Understanding School Finances: A Practical Course for School Leaders

Why attend?

As a school leader, you don’t need to be a finance expert, but you do need to understand what your numbers are really telling you. This one-day course demystifies financial documents and equips you to ask the right questions, challenge assumptions, and make informed strategic decisions to safeguard your school’s future.

Key questions this course will answer:

• What’s the difference between statutory accounts, management accounts, budgets, and forecasts?
• How can I assess my school’s financial health from annual accounts?
• What do assets, liabilities, reserves, and covenants really mean?
• How can I interrogate financial information confidently and challenge constructively?
• How do I turn financial insight into better leadership decisions?

Who should attend?

Heads, members of senior leadership teams and governors who want to develop their financial fluency and strengthen strategic oversight.

What to expect:

• Interactive sessions using real-world examples
• Practical tools and "red flag" checks you can use straight away
• Case studies drawn from school accounts
• Peer discussions and shared learning
• Take-home resources for future reference

Details:

DATE: Thursday 6 November 2025

LOCATION: National Liberal Club, 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HE, The Lady Violet Room

TIME: 9:00am – 4:00 pm

FEE: £250 for the first delegate from a school, £175 for a second delegate (includes refreshments and a light lunch)

BOOKING: Space is limited, with a maximum of 2 delegates from each school – book by 30 September 2025

Presented by:

St Albans Education Group and Philip Avery

Philip Avery (The Business Mechanic) brings over 20 years of commercial law experience and extensive business finance training expertise to help school leaders unlock the strategic value hidden in their financial data. As a former commercial lawyer who transitioned into business operations, Philip approaches financial management from a uniquely practical perspective. Rather than getting lost in accounting theory, he focuses on what leaders need: clear, actionable insights that drive better decision-making.

Philip served as lead instructor in business finance and business operations at Bristol Management Centre from 2008 to 2022, where he specialised in teaching financial management to professionals with no business background. This experience honed his ability to start from first principles and make complex financial concepts accessible to anyone.

Philip's experience spans diverse industries and sectors, including commercial businesses, charities, and other organizations. This broad perspective brings valuable insights to any financial management challenge. His ability to distil universal business principles and adapt them to any sector, combined with his talent for starting from first principles, makes him uniquely positioned to help leaders see their financial challenges through a fresh, practical lens.

St Albans Education Group (STAEG) is charitable group of leading independent schools, united by shared values, expert leadership, and a commitment to excellence.

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