CSBM participant diagnostic: Managing school facilities
Completing this diagnostic will help you to plan your work, and to decide which particular units or areas of knowledge you need to concentrate upon most, and which units or areas you are confident in and need less development.
Each of the operational modules in the CSBM programme has a ‘diagnostic’, a self-assessment checklist. The purpose of this diagnostic is to help you determine your approach to the study of this module. It is important that you complete the diagnostic objectively and that you are honest with yourself about your current level of experience and competence – you should be neither too modest nor overly confident.
One way of ensuring objectivity is by discussing your self-analysis with another person and ideally this will be your school mentor.
Completing the diagnostic
Complete the diagnostic by entering your responses into the self assessment record. In doing this, you should choose the option that best fits your level of experience and competence. There will be occasions when you feel that you could tick more than one box and this is not unusual – if this is the case, make a note so that when you review the outcomes from the whole diagnostic you can remind yourself of any marginal choices you made.
The following descriptors are intended to help you to decide which level best describes your current level of development.
Level1 / Your experience and expertise is this area of school business management is limited because it is currently not part of your current role. You have very limited knowledge and understanding of this operational area.
2 / You have some experience in this area of school business management, and you manage processes and systems within the school. You possess a working knowledge and understanding of this operational area, but you would benefit refreshing and updating your knowledge, skills and understanding.
3 / You have recent experience in this area of school business management. In addition to managing processes and systems within the school, you have line management responsibility for other personnel working in this operational area. You possess a secure knowledge and understanding of this operational area and its key concepts and techniques. You work with the school’s senior leadership on developments and lead projects relating to this operational area.
CSBM participant diagnostic: Managing school facilities
Mark your levels in the grid below, the diagnostic questions on the following pages relate to the 4 units which make up the facilities module.
Your self assessment record
Transfer your responses by putting a ‘1’ in the corresponding box that you have ticked for each item within each area. Total your responses at the bottom of the grid and then use the result to help you identify those areas which require further study.
Area 1Planning and Construction / Area 2
Operational Management / Area 3
ICT Facilities / Area 4
Healthy Schools and Catering
1 / 2 / 3 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 1 / 2 / 3
1
2
3
4
5
Total
Reviewing the outcomes of your diagnostic
When you have completed your diagnostic and entered your responses into the self assessment record, reflect on the overall picture that has emerged from the scores you awarded yourself, and consider any notes you made as you went along. If your self-assessment is:
Predominantly levels 1 and 2: You will need to study these units/items fully.
Predominantly level 3: You should initially skim read these units/items to check that you have a secure understanding of their contents, and then to study in depth any items in which you do not feel secure.
Area 1: Planning and construction
The competent school business manager has knowledge of, understands and implements appropriate facility planning and construction procedures.
1.1 - Outsourcing and compliance
1 / 2 / 3I need to know who the key providers are in planning and constructing, or remodelling of current facilities and their appropriate roles. / I have a good knowledge of who the key providers are in the planning and constructing, or remodelling of current facilities, and I understand their appropriate roles. / I understand their roles and responsibilities. The main criteria for selecting key providers in planning construction and remodelling of existing facilities.
1.2 - Technical specifications
1 / 2 / 3I need to know how to draw up specifications for educational facilities and what they should minimally contain. / I can draw up specifications for educational facilities and what they should minimally contain. / I am versed in the principles of defining specifications for educational facilities for various works within a specific school environment.
1.3 - School based projects
1 / 2 / 3I need to know about the building regulations that pertain to schools. / I have a working knowledge of the building regulations that pertain to schools. / I am conversant with the building regulations for schools and other legal implications concerned with of improving or renovating existing facilities.
1.4 - Sustainability and safety
1 / 2 / 3I need to know about local planning process and how to provide the documents to obtain planning approval. / I know the local planning process and how to provide the documents to obtain planning approval in support of this process. / I am conversant with the principles guiding the review and approval of local facility planning and construction in the school, and have some experience of this activity.
1.5 - Educational facility plans
1 / 2 / 3I need to know about the elements and importance of planning educational facilities / I understand the relationship between curriculum developments in the school and facility planning. / I work with population projections, educational specification developments, building evaluation and site development
Area 2: Operational management
The competent school business manager has knowledge of, understands and implements appropriate maintenance and operation procedures.
2.1 - Facility support staff
1 / 2 / 3I need to know about the types, numbers and roles of support staff necessary to operate and maintain facilities. / I am familiar with the types, numbers and roles of support staff necessary to operate and maintain facilities and have some experience in defining operating procedures. / I have a good understanding of, and am able to implement, manpower plans for the operational management of the school’s facilities.
2.2 - Maintenance scheduling
1 / 2 / 3I need to know about the strategies for adequately allocating resources to maintain and operate the school’s facilities effectively. / I know about, and have some experience of, the strategies for adequately allocating resources to efficiently maintain and operate the school facilities. / I understand the relationship between the strategies for resource allocation on the facilities and the educational goals of the school.
2.3 – Fixed asset management
1 / 2 / 3I need to know what a fixed asset is and how to organise and maintain a fixed assets register. / I know what a fixed asset is and have some experience of how to organise and maintain a fixed assets register. / I have an understanding of the concept of fixed asset accounting and control all fixed assets within the school through the application of a fixed assets register.
Area 3: ICT facilities
The competent school business manager has knowledge of, understands and implements an effective ICT infrastructure to support the school’s curriculum and administrative requirements
3.1 - Safety of ICT facilities in a school
1 / 2 / 3I need to know about health and safety requirements with regard to the use and installation of ICT infrastructure and equipment. / I am conversant with health and safety requirements with regard to the installation and use of the school’s ICT infrastructure and equipment. / I carry out risk assessments with regard to the installation and usage of ICT infrastructure and equipment.
3.2 - ICT facilities design
1 / 2 / 3I need to know about best practice with regard to temperature, humidity and lighting in ICT facilities design / I understand the importance of temperature, humidity and lighting in ICT facilities design. / I work with colleagues to establish an appropriate environment for the provision of ICT facilities for both curricular and administrative purposes.
3.3 - School’s ICT requirements
1 / 2 / 3I need to understand how to evaluate the quality of the school’s ICT infrastructure. / I am able to evaluate the quality of the school’s ICT infrastructure. / I work with colleagues to establish an appropriate environment for the provision of ICT facilities for both curricular and administrative purposes.
3.4 - Design or redesign of ICT facilities
1 / 2 / 3I need to understand how to plan and design
ICT facilities. / I have a sound knowledge of the principles that guide the provision of an appropriate ICT infrastructure. / I apply my knowledge and understanding of the principles that guide the provision of to provide an appropriate ICT infrastructure.
Area 4: Healthy schools and catering
The competent school business manager has knowledge of, understands and implements catering service procedures.
4.1 Nutritional standards
1 / 2 / 3I need to know about the minimum nutritional requirements for providing meals and the local government agencies that catering services work with / I know the minimum nutritional requirements for providing meals and the local government agencies that catering services work with. / I am conversant with the principles guiding the regulation of meal provision and how these affect the catering service in the school.
4.2- Free school meals
1 / 2 / 3I need to know about the relationship between free school meals and school funding. / I have a working knowledge of the relationship between free school meals and school funding / I understand why the financial impact of proper recording procedures for free school meals is important.
4.3- Healthy schools policy
1 / 2 / 3I need to know about the required elements for the development of a healthy school policy. / I know the required elements for the development of a healthy school policy. / I am conversant with the process of policy development and can appreciate the involvement of school stakeholders in the process.
4.4 School catering contracts
1 / 2 / 3I need to know about the different options regarding school catering and understand the implications / I know the options that are available to me when considering the provision of catering for pupils / I understand the implications of the selecting the different methods and can apply those scenarios effectively to achieve the best outcome
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