Level 6 Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship (CMDA)

What does the apprenticeship cover?

The CMDA standard allows providers to offer a variety of undergraduate degrees as part of the apprenticeship. As a result, there is a wide variety of choice available.

There are two main types of CMDA that are suitable for SBPs:

  • Non-contextualised – providers often offer a more general business degree as part of this apprenticeship (e.g. BA (Hons) in Business Management). This route allows you to be part of a mixed cohort from across all business sectors, giving you a range of insights and learning, but you will have to ensure that you adapt and apply your learning to your own school context.

  • Contextualised – there are some providers who offer a degree programme that has been specifically designed for school business professionals and maps to the ISBL Professional Standards. You will achieve a degree that is contextualised for schools (e.g. BA (Hons) in School Business Management).

For more information about SBP Apprenticeships please click here.

About the qualification

  • The contextualised CMDA is underpinned by the ISBL professional standards and will help learners to develop job-specific skills that will benefit them and their school or trust. Topics include HR, finance and procurement as well as risk management and marketing in schools and trusts. As learners progress through the programme, they will also study change management and leading school / trust efficiencies.

    In addition, the learner will often complete a work-based project that addresses genuine challenges within their school or trust.

  • The CMDA is aimed at both new and existing school business managers, and those in specialist and similar roles (e.g. Finance Manager/Director, Office Manager, Senior Administrator, Business Support Officer, Bursar, HR Manager) employed in schools and trusts.

  • The CMDA is normally a three-year apprenticeship programme.

    Some providers that offer the SBP contextualised version of the CMDA, offer exemptions if you hold the L4 Diploma for School Business Managers or the L4 Diploma for School Business Managers and the L5 Diploma for School Business Leaders. This means that by evidencing your prior learning, you can complete the CMDA in a shorter length of time.

    Students and their employers will be required to commit 20% of their normal working hours to the apprenticeship training. More information can be found by clicking here.

  • If starting a full 2-3 year apprenticeship sounds daunting, then you may want to consider completing a 12 month CMI qualification instead. Further details can be found here: https://www.isbl.org.uk/cmi-management-and-leadership

  • This apprenticeship is offered nationally through many different universities. The apprenticeship is open to learners throughout England in both levy- and non-levy-funded schools, academies and trusts. Start dates and delivery methods vary from provider to provider.

    Employers should look at the providers offering the apprenticeship they want and decide which programme of study best suits their employee and their organisation.

    You can find a list of training providers offering apprenticeships for school business professionals below.

    A full list of apprenticeship standards and providers can also be found on the IfATE website.

  • A list of providers and links are provided below. You will need to contact each organisation for specific information about the programmes:

Testimonials

  • “When the opportunity to apply for the BA (Hons) apprenticeship in School Business Leadership came up I didn’t hesitate to apply as it was an ideal opportunity to support my continued professional development.”

    Cathryn Watson

For any enquiries, please contact: training@isbl.org.uk