The Final Note: Bringing Operational Excellence Together

Over the past several months, Andrew Blench has taken us on a comprehensive journey through the Operational Excellence Framework for Schools and Trusts. In this final instalment, he brings the series together and invites you to conduct your own symphony

When I meet someone new (who has no inside knowledge of education), and they ask me about my career, I often find it hard to explain what a school business professional does. Sometimes I use the phrase ‘headteacher of all that’s not to do with the delivery of teaching’ or I simply say an ‘operation director’ who applies their skills and knowledge to education.

Every Note Working Together

Often times a metaphor or picture works better. The best one I have is that of the conductor of the orchestra. The conductor of the orchestra has everyone’s parts in musical score in front of them. Their job is to ensure that each musician’s contribution is balanced with everyone else and produces something which is of excellence. They stand in a position where they can see the bigger picture (or hear it) unlike each musician who hears themselves and maybe the musician either side of them. The conductor, because of their unique perspective, experiences the orchestra in a similar way to the way the audience does. For me the SBP is the conductor, and each role or facet of the operations is each musical instrument or section of the orchestra. The audience can be teaching colleagues, students and parents.

Writing the Score

Our score is the operational excellence framework.

It sets a standard of excellence for each part of the team/orchestra. Here are some words from the framework which capture this so well: The framework covers 10 domains that provide the important ingredients for operational effectiveness.

By embedding an OpEx approach, at a pace that is right for your setting, significant improvements will naturally follow. Your teams will be more cohesive, waste and duplication will be eliminated, and systems and data will be used to effectively inform decision-making, but ultimately, you will be better able to service education delivery that in the end will lead to improved outcomes for children.

I trust that you will take the opportunity of a new calendar year to implement OpEx in your setting. To access the excellent training and accreditation available – OpEx for Education – Training & Support Outline — ISBL

Can I lastly encourage you to step out of the orchestra pit and sit in the stalls, whilst the orchestra is playing! We are so embedded and absorbed in what we are doing at times that we can’t see or hear things the way the audience does.