Information, tools, training, and guidance to help schools and trusts save money on day-to-day costs.

The department is committed to working alongside schools and trusts to help them improve outcomes for pupils by getting the best value from all of their resources. The tools and links on this page will help ensure that every pound counts. These resources are for school leaders, school business professionals, school staff and governing bodies in all maintained schools, academies, and free schools, as well as local authorities.

To view videos giving advice and tips on the various areas of school resource management see the department’s YouTube videos on Excellent School Resource Management. To view case studies which highlight examples of how several schools have benefited from applying excellent school resource management see the School resource management: case studies collection.

If you require more hands-on support you can request a visit from one of our School Resource Management Advisors (SRMAs). SRMAs are free, are experts on school resource management, and provide hands-on advice and support to all schools. To request a SRMA visit, or for more information on the school resource management portfolio, contact us.

Supporting excellent school resource management

The school resource management strategy guidance provides more information on the department’s approach and offer.

Understanding your data

How you collect and analyse data, and knowing what data can tell you about your school’s performance, is crucial to achieving excellent school resource management. These tools and guides will help you use your data effectively.

School workforce

Tools and advice intended to help you plan and manage your workforce. In particular, they will help you reduce workload and combine your curriculum planning with your financial planning. These resources will also help you to save money on costs of recruiting staff, deploying your staff effectively and aligning staffing plans with your school capacity, needs and budget.

Non-staff costs

Advice and tools to help you get the best value for money when purchasing goods and services for your school. They can help schools get the best leverage possible on procurement spend, skills and expertise.

School business professionals

The role of school business professionals (SBPs) within schools is extremely important in ensuring good school resource management. These resources have been developed to help SBPs in their role.

Guidance for governors

Effective challenge by governors is a critical part of good school resource management. These tools and guides can help school governors in their role. The ‘View my financial insights’ (VMFI) tool includes a downloadable output for governors, which contains a snapshot of the key financial performance metrics for their school.

Digital support

The ‘Get help with technology’ programme provides advice on how to set up, distribute and manage your digital technology.

Published 12 January 2016
Last updated 21 April 2021 + show all updates

  1. Page updated to bring up to date.

  2. Added link to integrated curriculum and financial planning guidance.

  3. Added new version of the schools financial value standard.

  4. Added ‘Join the School Business Professionals’ (SBP) user group’.

  5. Amended to make it clearer that this applies to both schools and multi-academy trusts.

  6. Added ‘School resource management self-assessment tool’.

  7. Added ‘Supporting excellent school resource management’ guidance.

  8. Renamed page and included new content.

  9. Updated text describing the section on schools financial training and peer support.

  10. Updated with new and updated materials supporting schools financial health and efficiency.

  11. Updated to add information about schools financial health checks, the role of the school business manager and guidance for schools about moving to cloud computing services.

  12. Updated to provide a link to buying for schools information.

  13. First published.

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