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Diploma of School Business Management (DSBM)

Eligibility

The Diploma of School Business Management (DSBM) is a world-leading programme that supports school leadership. The course was designed at a level higher than the CSBM and is aimed at the school business manager (SBM) who is working within the school senior management team. It focuses on the role the SBM can play in determining the strategic direction of their school.

The course has three subject areas:

• strategic management
• managing school improvement
• change management

DSBM has a broad equivalence to national qualifications framework (NQF) level 5 (e.g. the second year of a first degree). It is externally accredited by the Institute of Administrative Management (IAM). This gives graduates of the DSBM qualification the added advantage of a dual NCSL/IAM award as they will also receive the Advanced Diploma in Administrative Management and a one year membership of the IAM.

As part of the national school workforce reforms, we also wish to attract high-level managers from outside of the school sector into this profession. Together with our partners in government, we have launched an initiative in order to make the course accessible to people with alternative professional backgrounds such as industry and other public sector organisations. For more information on this, please email bursar@ncsl.org.uk.

DSBM offers approximately 800 places nationally per year and is delivered locally through approved training providers in the nine government regions.

Eligibility

We strongly advise that all applicants should first complete the CSBM qualification. If you wish to proceed directly to the DSBM you will be asked for further details regarding your professional and academic background in the form of an APEL - please consult the APEL guidance note (775kb, 6 pages). Your APEL will be assessed by a qualified tutor prior to acceptance onto the programme.

We do have other conditions for application. If you are thinking about applying for the DSBM, please take a few moments to consider whether the following statements relate to you as these represent the NCSL requirements:

• "I have identified a school at which I may conduct work-based study, consultation and research. The headteacher and chair of governors at this school are also aware that I am applying for the course and have agreed to give me their full support in my studies."
• "I am a member of the senior management team (SMT)" or "I play a full role in the senior management team and the skills gained from the DSBM will be of significant benefit to the school's effective leadership and management."
• "I am or am seeking to work as an SBM within a state-maintained school at senior leadership team level."
• "I work for a local authority or the DCSF and am/will be required to take SBM responsibility within my role."
• "I am working outside of England, have identified a school at which I may conduct work-based study, consultation and research and am able to meet the full cost of the course."
• "I am working in the independent school sector and am able to meet the full cost of the course."
• "I am able to attend a total of six workshop/assessment days."
• "I have a internet-enabled computer at home and/or have permission to use the internet at work for the purposes of the course."

One of the following statements must also apply to you:

• "I have gained the CSBM qualification at least three months ago."
• "I have two years experience as an SBM and have relevant professional qualification/s (eg AAT, CIPD, CIPFA, MInstAM, NVQ 4/5 or first degree)."
• "I have five years' experience as an SBM."

Availability

For the DSBM, there is one intake per year which is usually in the autumn.

Further details on DSBM intakes can be found on the How to apply page.

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