SPDP Welcomes a Former Head as Educational Adviser

We are delighted to welcome a new associate: Mrs Laura Bartlett, a highly experienced former School Head (IAPS and GSA) who has worked in a variety of schools and in senior management before becoming a long serving head and educational consultant. Laura is an experienced school inspector and brings to SPDP substantial experience and expertise in school leadership, governance, staffing and curriculum matters, IT in education, marketing and recruiting, staff appraisal and mentoring and is able to advise schools on these key factors.

Driving Down Costs and Increasing Income Advice

Partners Stephen Flanagan and Denis Noel-Smith have spoken to about 100 schools, through seminars and presentations to Bursars, Heads and Governors, during the course of this year, on how 10% efficiencies can typically be made to teaching budgets and a further 15% savings taken out of support costs without detriment to the teaching and learning function of the school. The Partnership has some innovative ways of driving down costs, for example using e-tendering techniques as well as advising on how to increase non-fee income from the school’s land and property.
 

Staffing and Curriculum Reviews

Denis and Stephen have developed a unique staffing and curriculum template, which can be applied to any school, which allows the Governors and SMT to have a full understanding of the costs of delivering the teaching and learning curriculum. They advise governing bodies to sign off the school’s timetable before it is published, not simply because as Directors they are responsible for a school’s largest expenditure, but also for reasons of good governance to ensure there are no issues of unfairness created by the timetable. Governors and Bursars have been particularly keen to learn what are the parameters and variables that drive the timetable and which of these should be referred to the governing body for their agreement.

Strategic Planning and Business Audits

SPDP are currently working with a number of schools, advising them on cost reduction, income and capital generation and generally helping them to reposition themselves in the light of the post recessionary pressures.

Releasing Funds from Land and Property

Partner Paul Fong is advising several schools on how to release capital by imaginative ways of achieving planning consents from surplus or fallow land and buildings. There are opportunities for schools to generate significant capital to strengthen the school’s financial position, one of which would be by relocating a local sports club(s) onto school land to the mutual benefit of both parties. Paul would be pleased to provide a free initial survey for any school or College.

School Mergers

Partner Denis Noel-Smith has acted as Project Manager of the mergers of eight schools. He is able to provide experienced advice to governing bodies on the complex and time-consuming merger process.

New Associate

SPDP Partners are delighted to announce that Paul Maynard, former Bursar of Berkhampstead Collegiate Schools and Chairman of the Independent Schools Bur sars Association, is working with SPDP as an associate and brings a wealth of experience to the partnership.  Apart from being able to advise schools on their business strategies,  Paul specializes in advising trustees on good governance and planning for the future.
Paul will bring these particular skills as well as his considerable knowledge of the sector to the Partnership and we are delighted to have him on board.