School Business Leader

Join Our Senior Leadership Team

Greatfields School is a large, inclusive and ambitious secondary school serving the diverse community of Barking. Our vision is clear: every learner known, challenged and empowered to belong, achieve and thrive.

Our work is underpinned by our values of Kindness, Aspiration and Action. We are committed to creating a school where students feel known and supported, are challenged to achieve highly, and are empowered to participate fully in school and wider life.

We are seeking an exceptional School Business Leader to join our Senior Leadership Team and provide strategic leadership across the business and operational functions of Greatfields Secondary School and Greatfields Primary School.

As a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, the School Business Leader will work closely with the Headteacher to drive school improvement and ensure that the schools’ systems, services and processes effectively support the delivery of high-quality education for all students.

What We Can Offer

• The opportunity to shape the future direction of a large secondary school while supporting the successful development of a growing primary school.

• The opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of students and families.

• A significant strategic leadership role as a valued member of the Senior Leadership Team, helping to deliver our vision for every learner to belong, achieve and thrive.

• The chance to work alongside motivated, talented and committed colleagues.

• Support, collaboration and professional development opportunities through a growing Multi-Academy Trust.

• A positive and inclusive working environment built on high expectations and mutual respect.

The Role

You will ensure that finance, people, premises, technology and operational systems are aligned with the schools’ respective improvement priorities and provide the conditions for effective curriculum delivery, high-quality teaching and learning, and excellent pastoral provision.

The School Business Leader will provide strategic leadership and operational management across the schools’ business functions, including finance, human resources, estates, facilities, administration, information technology, data protection, compliance, health and safety, and risk management.

Working closely with the Headteacher, governors and trust colleagues, you will ensure that resources are deployed effectively, systems operate efficiently and the school remains financially sustainable whilst delivering the very best outcomes for young people.

You will lead and develop support staff teams, ensure compliance with statutory requirements and contribute actively to whole-school improvement planning and implementation.

Reporting to the Headteacher of Greatfields Secondary School, the postholder will work in close partnership with the Headteacher of Greatfields Primary School to agree priorities, allocate capacity and ensure that both schools receive effective, responsive and proportionate support, with any competing priorities resolved through the agreed governance and leadership arrangements.

The role requires the judgement to balance strategic development with operational delivery, manage competing priorities across two schools and ensure that urgent compliance, safeguarding and business-critical matters are addressed promptly.

Working Across Greatfields Secondary and Primary Schools

Greatfields Secondary School shares its campus with Greatfields Primary School, which opened in September 2024 and is growing year by year. The schools are separate organisations with their own headteachers, but operate under a shared governing body and work closely together.

The School Business Leader will initially provide strategic and operational oversight of key business functions across both schools. This will require effective prioritisation, clear communication and close collaboration with both headteachers, governors, Trust colleagues and school staff.

As the primary school grows and reaches the scale required to support its own dedicated business leadership arrangements, the scope of this role is expected to evolve, with the School Business Leader increasingly focusing on the strategic and operational needs of Greatfields Secondary School.

The Successful Candidate Will Have

• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build effective relationships with staff, students, parents, governors and external partners.

• Outstanding numeracy, analytical and communication skills.

• Degree-level education or equivalent professional qualification.

• A proven track record of successful financial management.

• Significant experience of leading and managing people and teams.

• Strong organisational, planning and problem-solving skills.

• The ability to think strategically whilst maintaining attention to operational detail.

• Ideally, the Certificate of School Business Management (CSBM) or an equivalent school business management qualification.

• A strong commitment to our vision and values, and an understanding of how excellent business leadership enables every learner to belong, achieve and thrive.

• The ability to manage competing priorities and allocate resources effectively across two schools and multiple business functions.

• A values-led and collaborative approach, with the confidence to advise and challenge senior leaders while maintaining strong professional relationships.

• The successful candidate will model our values through their leadership: working with Kindness and integrity, bringing Aspiration to the quality and sustainability of our services, and taking purposeful Action to improve systems, solve problems and secure the best possible provision for students and staff.

About Our School

Greatfields is a diverse, inclusive and ambitious school rooted in its local community. Greatfields Secondary School serves approximately 1,260 students, including a growing Sixth Form, and shares its site with Greatfields Primary School, which opened in 2024 and continues to expand. The schools are separate entities with their own headteachers but operate under a shared governing body and work closely together.

Our values are:

Kindness — ensuring people feel respected, supported and that they belong.
Aspiration — maintaining high expectations and striving for excellence.
Action — taking responsibility, making effective decisions and turning ambition into improvement.

Safeguarding

Greatfields School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and all other relevant pre-employment checks.

Visits to the school are encouraged, please contact Lynn Nash to arrange a suitable time, or if you have any further questions.