The Educator Magazine U.K. May-August issue - Magazine - Page 62
Why managed services are
becoming essential for schools
Challenges in schools
The role of school leadership has
never been broader. Today’s leaders
are expected to be part strategist, part
HR advisor, part finance lead and part
compliance officer – all while keeping
pupils at the heart of every decision.
With shifting legislation, rising
expectations, and limited capacity,
day-to-day operations can easily take
time away from leadership and bigpicture planning. Schools are often left
juggling:
• Disconnected or outdated systems
• Shrinking local authority support
• Increasing inspection and audit
pressures
These issues don’t just create stress,
they can actively stall school
improvement. Without strong
operational support, decisions are
made without the right information,
risks go unnoticed, and leadership time
is lost to firefighting.
The case for managed services
Managed services offer a more
sustainable, people-first way to run
essential operations. Rather than
stretching in-house teams thin or
juggling multiple providers, schools
and MATs get joined-up support
across HR, finance, and internal scrutiny
– all from people who truly understand
the education sector. Done well, this
approach isn’t just about ticking boxes;
it’s about giving leaders the confidence
that they’re making the right decisions,
supported by expert guidance,
compliant systems, and a genuine
understanding of what schools need.
providing direction. With managed
services, day-to-day queries, admin
tasks and compliance checks are
handled efficiently, giving SLT the time
and headspace to lead effectively.
2. Staying compliant and
inspection-ready
Whether it’s safer recruitment,
financial oversight, or workforce
planning, schools need to be on the
front foot. Managed services bring in
education specialists who know what
inspectors are looking for, helping
schools avoid risk, reduce errors, and
prepare for Ofsted inspections with
confidence.
3. Reducing risk with internal
scrutiny
Many schools still don’t have
independent scrutiny of their
operations, leaving them exposed to
issues that could be picked up in an
audit or inspection. Some managed
service providers now offer internal
scrutiny as a core component,
covering everything from governance
and payroll to safeguarding and
procurement.
4. Integrated services, not silos
One of the biggest pain points for
schools is having separate providers for
HR, finance and compliance, with no
joined-up thinking between them. A
well-structured managed service brings
these functions together, aligning
people, systems and advice to support
school improvement.
1. Freeing up time for senior leaders
5. Scalable support for growing
trusts
MATs need consistency across schools
but flexibility at a local level. Managed
services that offer modular support
allow Trusts to roll out centralised
policies and reporting, while still
tailoring advice to the specific needs
of each school.
From budget planning to casework,
operational issues can pull senior
leadership teams (SLT) away from their
core purpose: teaching, learning and
More than just a service – strategic
impact
The real value of managed services is
that they go beyond simply handling
Here’s why more schools are
making the switch to a managed
service model:
admin. When done right, they provide
strategic insight, helping leaders plan
for the future, not just react to
problems.
This might include:
• Reviewing pay structures and staffing
models.
• Planning for financial sustainability.
• Auditing operational risks and
compliance gaps.
• Supporting school improvement
plans.
• Developing trust-wide policies and
tools.
With access to sector-specific
consultancy and intuitive digital tools,
schools and MATs can make more
informed decisions and ensure every
operational choice supports better
outcomes for pupils and staff.
Managed services: A growing need,
not a passing trend
As local authority support shrinks and
internal capacity becomes harder to
maintain, managed services are fast
becoming not just helpful but essential.
For many schools and trusts, doing it all
in-house is no longer sustainable and
generic providers can’t offer the
education-specific support they need.
By partnering with providers who
understand the sector, offer joined-up
support and puts the needs of schools
first, schools can improve operational
confidence, protect budgets, and focus
on what matters most: delivering
excellent education.
Real support, right when you need it
Book a discovery call with Juniper
Education to see how our integrated
HR, finance, and scrutiny support –
delivered by real people who
understand your world – can reduce
risk, free up time, and help drive
meaningful school improvement
through a genuinely human approach.
