Application Pack

School Business Manager

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Contents Letter from the Principal Page 3

Welcome to the School Page 5

Values - Meadowfield School Page 6

Job Description Page 7

Staff Benefits Page 11

Guidance on completing the Application Form Page 12

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Letter from the Principal

Dear potential candidate –

Thank you for considering the post of School Business Manager at Meadowfield School.

Meadowfield School is an outstanding (OFSTED 2014) special school located in Sittingbourne and serves pupils with profound, severe and complex needs including autism. We currently have approximately 270 pupils and are comprised of the following:

Lower School which includes our Observation and Assessment Nursery called Honey Bees Secondary Department 6th Form MIDAS Centre

We work hard to ensure all of our pupils make excellent progress. We continually seek to improve and recent new initiatives include: Forest School, sensory circuits, therapeutic singing, gong therapy, increased work experience opportunities and yoga for special needs.

Our MIDAS (Meadowfield Inclusion Development and Support) Centre is our highly regarded inclusion and outreach service which successfully supports over 60 schools and 70 settings across Swale, increasing capacity to meet the needs of pupils with additional needs.

We also support the development of special education across Kent through our role as a Teaching School and as a National Support School.

We are a growing school and Kent County Council is working with us to expand in order that we can better meet the demand for special school places in Swale. Phases 1 and 2 of our expansion programme are now complete with Phases 3 and 3A, which include a new sports hall, 6th Form and additional classrooms, will begin soon for occupation in September 2019. At the end of our expansion programme, we will be able to accommodate another 100 pupils.

This is an exciting opportunity to join an exceptional school as part of the Senior Management Team, to ensure effective resource management across the school while contributing to the successful delivery of the school’s strategic objectives.

Due to promotion, the Governing Body invites applications from suitably experienced and dynamic candidates to work the Principal, Leadership Group, Senior Management Team, staff and pupils to take the school forward into its next stage of development, leading on all aspects of finance.

The successful candidate will have the Certificate/Diploma in School Business Management and it is desirable, although not essential, to have experience in an education setting. Candidates will have an engaging personality, lots of energy, excellent communication skills and a good sense of humour. The ability to think and plan creatively and strategically is essential.

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Meadowfield School is committed to the continuing professional development of all staff. We encourage all our employees to further their career development and we respect initiative and ambition. As such, Meadowfield is committed to performance management, staff training, coaching, mentoring and peer support. All staff are positively encouraged to progress. In return, we expect commitment to the school and a desire to improve and excel in all things. All new recruits to our team will be further supported by a comprehensive induction programme.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

All appointments to Meadowfield School are conditional upon a satisfactory DBS check and a health questionnaire. In addition, the school will require references to be taken up after shortlisting but prior to interview. Candidates will be expected to have a minimum of two references one of which must be your current or most recent employer. All sections of the reference form will need to be completed for the reference to be acceptable.

Should you wish to visit Meadowfield School and/or have an informal discussion with the Principal, Jill Palmer, please contact Jill Devine, HR Administrator and she will be happy to make arrangements for you. We look forward to welcoming you. Sincerely –

Jill M. Palmer Principal Meadowfield School

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Welcome

Meadowfield School

Meadowfield School is the District Special School for Swale located in Sittingbourne and currently has 267 pupils with profound, severe and complex needs including autism. We are comprised of the following:

Lower School Department comprised of: Early Years which includes our Observation and Assessment Nursery, Honey Bees (38 pupils – 3 classes) and Primary Department (110 pupils – 13 classes)

Secondary Department (84 pupils – 9 classes) 6th Form (52 pupils – 6 classes)

Approximately 47% of our pupils have a primary need of Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), approximately 34% have a Severe Learning Difficulty (SLD), and approximately 10% have a Profound Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD). In addition, pupils may have speech, language and communication needs, physical difficulties, multi-sensory impairments and social, emotional and mental health difficulties.

We offer support, training and advice to schools, nurseries and settings throughout Swale through our Specialist Teaching and Learning Service (STLS) and through our Meadowfield Inclusion Development and Support Centre (MIDAS).

Meadowfield is a modern, purpose built school designed to enable easy access to all of our facilities and we will see significant expansion over the next several years.

We are an ambitious school that celebrates the success of each individual.

What we are most proud of, however, are our pupils who make outstanding progress over time from their starting points and who are well prepared for their next stage. The staff of Meadowfield (180 staff members) are highly skilled, dedicated, enthusiastic and have high expectations of what pupils can achieve.

‘From the Nursery to the 6th Form,

pupils develop a joy of learning at

Meadowfield School’

Ofsted, November 2014

Values - Meadowfield School

School Values Co-operative Trust

Values

Fundamental

British

Values

Pupil and stakeholder voice

PROUD Democracy Democracy

Moral Values

SAFE Self—Responsibility Rule of Law

Development of Citizenship

ENTHUSIASTIC Equity and Solidarity Individual Liberty

Equality of Opportunity

WELCOMING Equality Respect and Tolerance

Independence

HAPPY Self-Help

Job Description

Job Title: School Business Manager

Location: Meadowfield School, Sittingbourne, Kent

Reports to: Principal

Job type: Full Time

Salary: Kent Range 11 (salary negotiable for an exceptional candidate)

Job Context: Meadowfield is a special school which caters for 270 pupils from 3 to 19 years with profound, severe and complex learning needs. The school is divided into Lower School, Secondary, 6th Form, Honey Bees Observation & Assessment Nursery and the Meadowfield Inclusion Development & Support (MIDAS) Centre. MIDAS is used to deliver the school’s inclusion and outreach training in conjunction with the Swale Specialist Teaching & Learning Service. Meadowfield is part of the Kent Special Educational Needs Trust and the Collaborative Learning Alliance of Special Schools. Dimensions: Budget: Manages (in consultation with the Principal/Full Governing Body) the school budget in excess of £5.7m which includes the Honey Bees Observation & Assessment Unit budget (£84,700) and the Swale Specialist Teaching & Learning Service/outreach training budgets (£632,680). Job Purpose: To be the school’s leading support staff professional and to work as part of the Senior

Management Team to assist the Principal in her duty to ensure that the school meets its educational aims.

To provide professional leadership and management of school support staff in partnership with teaching staff, to enhance their effectiveness in order to achieve improved standards of learning and achievement in the school.

To promote the highest standards of business ethos within the administrative function of the school and strategically ensure the most effective use of resources in support of the school’s learning objectives.

To be responsible for financial management and compliance, procurement and contract management, policy management.

To attend Full Governing Body meetings and relevant committee meetings. To implement relevant themes in the Strategic School Improvement Plan and carry out

monitoring visits with link governors. To have a full understanding of policies and procedures and to implement plans which

demonstrate an awareness of the longer term impact of the decisions being made.

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RESPONSIBILITIES 1) Leadership and Strategy:

To demonstrate a commitment to the maximisation of the educational opportunities and

achievement of pupils. To ensure that every student and staff member has the support necessary to maximise their

achievement in the school, whilst ensuring value for money. To have the ability to make a difference to the learning of pupils and staff and to the working

environment of the whole school community. To have the ability to work effectively under pressure in a fast moving, demanding and

expanding environment, making accurate judgements on strategic and operational matters. To contribute to the strategic direction of the school. To participate in strategic decision making and ensure that the business service implications of

all decisions are duly considered and all financial implications are rigorously explored to ensure the viability of strategic decisions.

To ensure strategic planning for the development and maintenance of the school’s premises and estate to meet current and future needs.

To have the ability to lead on complex initiatives including capital build projects. To take an innovative approach to resource management. To have the ability to embrace continuous change and new challenge. To have the ability to develop other people and to be an approachable and collegiate leader. To attend Senior Management and governing body meetings. In the absence of the Principal, to support the designated Deputy Principal so that they can take

delegated responsibility for financial decisions. To keep up to date with national issues relating to business management of schools and to keep

the Executive Team/Senior Management Team updated as appropriate. To monitor the relevant legal, regulatory, ethical and social requirements and the effect they

have on the school. To monitor the way policies and procedures are actioned and provide support where necessary. To contribute to the school’s teaching school work as a lead CLASS School (Collaborative

Learning Alliance of Special Schools). To work collaboratively with other Kent special schools as a founding member of KSENT (Kent

Special Educational Needs Trust).

2) Financial Management and Compliance To produce an annual 3 year budget plan for the school to monitor and improve the

effectiveness of the deployment of resources against future business and school needs and the achievement of income targets.

To oversee the financial activities of the school, ensuring that they are carried out according to financial regulations and best value principles.

To work closely with the Principal, Senior Management Team and governors to evaluate information and prepare realistic and balanced budgets.

To lead the overall financial planning process to ensure best value for money. To ensure that payroll functions operate effectively. To use appropriate data to make financial forecasts to allow strategic forward planning. To ensure robust budgetary control arrangements are in place to enable monitoring of income

and expenditure against budgets and ensure corrective action is taken where appropriate. To maximise income and reduce expenditure for the school. To carry out benchmarking activities to review best value for money and to make suitable

recommendations for improvements.

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To ensure that all procurement is carried out in line with the relevant financial regulations and that contracts are reviewed in line with best value principles.

To ensure that the school maintains an asset register. To ensure that the school maintains an asset register.

3) Premises & Facilities Management

To support the best utilisation of the school’s premises. To support building programmes by identifying appropriate funding sources, writing business

cases and ensuring that implementation remains within the project scope. To liaise with the Facilities Manager to ensure the safe maintenance and secure operation of all

activities on the school premises. To ensure ancillary services (such as catering and cleaning) are monitored and managed

effectively.

4) Other Duties To be responsible for managing a multi-disciplinary team. To work collaboratively with the appointed fundraiser to identify alternative sources of funding

and to raise the profile of the school. To work alongside the school’s appointed transport manager to operate pupil transport. Research the feasibility of school lettings with the potential of managing these in the future. To ensure that school is fully compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). To work alongside pupils, parents/carers, staff, governors, leadership and KCC in regard to

expansion of the school. To promote and maintain the standards of the school's commitment to safeguarding pupils. To be aware of the school's duty of care in relation to staff, pupils and visitors and at all times to

carry out duties in accordance with the school's health and safety policy. To be aware of and comply with the codes of conduct, policies and procedures of the school and

its commitment to equal opportunities. To contribute to whole school events as and when required.

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Person Specification Qualifications and Experience: Holder of the Certificate/Diploma in School Business Management qualification. Holder of an accountancy related qualification. Extensive knowledge of complex financial procedures and regulations. Knowledge of FMS6 and SIMS. Leadership and Management: Experience of successfully leading at a strategic level within the senior management team of an

organisation. Must be an effective leader committed to partnership working.

Professional Skills and Attributes:

A strategic thinker and have significant, proven business administration and management

experience. Experience of successfully leading budgetary management and control processes within an

organisation. Experience of managing procurement contracts for services and service level agreements. Proven and demonstrable effective line management of a diverse team of people. Knowledge of school procedures/policies, KCC regulations, audit requirements, health and safety

and employment legislation. A flexible, efficient and analytical approach is required with the ability to resolve complex

problems and work on own initiative to tight deadlines. The ability to analyse and interpret data. Ability to lead and manage decisively within a collaborative ethos. Committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils.

Personal Skills and Attributes: A fluent and effective communicator with highly developed interpersonal skills including

emotional intelligence. Negotiating skills in order to interact effectively with colleagues, staff, governors and other

stakeholders. A professional role model for pupils and staff. Ability to create, manage and maintain effective working relationships with staff, parents,

external agencies and other stakeholders. Flexibility, sensitivity and tact. Must possess a genuine interest in education and the ability to develop a positive working

relationship with pupils. Adheres to and encourages in others professional standards of ethics and integrity.

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Staff Benefits

We understand what an important role our staff play in the creation and development of our

learning environment. Designed to enhance your day to day working life, we offer some excellent

benefits:

Benefits include:

A thorough induction provided to support new staff members.

Continuing professional development opportunities.

Going that extra mile

All staff at Meadowfield School are eligible for a range of financial and personal benefits which

include, but are not limited to:

Financial Incentive packages.

Kent Rewards.

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Guidance on completing the Application Form

The application form will form the basis for shortlisting. It is important therefore, that all information

relating to your application should be included on the application form. For reasons of consistency

and fairness in selecting shortlisted candidates, CV’s will not be considered. A brief covering letter is

acceptable but this will not be considered as part of your application so it should not be used to

provide further detail of your experience. Please complete all sections of the application form;

please ensure that you use the job description and person specification as your guide. The person

specification describes, for example, the skills, qualities and knowledge that we require from the

successful application and will be used as a basis for shortlisting. Please also use this person

specification as the basis of your personal statement.

Present and Previous Employment

As part of the school’s safer recruitment procedures, we will need to see a full employment history.

All relevant work experience including part-time work, temporary jobs or voluntary work should be

included. Please provide a short explanation of any career breaks that you may have had. Ensure

that the information is provided in chronological order with the most recent first.

Continuing Professional Development

Please give details of significant aspects of your continuing professional development over the last

three years.

Personal Statement

This section provides you with the opportunity to:

Provide examples of the skills, personal qualities and experience that you have that are

relevant to the post.

Articulate your vision and values in relation to the school’s context.

Provide any further, relevant information about yourself and your achievements that you

have not included elsewhere in the application.