As part of its advice to the secretary of state on primary leadership, the College argued that there is an urgent need to upgrade significantly the scope and role of school business managers. Two new roles were proposed – advanced school business manager and school business director (SBD).
The SBD would operate in larger, more complex groups of schools such as federations, trusts and other formal partnerships including cross-phase and multi-agency settings. They would provide strategic business leadership and be a catalyst for new forms of leadership and governance. They would usually be accountable to an executive headteacher or chief executive.
In order to facilitate the school business director role, we are proposing to work collaboratively with the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) and other stakeholders to deliver a new higher level programme for school business directors that builds on the success of our current programmes.
The precise structure and content of this new course has yet to be determined. It will be developed in consultation with stakeholders, school business managers, headteachers and with feedback from the school business director demonstration projects.
The College’s proposals relating to demonstration projects are set out fully in guidance for the demonstration projects are set out fully in guidance for the demonstration projects 
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