It’s been said that the role of school business leader is boundaryless. And having been an SBL, I completely agree. Due to the nature of the role and the depth and breadth of responsibility that comes with it, access to quality CPD is a must.

The main issue with SBL CPD is that it is often targeted solely toward the attainment of qualifications or knowledge acquisition. Though this is of course important, CPD to support the application of this knowledge in context and the personal development of critical skills is often neglected.

How we perform and develop as leaders is not just about what we know. It’s about how we interpret, adapt, apply and execute this knowledge in our context and it’s about how, as individuals, we operate within that context.

For school business leaders, this form of development is hampered by the fact that they are solo operators, very much like a Headteacher. They may lead a number of teams and work alongside the Senior Leadership Team but nobody in the school has first-hand knowledge of the demands of this role or the capacity required to deliver it. Being the ‘only one’ can lead to school business leaders feeling rather lonely and isolated. This also often means that they end up struggling in silence.

By providing the opportunity for school business leaders to engage in coaching or mentoring, they will have not only the opportunity to explore their strengths, priorities and challenges but also gain the benefit of advice and guidance of an experienced fellow school business professional.

Working with a coach or mentor can provide school business leaders with a practical, professional and personal support system, which in turn can directly enhance their performance, capacity and impact. 

Whilst cost, time and capacity may be of concern to you as a Headteacher, coaching arrangements are often time limited, goal focused and flexibly undertaken. Many coaching services are also less costly and have a higher, longer-term impact than other often more expensive CPD options.

Here are my top tips for Headteachers looking to support their school business leader to engage with coaching or mentoring:

Arrange a meeting with your School Business Leader to discuss their development

To avoid getting bogged down in day to day business, calendar a meeting with your SBL with the sole purpose of discussing their professional development. It is important that this time is blocked in the calendar, isn’t cut short and as far as possible, is uninterrupted. 

Discuss with your SBL whether they feel that coaching would be of benefit to their development and how you might be able to accommodate this

It may be that your SBL has already considered coaching as a CPD activity but hasn’t felt able to broach the topic or it may be that they haven’t actively considered it but would be open to exploring it. Either way, both of you need to be clear on whether this type of CPD is appropriate and if so, how it will support both the development of the SBL and the progress of the school.  

Signpost them to a place where they can source a coach or mentor

This could be an informal arrangement via the local SBL regional network or it could be through discussions with SBLs in schools that you’re already collaborating with. There are also a number of independent and experienced school business professionals who provide focused and bespoke coaching services.

Arrange a follow up meeting with your SBL to iron out the details

To avoid both you and your SBL being bounced into making a commitment or decision, schedule another meeting when you have both had opportunity to reflect on what you have discussed. It will also allow time for additional research to be undertaken into all the options you have agreed to explore and potentially support. 

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Written for: Primary School Management Magazine (@primaryleaders)