School Business Manager

MyNewTerm; Witney; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

LGPS pension

Flexible working

Professional development

Job summary

River Learning Trust in Witney is seeking a School Business Manager for Madley Brook School to provide operational leadership across finance, HR, premises, and health and safety. You will work alongside the Headteacher to ensure high-quality education through effective resource management and safeguarding across a 210-pupil school and a 24-place nursery.

You will join a Senior Leadership Team on a historic site shared with Springfield Special School, contributing to joint procedures and

Qualifications

• Experience managing budgets, procurement, and financial control systems.
• Recruitment, SCR management, and line management of office and premises teams.
• Knowledge of health and safety legislation and site/capital projects oversight.
• Proficiency in managing complex data systems, DfE statutory returns, and GDPR compliance as Data Protection Lead.
• Values-driven approach focused on pupil outcomes in operational decisions.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic oversight of finance, HR, premises, and health and safety.
• Collaborate with Headteacher to support high-quality education and operational efficiency.
• Coordinate joint procedures with Springfield Special School on the shared site.
• Lead data management, GDPR compliance, and DfE statutory returns.
• Manage procurement, budget control, and facilities projects to support pupil outcomes.

Skills

Budget management

HR leadership

Premises & safety oversight

Data management & GDPR

Values-driven operations

Tools

Data systems

DfE returns

Job description

"I would say that the best thing about being a School Business Manager is that the role is very varied and there is always something new to learn. The most rewarding thing is being part of a really friendly group of staff and hopefully making a difference to the pupils, whether that is improving the building and grounds or recruiting great staff."

— Sarah Woodley, School Business Manager

Why This Role Matters

You are not merely managing administrative processes; you are a key member of our Senior Leadership Team providing the operational foundation that enables high-quality education to happen every day. Working directly alongside Headteacher Paul Thomas, you will hold strategic oversight of finance, HR, premises management, and health and safety across our 210-pupil school and 24-place nursery.

In our unique setting—co-located on the historic Bronze Barrow site alongside Springfield Special School—you will also manage joint operational procedures, ensuring both schools thrive together.

What You’ll Bring

• Operational & Financial Competence: Demonstrated experience managing budgets, procurement, and financial control systems.

• HR & People Leadership: Solid understanding of recruitment, Single Central Record (SCR) management, and line management of office and premises teams.

• Premises & Safety Oversight: Knowledge of health and safety legislation and oversight of site and capital projects.

• Analytical Mindset: Proficiency in managing complex data systems, DfE statutory returns, and GDPR compliance as Data Protection Lead.

• Values-Driven Approach: A professional, resilient approach centred on putting pupil outcomes at the heart of operational decision-making.

The Madley Brook Difference

• Varied & Meaningful Impact: Work in a dynamic role where your decisions directly improve the physical environment, staff team, and daily experience of our pupils.

• Collaborative Leadership: Join an approachable, supportive Senior Leadership Team and a staff body committed to "achieving excellence by challenging boundaries".

• A Unique Co-Located Environment: Experience a supportive collaborative structure working alongside Springfield Special School on a shared, historic site.

The RLT Connection

As part of the River Learning Trust, you are backed by a stable, mission-driven network of primary and secondary schools across Oxfordshire.

• Professional Security: Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) with generous employer contributions, alongside full recognition of continuous public sector service.

• Shared Growth: Access to Trust-wide professional networks, leadership pathways, and funding support for role-specific qualifications.

• The Whole Person: Access to 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme support, occupational health services, and flexible working arrangements.

Education has the power to change lives, communities and society for the better. At RLT we believe that we can achieve more for our pupils, trainees, staff and communities by working together rather than alone. Schools in RLT are united by a common belief in the benefits of working together, and by our commitment to shared principles.

OUR VISION is for our schools and SCITT to improve rapidly, continuously and sustainably: to be better faster together.

OUR ‘WHY?’ is that children and young people ‘only get one go’ in school and therefore as part of RLT we aim to ensure the best possible ‘go’ for our pupils.

OUR ‘HOW?’ is through the highest support and challenge for our schools and each other, underpinned by our principles.

Our employees benefit from a wide variety of support including extensive continuing professional learning and development opportunities, wellbeing and staff networks and access to Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (TPS and LGPS) for all staff. For more information on what it is like to work for the Trust, and the benefits you could access, please see our “Working in RLT” guide.

This role includes regulated activity relevant to children.

The school reserves the right to consider and interview candidates ahead of the closing date if appropriate. An offer may be made to an exceptional candidate in this instance.

The River Learning Trust and Madley Brook School are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and preventing extremism. The Trust is required to conduct a variety of checks and online searches about you as part of their recruitment process in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. It is an offence to apply for certain roles within schools if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. The River Learning Trust is an equal opportunities employer committed to creating a safe, inclusive environment for all staff, free from discrimination and harassment.