School Business Professional | Business Apprenticeship | Level 4
Why this apprenticeship?
School Business Professionals (SBPs) perform a role which is unique to schools, administering and managing the financial, site and support services within the school context. They provide essential support to school leadership teams, implementing their financial and business decisions.
SBPs may work in any school phase (primary, secondary, special) and in different school structures: single academy trusts, multi academy trusts (MATs), local authority maintained schools and federations, etc. Consequently, they can work in very different settings with varying numbers of people that they report to including the headteacher or School Business Director (SBD). Within this context, SBPs have a shared number of roles which shape their day-to-day activity to make this a homogeneous role in schools.
SBPs interact with all school stakeholders regularly to advise on and manage school business practices effectively. This requires them to understand educational issues as well as business management.
Their work is performed in the context of ensuring that public funds are used effectively. They must adhere to the principles of making the best use of school resources to enable all students to achieve their potential and to meet the aim of increasing social mobility for children and young people. SBPs must also understand that their role is of vital importance in relation to school governance and compliance. They must have a good understanding of educational policies and be able to implement change.
There is a range of job titles that this occupational profile relates to including a School Business Manager, HR Manager, Finance Manager, Office Manager, School Administrator, Business Support Officer, Bursar, etc.
Entry requirements
You must have an employer in place and be in a suitable role that covers the themes in the course information tab to complete this apprenticeship.
All prospective new apprentices will complete an initial assessment of their current knowledge skills and behaviours through a skill scan. This must indicate that there is substantial new knowledge skills and behaviours to be learnt by completing this apprenticeship.
A prospective apprentice will also need to show that they are currently working at or towards the minimum L2 skills for Maths and English. Where a learner has not already achieved GCSE grade 4 to 9 (A-C ) or equivalent Level 2 English and Maths Functional Skills, they must do so before taking the end-point assessment.
Course content
What does this apprenticeship involve?
The objective of the qualification is to support the learner’s role in the workplace, providing the opportunity to learn and evidence knowledge and skills as part of an apprenticeship.
This qualification has been developed to support learners completing the School Business Professional Apprenticeship Standard and covers the knowledge, skills and behaviours of the standard.
Requirements: Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSBs)
Knowledge: What is required for occupational competence
- Finance
- Procurement
- Human Resources
- Managing Support Services
- Governance and Risk
- Marketing
- Infrastructure
- Ethical Standards
Skills What is required for occupational competence
- Financial and Operational Management
- Project Management
- Change Management
- Communication and Relationship Building
- Strategic Management
Behaviours What is required for occupational competence
- Change Catalyst
- Decision Maker
- Skilled
- Negotiator
- Collaborative
- Resilient
- Challenger
For more detailed information please see
https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/school-business-professional/
Further information
What can I expect from being an Apprentice?
- Excellent vocational training.
- A salary and on-going support from your employer and GB MET.
- In depth experience, insight and understanding of the business sector you are working in.
- A clear career path.
- The opportunity to achieve industry-standard qualifications and even a degree!
How long does an apprenticeship take?
The duration of an apprenticeship depends on:
- Your experience
- Your knowledge
- Your skill levels
- The business sector
- The qualification
Do I need to find an employer?
Yes, you have two options.
Option 1 - The best option is to find an employer yourself who wants to employ you as an apprentice. Once you have done this, simply provide us with the details. We will then contact your employer and handle all the administration so you can begin your apprenticeship at the earliest opportunity.
Option 2 - The GB MET recruitment team will try and find you an employer. The team will firstly invite you for an interview to fully assess your skills and aptitude for your preferred apprenticeship roles and do everything possible to find an employer with a current vacancy or one looking for an apprentice that fits the role you are looking for.
Whichever option applies, our recruitment team is here to guide you through every stage of the process.
Can I undertake an apprenticeship with my current employer?
Yes, discuss it with your employer and, if they agree and subject to conditions, you can become an apprentice where you now work.
What time of year can I start an apprenticeship?
You can apply at any time of the year. The start of your work-based training is dependent on your employer and all new Standard apprenticeships must include 20% off-the-job training.
What is off-the-job training?
Training that is delivered outside of an apprentice’s normal working duties.
Off-the-job refers to an apprentice learning outside a regular day-to-day work environment but within working hours. This includes:
- Practical activities such as shadowing a more skilled member of staff or ‘off-site’ visits to meet customers or attend a trade show,
- Theoretical activities such as online courses, attending seminars and role playing
- Learning by writing reports and work-specific documents
Career and progression
Upon completion, the learner will be eligible to become a Full Member of the Institute of School Business Leadership (ISBL – formerly National Association of School Business Management) upon successful completion of the apprenticeship.
Why choose an apprenticeship?
- As apprenticeships are now offering routes to degree-level qualifications they have become an increasingly preferred career option.
- It’s an organic/natural career choice as apprentices are often offered a permanent, full-time position by their employer once training is completed.
- Certain business sectors offer excellent career potential and the opportunity to earn very competitive salaries.
- As an apprentice, you get to work alongside experienced staff who will help you to develop job-specific skills – and earn a wage at the same time. Earn while you learn.
- Many employers hold Apprenticeships in high regard because they offer real industry experience.
- A successful Apprenticeship provides you with a qualification and the skills you need for your job.
Course fees
Cost for an employer:
For levy payers the maximum funding available for this course is £6,000 which will be taken from your Levy account.
For non-levy payers you will be required to pay a 5% contribution (£300) and the remaining fees will be paid for from the government. If the apprentice is 16 to 18 and they start the course before their 19th birthday they are entitled to 100% of the funding with no contribution from the employer.
Wage for an apprentice:
The minimum wage for an apprentice is £4.81 per hour. This rate applies to those under 19 and those aged 19 or over who are in their first year of their apprenticeship. As an apprentice, you must be paid at least the minimum wage for your age if you’re aged 19 or over and have completed your first year.
The length of program based on someone working 30 hours per week, undertaking the programme for 18 months plus 3 months EPA – If working less than 30 hours per week, the length of the programme is adjusted in line with hours worked.
Other courses you may be interested in …
This apprenticeship provides learners with an excellent foundation for a career in business administration.