School Business Manager
Anticipated start date: 1st September 2025
(note: Fir Ends is a Foundation School and the Governing Body, not the Local Authority, are the employer)
Role details: Dependent on qualifications and experience
BS6/BS7 for a trainee; BS8 with/on completion of appropriate level 4 training
Cumbria Salary grade: Grade 6/7 for trainee; Grade 8 with level 4 training
Salary sale point: SCP 7/14 for trainees; SCP 19 with level 4 training
Salary range: £25 584 to £31 586 (pro-rata*) Equivalent Hourly rates: £13.26 (SCP7) to £16.37 (SCP20)
Hours: 25 hours per week
Working periods: Term time + 5 days (equivalent to 39 weeks)
Full-time, permanent
Hours of work: 25 per week; working flexibly between Monday to Friday in term time + 1 week of additional time that is intended to ensure that administrative functions are maintained during scheduled INSET days and longer school closure periods. It is anticipated that these will be worked across 3-4 days in each week.
Holiday entitlement: On appointment, the role has a paid holiday entitlement of 5.6 weeks. It is anticipated that these will generally coincide with school holiday periods.
Training information: Online and local apprenticeship training is available for candidates who do not yet hold an appropriate level 4 business management qualification or require further training to fully understand the role in schools. During any necessary initial training period, additional hours of up to 5 per week can be paid to enable the post holder to access relevant training.
Pension: Post-holders will have access to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). Further details can be found here: https://www.cumberland.gov.uk/hr-policies-and-procedures/pensions
About The Role
The Governors of Fir Ends Primary school invite applications for this important and diverse role as part of the senior leadership team within our school.
The School Business Manager has a central role in supporting and reporting to the Headteacher and governing body to effectively manage the school and its estate. This involves working pro-actively across diverse areas including administration, finance, line management, human resources, payroll, premises management and health & safety. The role also includes delivering a positive front-of-house experience to school visitors, managing administrative and operational work and responding to email and telephone communications from parents, suppliers and other stakeholders. Working within a school environment also means that post-holders may be called upon to administer basic first-aid, package up lost teeth for the tooth fairy, supervise playtimes or accompany school trips; it’s unlike any other office job!
Although prior experience of school operations and financial management would be preferred, it is not essential as these can be learned; we invite applications from candidates who demonstrate an appropriate skillset and a commitment to developing a thorough understanding of school specific aspects of the role through additional training as appropriate.
The post is open to those who already hold a relevant level-4 qualification and those who would like to attain it through an apprenticeship route.
Trainees will be initially employed as BS6 or BS7, depending on previous experience and qualifications. Candidates who already hold an appropriate level 4 qualification and experience will be employed at BS8.
The role and procedures associated with it have been developed over recent years by previous postholders, and it is anticipated that this development will be ongoing.
It is currently supported by a part-time office administrator, working nine hours per week, and there are active school business manager communities in the local cluster and County, which post-holders are encouraged to engage with to access peer support.
Full details of the role and its requirements can be found in the application pack.
The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Friday 20 June 2025 and it is anticipated that interviews will be held in week commencing 7 July 2025 with the headteacher and representatives of the governing body.
An application pack can be requested by:
• visiting the school website: www.fir-ends.cumbria.sch.uk/vacancies.
• emailing head@fir-ends.cumbria.sch.uk;
• calling the school on 01228 675283
The application pack contains:
1. Role profile
2. CCC Role descriptions for grades BS6, BS7 & BS8 and JWC salary scales
3. Executive summary pro forma based on person description for the role
4. CCC Application form (pdf)
5. Statement of disclosure pro forma
Completed applications should be returned via post to the school, or via email to head@firends.cumbria.sch.uk.
Safeguarding Statement:
Fir Ends School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all its staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
All posts are subject to satisfactory references, enhanced DBS disclosure and Occupational Health assessment, prior to appointment.
To comply with safeguarding procedures and policies, all application forms should be completed in full. A confidential statement of self-disclosure will be requested if you are shortlisted for interview and we reserve the right to carry out an online search prior to interview.