Innovative education: how academies can benefit from a business mindset
Academy schools, of which there are now over 7,000 in the UK, are complex business set-ups — a fact which is often overlooked.
While the welfare and education of the pupils must take priority, it’s worth remembering that academies face similar challenges to more ‘mainstream’ businesses. Whether that’s recruiting the right staff, getting the most out of their resources or managing their spend better — hurdles must be overcome in order to triumph.
If you’re a head teacher, business manager or a member of a governing body — working within an academy setting — ask yourself this:
Why do business operations matter for our academy?
The freedom to innovate
As an academy, you have a certain amount of freedom, which state schools don’t. You have (or you should have) the freedom to innovate. With innovation often outweighing rigid ‘strategies’, why not drive your academy using meaningful and dynamic business operations to change and/or improve your processes and services?
For example, think about how you could…
…reduce the number of online platforms you use (to save time and money)
…build solution pathways to organise your academy’s business processes
…ensure best practice for your academy structure
…streamline your internal delegated authority and approval routine
…manage people to reduce inefficiencies and increase return on staffing costs
Leaders in Leeds
Take, for example, the case of Hovingham Primary School. Head teacher, Kellie Halliday, joined this Leeds academy when there was a lack of rigour, low expectations and ineffective leadership.
A once underperforming school, it has digitally transformed the way it operates, with innovative education now at the core of its existence. With a motto of ‘aim high’, both the staff and pupils can do exactly that thanks to the forward-thinking business solutions which have been implemented.
You can find out more about Hovingham Primary School’s journey here.
Support when you need it most
If you are interested in finding out more about why business operations matter for your academy, join Calls9 and a panel of experts, as they explore the following topics:
Calls9: Digital transformation for your school.
Eddisons: Funding opportunities available to academies and strategic estate management.
Forrester Boyd: Academy structures, delegated authority and associated best practice.
Irwin Mitchell: Issues facing academies in their governance and leadership — a legal perspective.
When: Tuesday 26th June 2018
Where: 9am — 12pm at Leeds Village Hotel South, Capitol Blvd, Tingley, Morley, Leeds, LS27 0TS.
For more information on this event and to register your place, please click here.
About Calls
Calls9 helps businesses launch websites, apps, intranets and digital experiences in record time. By combining our platform with our in-house design and development capability we can deliver digital projects quicker than a traditional agency or software house. And because we built the platform we can provide industry-leading customer support as standard. Contact us to start your Digital Transformation journey.
