Finance Induction documentation and links

Roles and responsibilities

• Maintained Schools Governance Guide - Guidance on the strategic leadership and governance of local-authority-maintained schools
• Head Teachers Standards - DfE publication on  ‘National Standards of Excellence for Head Teachers’

Financial Management

• SFVS - Schools Financial Value Statement page on BSO and guidance from DfE
• Maximising value for pupils - DfE guidance for schools and trusts 
• School Resource Management checklist – Help with planning school finances and resources - tools and advice from DfE
• Buying for Schools - DfE guidance on how to plan and run an efficient procurement process
• Financial Benchmarking 
• Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool
• Integrated curriculum and financial planning (ICFP) 

Useful background information for maintained schools

• School Funding Team Contacts
• BSO Document Navigation  
• Glossary of Key Terms
• Introduction to the Schools Forum
• Protocol and Statutory Framework
• School Financial Procedures
• Accounting for VAT  and more guidance
• Timetable of Key Dates
• Who do I contact? (Updated August 2025)

Specific to Governors

• Maintained Schools Governance Guide DfE guidance on the strategic leadership and governance of local-authority-maintained schools
• Getting the best value from schools non-staff spend  DfE procurement advice for governing boards
• Helping schools manage resources and money DfE guidance for governors
• Governor Training Session PowerPoint Presentation (SFT055 V8 rev Sep 2018)
• New Governor Finance Induction - SFT Training Handbook (SFT079 v4 rev Sep 2018)
• Example Primary School Budget Monitor
• The Effective Financial Governance Course (SFT062 rev Aug 2017)

Specific to Head Teachers and Business Managers

• New Head Teacher School Finance Induction (SFT046 Updated August 2025)
• New School Finance Manger Induction (SFT048 Updated August 2025)

Useful websites

• Bradford Council – Education and Skills menu leads to information for parents, schools and Governors regarding holiday dates, emergency closure procedures, admissions and other useful information
• Department for Education – homepage of the main website
• Department for Education - DfE Publications
• Access Education Budgets (was HCSS) – for further information on the budgeting software used in many Bradford schools
• Institute of School Business Leadership (ISBL) (formerly National Association of School Business Management (NASBM) – information and resources for School Business Managers
• National Lottery good causes – for information on how to access lottery funding
• OFSTED – access to school inspection reports, research and resource for good practice
• National Governance Association - independent charity representing School Governors and Trustees in the UK

Historic documents

These are documents that may still be of value for background reading and research with regard to Financial management and best practice, but the links and references contained within them may be out of date.

• Keeping Your Balance (Audit Commission 2000)
• Discover the benefits of school business managers (TDA 2009)
• Strategic Financial Planning Guide (HCSS 2013)
• Purpose of the Governing Body- DfE publication on ‘Governance Handbook and Competency’

If you have any queries, please contact the School Funding Team