In this blog post, Bel Pennington, who leads the Energy for Schools pilot at DfE, tells us why changing the way schools and trusts buy energy could save money, and protect school budgets from the volatility of the energy market. …
Tony Diaram, Project Manager at Academy Transformation Trust, shares how specialist contract management training has helped deliver significant savings across his trust. Academy Transformation Trust is a not-for-profit charitable trust of 22 schools across central England, including primary, secondary, special, …
Sarah Sarll, Chief Financial Officer at Pioneer Educational Trust, shares how flexible working has boosted staff wellbeing and retention while transforming school culture. Her experience offers valuable insights for educational institutions looking to modernise their working practices. Evidence-Based ImplementationWhen we …
In our latest blog post, Charlotte Dowd, Policy advisor and sector engagement lead, introduces us to DfE Connect. What is DfE Connect?DfE Connect is a free service from the Department for Education designed to make life easier for school business …
Catherine Morley is the Headteacher at Theale Church of England Primary School in Reading, West Berkshire. In this blog post, Catherine shares her experience of the RPA support her school received when an incident with the sprinkler suppression system resulted in severe water damage to her school.
Hannah Mears is a Commercial Lead for Get help buying for schools, the DfE’s free supported buying service for schools and trusts. In this blog post, Hannah updates on the latest advice around the Procurement Act 2023, and how schools can get ready for the new regulations that come in February 2025.
In this blog post, Amanda Quinn, Education Procurement Category Manager at YPO, highlights new, simpler recycling regulations coming into force in 2025 and the action that schools and trusts will need to take to be compliant.
Jacqui Whiting is a Procurement and Contracts Manager at Our Lady of the Magnificat Multi-Academy Company (MAC), a family of 17 schools across Warwickshire and Worcestershire. Jacqui has used Get help buying for schools to buy multi-functional devices, grounds maintenance and catering.
Julie Noble is health, safety, and fire resilience technician for the risk protection arrangement (RPA), the DfE’s alternative to commercial insurance. In this blog post, Julie talks about how schools' kitchen and laundry risk assessments and equipment checks are essential tools for keeping everyone safe.
Will Bourke from the Teaching Vacancy Service explains in this blog about the improvements made to the service, which means schools and trust can now list all of their vacancies, including school business professional roles, for free.
It’s been 10 years since the DfE introduced its alternative to commercial insurance, the Risk Protection Arrangement (RPA). DfE Commercial Director Susan Dawson has been involved in RPA since inception. In this blog post, Susan looks back at what the service has delivered, and continues to deliver for schools and trusts.