A FREE DfE funded four-stage progressive programme of workshops, designed to build financial confidence, expertise, capacity and sustainability specifically for Headteachers and School Business Managers, Governors & Leaders.

The Strategic Financial Leadership Programme led by the DfE has been compiled to equip Headteachers, School Business Leaders and Governors with the confidence, knowledge and practical skills to lead financially sustainable schools.  

Across four practical interactive workshops, delegates will explore nationally recognised approaches, learn practical strategies and discuss real-life case studies, gaining practical tools that can be implemented immediately within their own schools.  

Delegates will gain the confidence, knowledge and practical tools to: 

• Apply ICFP confidently within your own school for long term sustainability 
• Make evidence-informed strategic decisions. 
• Improve financial efficiency and organisational resilience. 
• Strengthen curriculum and workforce planning using ICFP. 
• Apply Operational Excellence principles to create capacity. 
• Lead evidence-informed financial decisions and effective financial discussions with governors, trustees and staff 
• Ensure every resource contributes to better outcomes for children and young people. 

Whether your role focuses on educational leadership, business management, finance or governance, the programme develops the strategic thinking and expertise needed to improve financial efficiency, strengthen organisational resilience, enhance strategic decision-making and ensure every resource is deployed to maximise value and deliver the greatest possible impact for children and young people. 

Programme Highlights 

• FREE, funded by the Department for Education.  
• Nationally recognised approaches delivered within a local context with local knowledge. 
• Aligned to the ISBL Professional Standards.  
• Interactive workshops using real school scenarios.  
• Practical templates, tools and resources to use immediately.  
• Suitable for maintained schools, academies and trusts.  
• Build valuable professional networks.  

 

Understanding & Utilising Integrated Curriculum & Financial Planning (ICFP)  

15 October 2026 

Booking
AM: 15 Oct 2026 – BDSIP - DfE RITS REG (ICFP) 10 am – 12:30 pm – Fill in form
PM: 15 Oct 2026 - BDSIP - DfE RITS REG (ICFP) 1:30 pm – 4 pm  – Fill in form 

Building Strategic Financial Confidence  

Integrated Curriculum and Financial Planning (ICFP) is one of the Department for Education’s most effective tools for aligning curriculum, staffing and financial planning. More than simply a financial exercise, ICFP provides school leaders with a structured, evidence-based approach to making informed strategic decisions that improve educational outcomes whilst strengthening long-term financial sustainability. 

This interactive workshop introduces the principles of ICFP and demonstrates how it can become an integral part of your school’s annual leadership cycle. Delegates will learn how to complete and interpret ICFP confidently, using workforce, curriculum and financial data to support school improvement planning, staffing decisions and budget development. The session will also explore how benchmarking and contextual analysis can identify opportunities to improve efficiency, optimise resource deployment and maximise the impact of every pound invested. 

You’ll Learn How To: 

• Understand the principles and purpose of Integrated Curriculum and Financial Planning (ICFP).  
• Confidently complete and interpret the ICFP process for your own school.  
• Understand key ICFP metrics and what they tell you about organisational performance.  
• Use benchmarking and contextual data to identify opportunities for improvement.  
• Analyse workforce deployment, curriculum efficiency and resource utilisation.  
• Embed ICFP into school improvement, curriculum, staffing and budget planning.  
• Use evidence to inform strategic discussions and strengthen financial sustainability  

Practical Takeaways 

• ICFP implementation and interpretation guide
• Annual ICFP leadership planning framework
• Benchmarking and data analysis toolkit
• Workforce deployment and resource planning templates
• Action planning framework for implementation 

By the end of the session you will be able to: 

• Complete an ICFP review with confidence.  
• Interpret key financial metrics and benchmarking data. 
• Make confident, evidence-informed decisions. Use curriculum, people and financial data to support strategic decision-making.  
• Embed ICFP into your annual leadership cycle.  
• Identify opportunities to improve resource deployment and financial sustainability.  
• Lead evidence-informed discussions with staff, senior leaders and governors.  

 

Leading Integrated Curriculum & Financial Planning (ICFP) Together  

26 November 2026 

Booking
AM: 26 Nov 2026 – BDSIP - DfE RITS REG (Leading ICFP Together) 10 am – 12:30 pm  – Fill in form
PM: 26 Nov 2026 – BDSIP - DfE RITS REG (Leading ICFP Together) 1:30 pm – 4 pm   – Fill in form 

Strengthening Strategic Leadership Through Collaborative Decision Making 

Effective financial leadership is a shared responsibility. Building on Session One, this interactive workshop demonstrates how Headteachers, School Business Leaders and Governors can use Integrated Curriculum and Financial Planning (ICFP) together to strengthen strategic decision-making, improve organisational performance and support long-term financial sustainability. 

Using practical case studies and real leadership scenarios, delegates will explore how curriculum, staffing and financial decisions are interconnected. The session develops the confidence to interpret ICFP collaboratively, challenge assumptions, evaluate options and use evidence to inform strategic discussions. Delegates will also learn how to embed ICFP into their annual leadership cycle to support school improvement, curriculum planning, staffing, budgeting and governance. 

You’ll Learn How To: 

• Lead strategic financial discussions using ICFP.  
• Strengthen collaboration between Headteachers, School Business Leaders and Governors.  
• Interpret financial and workforce data to support evidence-informed decisions.  
• Understand the financial impact of curriculum, staffing and organisational decisions.  
• Use benchmarking and key metrics to evaluate options and improve resource deployment.  
• Embed ICFP within the annual leadership cycle to support continuous improvement and effective governance.  

Practical Takeaways 

• Leadership discussion framework
• Collaborative ICFP planning templates
• Real school case studies
• Strategic decision-making tools
• Annual implementation framework 

By the end of this session you will be able to: 

• Lead collaborative, evidence-informed financial discussions using ICFP.  
• Engage senior leaders and governors in strategic financial planning.  
• Use financial and workforce data to inform curriculum, staffing and resource decisions.  
• Embed ICFP into your school’s annual planning cycle.  
• Make more confident strategic decisions that strengthen financial sustainability and improve outcomes for children and young people.  

 

Financial Planning & Budget Assumptions  

28 January 2027 

Booking
AM: 28 Jan 2027 - BDSIP - DfE RITS REG (FP&BA) 10 am – 12:30 pm  – Fill in form
PM: 28 Jan 2027 – BDSIP - DfE RITS REG (FP&BA) 1:30 pm – 4 pm  – Fill in form

Building Financial Confidence Through Evidence Based Planning 

Strong financial planning begins with robust assumptions. Effective budgets are more than financial documents—they are strategic plans that translate a school’s educational priorities into sustainable financial decisions. 

This practical workshop explores how to develop evidence-based budget assumptions, improve forecasting and strengthen medium- and long-term financial planning. Delegates will examine how demographic trends, funding changes, workforce planning, inflation, curriculum decisions and organisational priorities influence financial sustainability, enabling leaders to build resilient budgets that support school improvement and withstand financial scrutiny. 

You’ll Learn How To: 

• Develop robust, evidence-based budget assumptions.  
• Build medium- and long-term financial plans aligned to strategic priorities.  
• Improve financial forecasting using reliable data and intelligence.  
• Understand national and local funding assumptions and emerging financial pressures.  
• Plan for uncertainty by assessing financial risks and developing appropriate contingencies.  
• Ensure financial planning supports educational priorities, organisational resilience and long-term sustainability.  

Practical Takeaways 

• Budget assumption and forecasting templates
• Medium-term financial planning framework
• Financial planning and assurance checklist
• Risk assessment and contingency planning tools
• Budget scenario planning models
• Governance reporting templates
• Links to current DfE resources, guidance and tools 

By the end of this session, you will be able to: 

• Develop robust, evidence-based budget assumptions with greater confidence.  
• Produce more accurate medium- and long-term financial plans.  
• Assess financial risks and build appropriate contingencies into budget planning.  
• Use financial data and forecasting to support strategic decision making.  
• Align financial planning with curriculum priorities, workforce planning and school improvement.  
• Build a practical financial planning framework that strengthens long-term financial sustainability within your own school or trust.  

 

Strategic Planning & Operational Leadership  

18 March 2027

Booking
AM: 18 March 2027 - BDSIP - DfE RITS REG (SPOL) 10 am – 12:30 pm  – Fill in form
PM: 18 March 2027 - BDSIP - DfE RITS REG (SPOL) 1:30 pm – 4 pm – Fill in form 

Creating capacity through Operational Excellence 

Financial sustainability is achieved through more than effective financial management—it requires strong strategic leadership, operational excellence and the effective deployment of people, processes and resources. 

Drawing on the ISBL Three Pillars of Educational Leadership and the Operational Excellence Framework, this session explores how strategic business leadership creates the conditions for teaching and learning to flourish. Delegates will learn how to connect curriculum, people and finance, improve organisational performance and create capacity by streamlining systems, reducing inefficiencies and ensuring every resource is aligned to the school’s mission, values and strategic priorities. 

You’ll learn how to: 

• Differentiate between strategic and operational leadership.  
• Connect curriculum, people and finance to support school improvement.  
• Identify process inefficiencies, duplication and unnecessary workload.  
• Apply Operational Excellence principles to improve productivity and financial efficiency.  
• Use data and performance measures to support strategic decision-making.  
• Create organisational capacity through smarter systems and effective resource deployment.  
• Develop practical strategies for continuous improvement across business support functions.  

Practical Takeaways 

• Strategic planning templates and implementation tools
• Operational Excellence self-assessment framework
• Process mapping and continuous improvement toolkit
• SWOT, PESTLE and strategic planning resources
• Risk management and assurance framework
• Capacity creation and resource optimisation checklist
• Action planning template for immediate implementation 

By the end of this session, you will be able to: 

• Reduce inefficiencies and unnecessary workload.  
• Streamline systems creating organisational capacity through reducing waste and improving processes 
• Strengthen business operations to support teaching and learning.  
• Lead strategic organisational improvement with confidence.  
• Identify opportunities to improve financial efficiency and operational performance.  
• Ensure business functions actively support teaching, learning and better outcomes for children and young people.  
• Develop a practical roadmap for embedding Operational Excellence within your own school or trust.