Education: Is it time to employ non teachers

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I was once reading an article that stated ‘is it time to employ more non teachers to run our Schools’ and at this moment I realised I’d been thinking this for a long time.

Think about in regards to a teachers career:

• School
• College
• University
• Teaching

Full time education…….  It’s sad but very true.  Then you have to take in to account how a teacher progresses up the ladder:

• Teacher
• Head of Department
• Assistant Deputy Head Teacher
• Deputy Head
• Head Teacher

Although there will be other titles invented (especially in Academies that are in control of themselves) again we see that pattern of “teaching” and nothing more.  I remember once being told by a newly employed Head Teacher “I have no idea about finances” and the result was employing an additional finance officer.


They have little to no experience in other professions, finances, negotiating deals and essentially anything outside of the education bubble.  This isn’t a bad thing after all many professions are very similar to this but when a School is effectively responsible for a lot of money and development.. you have to think education isn’t just about teaching kids.


A lot of Schools are employing Business Managers to perform such tasks, they can negotiate and spend the time going to tender for the best deals.  They will have experience in the financial implications for everything in regards to the School after all how much money for a standard secondary School get? Estimated £4-7 million.  With budgets being squeezed is it time Schools forced themselves to do this approach?  That Business Manager would make the time to visit other Schools to see how their systems, finances and site team perform tasks.  That School BM can effectively line manager the majority of support staff and also act like a bridge between them and SLT.  They would be on par with a deputy head and remember that they wouldn’t need to be involved in the curriculum side of education.  A lot of Schools employ contractors to perform work throughout the year.  If each contract job costs around £10,000 and that School BM can get around 35% of each time it begins to make sense from a money saving point of view.


The BM would be responsible for the Admin, Catering, IT and Site teams which would also give them that push to also work on full steam.  The issue surrounding support staff tends to be Admin fixing IT problems, IT doing Admin work and the site staff doing tasks they shouldn’t be.  Although with all the potential savings a School BM can save what stops them employing additional staff to perform contractor work.

Consider what happens in a School throughout the year:

• Building work –A building doesn’t last forever and how many Schools are in outdated 50+ year old structures.
• IT Systems – This does have an impact directly on to education especially for Schools relying on IT and frankly must work and be effective while budgeted for.
• Planning ahead – 1 to 3 year budget plans is the norm for education and the School BM would certainly make sure to think about all the outcomes.
• Day to day maintenance from lights, plumbing, catering equipment and electrical.  All important and all must work, be safe and future proofing.
• Business partnerships either with local companies or nationwide.

As I mentioned this isn’t about impacting on curriculum which would still be leading by the Deputy/Head Teacher but this is certainly about moving education forward.  This is about helping the School move forward outside of the educational related areas and finances.

From an IT perspective:

• Every annual budget is reviewed for what’s needed not wanted.
• Large projects are reviewed.
• IT purchases are scrutinised.
• Staff requests are reviewed and not just “yes/no”.
• Balanced/logical approach view on any innovative ideas.
• Provides a non IT person to evaluate without seeming perhaps too pragmatic.
• Annual review of licenses and usage.
• Builds a bridge between IT > SLT.

The School BM could also be available during holidays due to the majority of staff not being on site which includes SLT.  Although a lot of teachers will proclaim they are working during the holidays this isn’t as true as they would have you believe.  Ask 100 teachers if they work during the majority of the holidays and they will say yes, ask them on a personal level and you will get a different answer.  I’ve worked in education for two decades and I can tell you the majority of staff including leadership are not only nowhere to be seen during holidays but they do little to zero work.  And before the teachers kick a fuss about that sentiment just remember the average professional has 24 days off a year which won’t include the bank holidays while the teachers are granted much more than that.  They may work 8 till 6 every day but again just remember there are other professionals who too work long hours and don’t get huge breaks off during the year.  The School BM would be on site roughly around the same time as other full time staff.

So I will say this, perhaps it’s time Schools for Schools to let in the non teachers.  I know some may feel threatened by this but for education to move forward we must work together.