Buying for Schools

Embracing flexible working in schools and trusts

Sarah Sarll, Chief Financial Officer at Pioneer Educational Trust, 11 February 2025 - Uncategorized

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 …

Introducing DfE Connect: bringing key information for schools into one place

Charlotte Dowd, Policy advisor and sector engagement lead, 22 January 2025 - Advice and support, Services

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 …

My experience of the risk protection arrangement (RPA) claims process when our school flooded.

Catherine Morley, Headteacher at Theale Church of England primary School, 2 December 2024 - Uncategorized

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.

Update for schools and trusts on Procurement Act 2023 - are you ready?

Hannah Mears, Commercial Lead for Get help buying for schools, 19 November 2024 - Advice and support

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.

Getting your school or trust ready for new recycling regulations

Amanda Quinn, Education Procurement Category Manager at YPO, 6 November 2024 - Advice and support

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.

My experience of using Get help buying for schools to buy multi-functional devices and more

Jacqui Whiting, Procurement and Contracts Manager at Our Lady of the Magnificat Multi-Academy Company (MAC, 8 October 2024 - Uncategorized

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.

Safety in school kitchens and laundries: the vital role of risk assessments and equipment checks

Julie Noble, Health, safety and fire resilience technician, 24 September 2024 - Advice and support

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.

Schools and trusts can now list all roles on Teaching Vacancies and Find a Job

Will Bourke, Outreach and Engagement Manager, Teaching Vacancies, 11 September 2024 - Advice and support

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.

Risk protection arrangement (RPA): a decade of supporting schools and trusts

Susan Dawson, DfE Commercial Director, 21 May 2024 - Services

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.

New Transforming Public Procurement (TPP) e-learning for procurement practitioners in schools and multi-academy trusts

Kevin Draisey, Head of Procurement Operations, 7 May 2024 - Advice and support

Kevin Draisey, Head of Procurement Operations for Get help buying for schools, updates on the new Transforming Public Procurement (TPP) e-learning now available for procurement practitioners in schools and multi-academy trusts.

Blog Buying for Schools

How Academy Transformation Trust saved over £500,000 through better contract management