School Business Leader
Greatfields School, Barking, IG11 7QG19 days remaining to apply
Start date details
12th October 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter
Closing date
1 September 2026 at 11:59pm
Date listed
13 August 2026
Job details
Job role
- Administration, HR, data and finance
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full time equivalent salary
- £77,550.00 - £85,677.00 Annually (Actual) This role is a full time, full year role
School Business Leader job summary
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.
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.
Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.
Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children
You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.
Applying for the job
This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on external website (opens in new tab)About Greatfields School
- Organisation type
- Free School, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- Size
- 1248 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- Website
- Greatfields School website
Greatfields School is a mixed, non-selective, non-denominational, secondary free school, situated in the Gascoigne community in Barking, East London. The school opened in September 2016 with 120 Year 7 students, and aims to grow to a 10-form entry, 11-18 school with 1,800 pupils in purpose-built new accommodation. Greatfields School is a partner school within the multi-academy educational trust – Partnership Learning.
Although Greatfields School’s priority is maximising examination success, it believes school is not just about academic study. It actively encourages all students to enjoy school and to get involved in as wide a range of activities as possible. Attendance at after school clubs is exceptionally high, with half of the students regularly staying behind to attend a club every night.
Greatfields School’s mission is to provide the young people of the community with a first-class education and to equip them with the skills and knowledge they will need to achieve their future dreams. Greatfields School is built on three simple principles: high quality teaching and learning for all students; a culture of positive behaviour; high aspirations for all students.
The school believes its boundaries are clear and expectations are high, which enables students to reach their full potential. Positive relationships underpin everything that it does. Greatfields School believes it is creating a school which staff and students enjoy coming to every day. There is a high level of mutual respect between staff and students which ensures a positive and calm atmosphere throughout the building and in classrooms. It wants students to enjoy their time at school whilst at the same time striving hard to achieve their goals.
Head of School,
Richard Paul
School location
Similar jobs nearby
Maths Hub- Executive Administrator
The St Marylebone CofE School
64 Marylebone High Street, London, W1U 5BA
Personal Assistant (PA) to Senior Leadership Team (SLT)
Oaks Park High School
45-65 Oaks Lane, Ilford, Essex, IG2 7PQ
Get a job alert when similar jobs are listed
Find more school jobs in Barking and Dagenham