Procurement
Getting what you want
What is procurement and why does it matter? Sue Nokes reports
At the beginning of the 1990s recession, I became inhouse counsel for a UK company with a worldwide brand. Having previously spent ten years in a law firm, it was a novelty to work in a business with a sourcing division down the corridor, full of raw materials and samples. But it was the sourcing division which was one of the first to feel the effects of the recession and one of my first tasks was to draw up a new set of documents governing both the internal rules and the external terms for the company's engagement with suppliers.
Feeling the squeeze
A little purchasing knowledge can save you thousands of pounds. Melanie Teal looks at how resource budgets can be consolidated and money can be saved how this can benefit the whole school
Schools are hard pushed and budgets are squeezed. Whether it’s rising fuel and lighting costs bringing in unexpected charges or declining parental contributions and donations driven by the recession, many external factors are affecting how schools can stretch their often limited resources budget.
On target
Financial monitoring is vital for both governors and bursars. Here are three useful measures to help them use the school’s financial information more effectively, leading to identification of best practice
Focus for governors
Governors should focus on strategic and long-term matters. Micromanagement should be avoided and accordingly the measures used should be consistent with their responsibilities. The three measures selected are:
Teaching costs/net fee income
This is a measure of how the setting of fees is influenced by the increase in teaching costs. Teaching costs are the most significant part of the cost structure and if fee increases do not cover the incremental increase in teaching costs then the school may struggle. Cost cuts in other areas may in the short-term hide the impact of teaching cost inflation; hence the importance of this measure.
Food for thought
The School Food Trust was established to transform school food and food skills, promote the education and health of children and young people and improve the quality of food in schools
Healthy activities
School Standards Grant (Personalisation)
Schools are receiving a School Standards grant for personalised learning between 2008-11. It offers potential for funding a breakfast club or lunchtime/after-school activities linked to school food, provided there are benefits to pupils’ learning.
