Services Offered by Future School Solutions

“The role of the head teachers and their workload has grown significantly over recent years, particularly in primary schools.”

BBC News
15/11/2007

“having a specially trained school business manager could save up to a third of head teachers' time”

National College of School Leadership 15/11/2007

Future School Solutions is a solution and service to your school that is tailored to the individual schools needs and is not a “one fits all” approach to financial management. Our goal is to provide a bespoke Business Manager service to local schools that is affordable and produces real results and savings, with recuperation of our costs in the first year. Essentially we are looking to offer schools a personalised, bespoke Business Manager service. We understand that Value for Money is a key requirement of running a successful school.

We have extensive experience of working with schools and provide onsite support by a dedicated Business and Finance Manager. We provide an input in the development of financial management procedures for schools and give specialist advice taking into account local and national directives.

Future School Solutions provides schools with a financial mentor and a dedicated Business and Finance Manager for your school. The Business and Finance Managers role offers:

• 3 – 5 Year budget plans
• V.A.T. and completion of returns
• Tendering on behalf of schools to obtain discounts and savings
• Budget monitoring, analysis, reports and spending plans
• Improving financial processes
• Attendance and presentation at Finance Committees
• Payroll Reconciliations and identification of discrepancies
• File transfer and reconciliations
• Audit preparation and advice
• Consistent Financial Reporting
• Year end reconciliations

Future School Solutions deliver a specialist range of services, using highly motivated professionals, helping schools maximize the use of resources in order to raise educational standards and achieve a brighter future.

Key features of our service include:

• Provision of Financial reports to the Headteacher, Governing Body and Committees, including monitoring reports and long/medium term financial forecasts.
• Providing strategic financial forecasts.
• Processing of reconciliation files and ensuring that the schools financial system and LA Ledger are in agreement.
• Future School Solutions will ensure that the Headteacher receives an independent view of their schools financial position and alert them of any potential difficulties that may arise.

Additional Optional Services:

• Marketing plans
• Bid writing and accessing grants and funding streams
• Corresponding budgets for school improvement/development plans.
• Investment appraisals and management of capital projects.
• Budgeting and accounting for capital projects
• CRB Checks - processing of enhanced disclosures
• Maintenance of database detailing staff disclosures and qualifications
• Maternity Leave Cover
• Personnel Advice

The DCSF, NCSL, and NHAT are all encouraging schools to invest in effective Financial Management. In a recent study, the results were very positive.

Headteachers felt that “even where budgets were stretched they admitted that the question was not whether they could afford the service, but whether they could afford not to have it.

Headteachers valued being able to concentrate on raising standards, through planning, teaching and additional monitoring. Governors were also enthusiastic as the project gave support to several crucial areas, financial management, strengthening the senior management team and tackling administrative overload.”

Read about our company in this recent article in the Manchester Evening News