Chris Bramall didn't set out to win an award. He set out to fix a school's finances, save money for pupils, and do his job well. Here's what winning taught him about the quiet, invisible work of school business leaders – and why it matters.
School business leaders don't often stop to reflect. There's always another budget, another problem, another deadline.
When I won the Association of Business Leaders in Education (ABLE) School Business Leader Recognition Award for Financial Expertise, it gave me something I didn't expect. The chance to pause.
The problem nobody seesWhen I joined my first school, I had no background in education finance. The books were in a mess. Bills were unpaid. The budget was in deficit.
I didn't panic. I got to work.
Within months, I'd turned that deficit into a surplus. I cleared the unpaid bills. I reviewed every contract and every supplier. I found smarter ways to buy what the school needed, saving thousands of pounds.
I also started a breakfast club from nothing. It cost very little to run, but it changed mornings for dozens of children.
None of this made headlines. That's the point.
Why the invisible work mattersI often compare school business leaders to the legs of a swan. Above the water, everything looks calm. Parents see children learning. Staff see resources turn up when needed. Governors see a balanced budget.
Below the water, we're working hard to keep it all moving.
We manage money. We oversee buildings. We support recruitment. We prepare for audits. We solve HR problems. We check contracts. We handle health and safety. Most days bring something we didn't plan for.
When we do our job well, nothing seems to happen. Staff get paid on time. Resources are there when needed. Budgets hold steady. That calm surface is not luck. It's the result of careful, constant work.
What I've learned worksHere's the philosophy that guides me: every pound saved is a pound that can be spent on children.
That means asking one question before every decision: how will this help our pupils?
The lessons from that first school have stayed with me ever since. I’ve looked hard at contracts. I’ve checked every grant we could access. I’ve challenged spending that didn't add value. Wherever I apply them, the same kind of difference starts to follow, usually within months.
This isn't about being clever with spreadsheets, though spreadsheets matter too. It's about treating every pound as if it belongs to a child, because it does.
What the award meant to meWhen I found out I'd been shortlisted, my first thought was that plenty of other school business leaders deserved it just as much. That thought didn't go away when I won.
My instinct was to say: "I'm just doing my job."
Then I realised that's exactly what makes this profession special. We don't do this work for recognition. We do it because every decision we make can improve a child's day, or a colleague's.
The award came with a £250 prize for my school. My first thought wasn't about winning something for myself. It was about how that money could help our pupils. I think most school business leaders would say the same.
What I want other school business leaders to knowIf you're reading this and thinking, "that's just what I do too," then this is for you.
The work you do beneath the surface is not invisible to the people who benefit from it, even if they never see the effort behind it. Every pound you save. Every contract you improve. Every problem you solve before anyone notices. It all adds up to better outcomes for children.
You don't need an award to know that your work matters. But if the chance comes to be recognised, take it. Not for yourself, but for everyone doing this job quietly, every single day.
Your next stepIf you want to see how strong financial leadership could support your school, start with one small thing. Review one contract. Check one supplier. Ask one question: could this pound work harder for our pupils?
Then, if you know a school business leader whose work deserves recognition, nominate them for next year's ABLE School Business Leader Recognition Awards, supported by the Department for Education. Find out more at ablepro.info.
Any savings, benefits and outcomes described in this blog were provided by Chris Bramall and reflect his specific experience and circumstances. Individual results will vary between schools and trusts.
seen at 11:39, 13 October in Maximising Value for Pupils (Max VP).