ISBL Professional Standards: Employer Guidance and Resources
We recognise that employers (CEOs, head teachers and governors/trustees) need access to concise information to support their decision-making processes. We have therefore produced a range of summary documents, tools and resources to help encourage employers to actively engage with the ISBL professional standards. Through a series of intuitive resources, we hope to help employers with the recruitment, performance management and professional development of their school or trust business professionals.
Below are a list of resources that can be accessed. Some of the material is free to access and other material is only accessible to ISBL members.
Employer Guidance
This guide provides a concise overview of the professional standards, how employers can use each of the relevant discipline areas and how they can be used for self-assessment, recruitment, performance management, in developing strong teams and for training and professional development.
Guidance for Governors and Trustees
This guide has been produced in conjunction with the National Governors Association (NGA) and provides a concise overview of how the professional standards can be used by governing bodies and trust boards to develop strong effective operational teams.
The Talking Heads - Professional Standards
Watch the Talking Heads video below for an introduction to the Professional Standards and to hear about the key changes made in the latest update. Listen to ISBL CEO, Stephen Morales, Head of Professional Development, Lee Herridge as well as Peter Stopford the Policy Lead, SBP Strategy, Schools Financial Support & Oversight for the Department for Education who discuss the new Standards and the impact they are having in both schools and trusts.
Case Studies and Testimonials
Download the case study below, to hear how the standards have been used to aide performance management by a School Business Leader and how their Head Teacher benefitted from using the standards for this purpose:
In the video below, Debbie Beazer FISBL explains how she has benefitted from the Professional Standards over the years and how she plans to use them as part of the academisation process.
“In 2018 I took sometime to consider and compare my skills against the existing professional standards. I found it really worthwhile. Not only did it benchmark my knowledge, but it helped identify the areas I needed to upskill myself in. The skills needed in the past are not always the skills you need in the future, so I am excited by the opportunity to reassess my abilities against the latest standards and, where needed, redirect my CPD focus”
Free supporting resources
You can download free resources below to aide performance management processes:
Specific guidance for SBP’s and line managers on how to make the most out of a performance management process, including utilising ISBL self-assessment reports and templates.
Performance Management Review Template
This performance management review template can be used to aide performance management processes and appraisal conversations.
You can also download a personal development plan for use after completing a self-assessment against the Professional standards or else as part of performance management objective setting.