I/RWillingness to constructively challenge the work of self and others to continually improve own and team performance

✓ A/I/R

Awareness and commitment to the principles of safeguarding children in school ✓ A/I/R