What do schools really need right now? Understanding... And work experience opportunities for students
Talk to anyone working in the education sector and most of them will tell you they are either burnt out, or getting there very quickly. With so many challenges faced by school business managers - such as managing the school’s reopening, balancing the books, as well as the mental and physical wellbeing of staff and pupils – it’s difficult to know where to start.
School support staff are playing a vital role in keeping schools running, ensuring they can stay open to vulnerable children and those whose parents are key workers, while helping teachers to work effectively in these challenging circumstances. Yet the work of support staff can sometimes go unrecognised and under-appreciated.
To demonstrate that you’re not alone in not knowing where to start, we asked school business managers what they need right now in order to move forward. It’s no surprise that most simply asked for support, understanding, encouragement, patience, recognition and to be part of the community. They’ve also urged businesses to help in whatever way they can whether it be donating laptops or offering virtual (or future) work experience opportunities to students.
There has been a real shortage of opportunities for young people in gaining experience, as it commonly ties in with them coming into the workplace, yet, if businesses think creatively, they can enable work placement candidates to learn about working for a company remotely – and perhaps offer to invite them back to the workplace when the time is right.
Work experience is just one of the many things businesses can do to help to support the staff that keep our schools going, here is what they had to say:
"I’d say that top of the list would be anything to help pupil or staff wellbeing. Special treats, anything to lift our spirits. Since March 2020 it’s been absolutely relentless in school. We’ve had to completely overhaul our school provisions, learn new systems, work out staffing rotas, it’s a constant juggling act and by the end of the day we’re all exhausted.
We are also working in bubbles, so we may be in the same building as our friends and colleagues but we haven’t been able to meet them for lunch or for a chat as we usually would. We wave to each other when at either end of a corridor or when arriving in the car park at the same time. Our school has gone from having one staff room to five smaller ones. We miss each other.
One other thing: Support staff need to be recognised and acknowledged. More often than not it is only Teachers who are referred to, even though there are more support staff working in schools than teachers, but we get forgotten because we’re not the ‘face’ of the school."
Jo Gathern, School Business Manager, Glebe Primary
"What schools really need right now is understanding and words of encouragement for all school staff who are working so hard to support their school communities."
Kemi Arogundade, Primary School Business Manager
"What schools really need is to be part of the community. Schools are not ‘closed’ and all school staff have been working very hard for the last year with very little time off. As a local business or member of the local community, check your school’s website to see how you can offer your support. Our budgets are stretched with having to deal with our Covid responses, so why not see if you can offer a laptop donation or even a one off contribution to the school fund? For example if the school is doing a fundraising activity could you offer a prize?"
Cheryl Campbell, School Business, Finance and Operations Director, Thomas Tallis School
"We really need our local business community to support us with getting the best value regarding premises and statutory costs so that we can spend more of our funding directly on pupils.
The school environment needs constant maintenance and if the local community could help us with that then all pupils would benefit from having the best educational environment that we can. It's difficult for a pupil to learn when the carpet they are sitting on is threadbare, the tables they are using are over 20 years old or there is a smell from the 1970s plumbing of the toilets in their classroom.
This would be a two-way thing and we would be more than happy to provide references, refer to other local schools in our area and communicate supplier information to our parent database. We could have the best technology, resources and staff but without a nice environment the children are not starting at the best place."
Joanne Tillin, School Business Manager and CIMA accountant for Toddington St George CE School
"It’s been a difficult time all round for schools and businesses alike. Sourcing the usual avenues of support from the local community is tricky, all businesses are experiencing their own financial challenges, some may even have been forced to close. In the absence of financial support, what schools could do with most of all from the general public is thanks, time and understanding.
Head teachers and senior leaders are constantly making decisions based on last minute guidance and everyone already knows that the switch to remote learning has meant teaching staff have been under additional pressures, but it’s not only teachers who work in schools. Spare a thought for the operations, facilities and support teams who have been working non-stop to keep schools sanitised and safe places for children of key-workers, ensuring too that work packs are sent home, IT connections are working, staff supported and suppliers paid.
Schools are also struggling with organising work experience for students. If you can think of a way of having a couple of Year 11s for a week during the coming year, I implore you to get in touch with your local secondary and particularly local SEND school.
A social media thank you, a letter or email to your local schools sending virtual thanks and support to staff goes such a long way and will be shared to the whole staff body. Commit to make a difference to one young person, through contacting your local school and finding out how to help through volunteering. You will make a difference."
Sue Prickett, Chief Finance and Operations Officer, SENDAT
"What do school’s need right now…….. some certainty!
We have all been spending so much time working within guidelines and preparing, only for last minute decisions to be made to change all of the hard work already put in place and for us to have to start again. This is on top of our already busy day jobs.
A road map of the way forward would be so helpful. We all appreciate there will be turns and bumps along the way, as the pandemic changes, but some support is all we ask for.
We have gone from being teachers and support staff to setting up test centres and swabbing our staff and students. All school staff need to be recognised for the fantastic work they have done in running schools and ensuring students continue in their education successfully whilst also contact tracing until Christmas eve and sitting online courses on how to swab someone for COVID.
What amazing and resilient people they are!"
Sam Finch, School Business Manager, Sale High School
"What schools really need right now is honesty. No sales ploys, cold calling or hidden costs, just honest answers and excellent customer service. We don't have time for all the usual games. Give us that now and you will earn the trust and respect that will keep us as loyal customers forever."
SBL Connect
"What schools really need right now is a crystal ball. The guidance changes on a daily basis and in most cases we have very little time to turn things around. Our priority is providing the best possible education for the pupils in our care so please be patient with the school community as we plough all our resources into supporting our children."
Jenny Goy, Director of Finance and Operations, ATC Trust
