Get Confident with School Contracts

Don’t get caught up in contract confusion – mastering contract management can be a breeze and a big win for your school’s success

Contract management is an essential part of keeping your school or multi-academy trust running like a well-oiled machine. A well-managed contract ensures that services are delivered on time, within budget and to the right quality. But how do you ensure your contracts are really working for you? Here are a few simple tips to keep you on track.

Understand Your Indicators

First things first: how do you measure success? Is it how quickly your catering service delivers lunches, or perhaps keeping costs within budget? It’s not always obvious what your success indicators should be, so it’s important to identify them early on. For some contracts, like IT provision, the measurable aspects are clear – service uptime or response times. However, some, like student satisfaction with the catering service, can be trickier to track. It’s crucial to think about what you really need to monitor to ensure the contract is delivering as expected.

One Size Doesn’t Fit All

Not all contracts are created equal, and one-size-fits-all isn’t going to cut it. For example, catering, IT and facilities management contracts each come with their own challenges and unique needs. These may fluctuate depending on the school term, season, or any changes in staffing and infrastructure. So, don’t just review your contract during the calm times – consider how it performs when things are in flux. Whether you’re managing growth, dealing with a crisis, or shifting priorities, your contract needs will shift too. Be proactive in considering how the contract can adapt to these changing circumstances.

Learn from the Past

It’s always helpful to look at the bigger picture. Compare your current contract’s performance with previous years. Is it performing better or worse than expected? If the performance is slipping, try to pinpoint why. Have your school’s needs changed since you signed the contract? Have external factors – like a budget cut or a change in leadership – impacted its success? Sometimes, you might find that the contract simply no longer fits the growing needs of your school, and that’s okay! Don’t be afraid to evolve and adapt to meet new requirements.

Wrapping It Up

In the ever-changing world of school management, contract reviews might not always be at the top of your to-do list, but they’re crucial in making sure your school is getting what it needs. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the contract management process or want to get a deeper understanding of how to make your contracts work for you, why not join us for our upcoming seminar at EdExec LIVE West Midlands?

Contract Management Made Easy with Lorraine Ashover, Managing Director of Minerva Procurement Consultancy Services Limited, will provide a clear, easy-to-follow guide to managing your contracts with confidence. You’ll walk away with the tools you need to assess, negotiate and review contracts in a way that makes sense for your school or trust.