institute of school business leadership
Manchester
The Institute can trace its origins to informal gatherings amongst the earlier
pioneers of state school business leadership over 40 years ago. As our education
system has evolved, the education workforce has had to adapt. As schools
continue to be afforded more local autonomy, and with it more direct
accountability, the need for well-trained, qualified and competent school
business professionals (SBPs) has become increasingly important in all school
leadership structures. Between 2001 and 2012, the National College led a
government-sponsored programme to develop thousands of SBPs. The coalition
government favoured a move towards a sector-led, self-improving system, which
signalled the end of National College SBP sponsored programmes. To continue the
important SBP workforce professionalisation work initiated by the National
College, in 2017 ISBL became a nationally recognised professional body by being
granted the prestigious status of institute. Our role in the education system
ISBL’s principal function is to provide all education stakeholders with
confidence in the capability of school business professionals. In order to
adequately serve our education system, this workforce needs to consist of
technically competent, highly skilled and experienced practitioners. Here at
ISBL, we set the benchmark for effective practice through sector-endorsed
professional standards and provide development opportunities for our
professional community and their institutions through a portfolio of
quality-assured qualifications, training, resources, research and events.
Helping secure a brighter future for our children: A blueprint for school
business leadership practice This is a statement of ISBL’s intent, with
effective school resource management at its core. It sets out our vision and
commitment to supporting the ongoing development of a critical, fit-for-purpose
workforce, along with the necessary steps towards equipping a cadre of
professionals ready and able to support other school and trust leaders in
responding to the complex challenges of our evolving education system. Download
a copy of the ISBL blueprint here. How we influence policy ISBL aims to remain
politically neutral. Using a non-partisan approach, we provide the Government
with feedback from our community and a technical steer in areas of policy
relevant to our expertise. In essence, we act as the conduit between policy and
practice. We support all school business professionals We recognise the
professional diversity that exists within the SBP community. In a mixed-economy
education system, it is inevitable that there will be a variety of operating
models – some very large and some much smaller. The structures that support
these organisations will differ, as will levels of responsibility,
accountability and complexity. It is therefore unsurprising that there are many
versions of the SBP role. As an institute, it is our aim to develop and support
practitioners at every stage of their career journey, whether they are an
aspiring SBP, a practitioner in a standalone setting or indeed operating at an
executive level across a number of schools.
