The document outlines a February checklist for school business managers, including conducting a health and safety audit, budget monitoring, contract monitoring, publishing admission appeals timetables, reviewing staffing structures and curriculum needs, planning ICT requirements, checking service level agreements and contracts, and monitoring pupil premium grant conditions. Top tips are provided for each item, such as ensuring contracts do not allow cost increases and considering integrated ICT solutions for long-term cost savings.

1. D E V E L O P I N G E X C E L L E N C E T O G E T H E R
The SBM February Checklist
For maintained schools
and
academies
by Alex Masters

2. D E V E L O P I N G E X C E L L E N C E T O G E T H E R
Conduct a health and safety audit
 Top tip: Remember that the law does not expect all risk to be
eliminated but it requires protection as far as is ‘reasonably
practicable’.

3. D E V E L O P I N G E X C E L L E N C E T O G E T H E R
Budget monitoring
 Top tip: One good question to ask yourself is: Have I checked
that departments have individual development plans that flow
from the overall SIP?

4. D E V E L O P I N G E X C E L L E N C E T O G E T H E R
Contract monitoring
 Top tip: When negotiating a contract, ensure the contract
does not include a clause that enables them to increase costs
during the contract period.

5. D E V E L O P I N G E X C E L L E N C E T O G E T H E R
Publish the admission appeals timetable
 Top tip: Remember that if your school is genuinely admitting
up to a genuine ‘full’ level, they will succeed in demonstrating
prejudice.

6. D E V E L O P I N G E X C E L L E N C E T O G E T H E R
Review staffing structure and curriculum
needs
 Top tip: Review the effectiveness of your existing structure
and check relevant policies and see if they are due for review.

7. D E V E L O P I N G E X C E L L E N C E T O G E T H E R
EFA issues Year 7 catch-up premium
payment
 Top tip: Ofsted want to see evidence that you are raising the
attainment of your pupil premium pupils and closing the gap.
It’s all about the data. They are not too concerned about how
you achieved it; that’s up to you.

8. D E V E L O P I N G E X C E L L E N C E T O G E T H E R
Plan ICT requirements to be installed
in the summer
 Top tip: Consider more integrated solutions that in the long
run could incur less cost. Come companies offer consultancy
with the package to assess your needs.

9. D E V E L O P I N G E X C E L L E N C E T O G E T H E R
Check SLAs and contracts and
retender if necessary
 Top tip: Don’t forget to include: a description of your
payment rates and terms, a cancelation clause, essential
information and an area to sign to agree to the terms and
conditions.

10. D E V E L O P I N G E X C E L L E N C E T O G E T H E R
EFA publishes pupil premium grant
conditions for next year
 Top tip: For more information check out the Department for
Education website.

11. D E V E L O P I N G E X C E L L E N C E T O G E T H E R
For more information on the February
checklist for School Business Managers,
visit
http://www.optimus-
education.com/app/cat/financial-management/the-
sbm-february-checklist