External applicants
External applicants are those not currently employed as a school business manager, but actively seeking/wishing to enter the school business management (SBM) profession within a state-maintained school.
Eligibility criteria
NCSL also welcomes applications from suitably experienced individuals currently operating outside of the education sector, who are specifically wishing to enter the school business management profession. We recognise that those operating in other sectors often have transferable management, operational and strategic level skills that can benefit the leadership and management of our schools.
Please apply as an external participant if:
- you are not presently employed as in a school business manager role
- you work in the private sector
- you are currently unemployed or are currently undertaking voluntary work (this also applies to school governors)
- you work in school but do not operate as in a school business manager role (this applies to teachers, teaching assistants and school governors who want to enter the school business management profession)
- you are employed by a local authority, but not working in a school support role and do not have access to a link school
The following statements must also apply:
- "I am seeking to work as an SBM within a state-maintained school."
- "I have the capacity over the next few months to work with NCSL’s external applicant consultant to identify a supporting link school where I may conduct work-based study, consultation and research."
Requirements for the programme
- "I am able to attend a total of six workshops/assessment days."
- "I have an internet-enabled computer at home and/or have permission to use the internet at work for the purposes of the course."
- "I have the capacity to commit to 240 hours of study for the programme" (approximately 5-6 hours per week of personal study time is required).
In addition, at least one of the following statements must also apply to you.
- "I am, at minimum, an ‘advanced beginner’. I have senior administrative/management experience in one or more of the following: HR, facilities, ICT and administration. I understand that I must have an appropriate grasp of school funding and finances in order to undertake the course."
- "I am able to provide evidence of appropriate in-service training/CPD at school, local authority or national level."
- "I gained the Certificate of School Business Management (CSBM) at least three months ago."
- "I have relevant professional qualification/s (eg AAT, CIPD, CIPFA, MInstAM, NVQ 4/5 or first degree)."
Cost
NCSL provides a number of government-funded places on DSBM on behalf of the DCSF. Funded places are limited and are only available to individuals selected by NCSL’s external applicant consultant, following review of your application and then a subsequent detailed telephone interview.
Availability
There are currently two national intakes for DSBM external applicants per year.
External application process – next steps
The next steps for DSBM external applicants include the following.
- Read the programme terms and conditions below and frequently asked questions.
- Complete the external online application form and upload your CV and covering letter detailing your professional background and future aspirations.
- Wait for contact from the NCSL external application consultant, who will organise a telephone interview with you for the programme.
- The external application consultant identifies successful participants (feedback will be available for unsuccessful applicants).
- Attend an orientation workshop at NCSL to understand the context of the programme and to meet fellow external colleagues, lecturers and the external consultant. The date of this workshop will be advised by the external consultant.
- The external application consultant will also support the participant to find a link school.
- Once a link school has been agreed, a letter of support is submitted to providers in advance of commencing the programme.
Terms and conditions and frequently asked questions
Please ensure that you have read the terms and conditions and frequently asked questions documents. They have been created to advise you how we handle your application and data, of any requirements that we will insist upon and of any payment requirements that we may have.
Contact us
If you require any further information or guidance about whether you are an external applicant, please email [email protected], providing your full contact details, an overview of your current role and employer, and a summary of why you are interested in doing this NCSL programme. We will then arrange for our consultant to call you to discuss your options.
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