Dear BASBM Members,
The Christmas period is nearly upon us and no matter how your are celebrating I hope you get some time to rest and enjoy the time with those close to you.
We have been busy planning conferences for next year and our 2026 dates are on the website now for you to register. We also have booked in some webinars and Bursary Drop-In sessions that you can read more about below. Our next conference is on 27th January 2026 and I wanted to use this opportunity to share with you that it will be my last as Chair. It is time for me to stand down because I can no longer represent you as well as I could 2 or 3 years ago. I ceased practising school business management when I retired from AUEA in March 2023 and, although that freed me up to give more energy to BASBM, I have also moved out of Birmingham to Worcestershire now that my husband has retired.
However, I am delighted to announce that the Committee has elected a new chair and vice chair who will take office at the end of January, subject to annual renewal at the AGM . Please welcome and congratulate Scott Brierley-Doyle who will step up from Vice-Chair to Chair and Chris Christoforou will be become the new Vice Chair alongside Stuart Jones. The Committee as a whole welcome them and are looking forward to supporting them in their new roles.
The agenda for our next conference is now available and we have tried to offer something for everyone, with a real focus to driving efficiencies to help relieve the heavy workloads you are facing on a day-to-day basis. As ever, Anne-Marie has lots of extra fun organised for you so do make sure you have booked your place. It will soon come round after Christmas. I also hope you will join me to celebrate my last conference with BASBM. I would like to wish you all a special festive season and some real refreshment from the pressures of the job.
Best wishes,
Amanda
Memberships are now due for 2026, so if you haven’t yet raised your invoice please do so. Payments need to be made by the 1st January 2026.
Just a reminder that your membership includes ISBL membership at basic level, saving you added costs, access to SBM toolkit, FundEd and BASBM events and website. If you are not utilising all of these, take a look at our Members area which has videos to show you how to. For ISBL membership, just email Anne-Marie to activate this.
The group affiliate ISBL membership excludes any fellow members and the accreditation process; these do require individuals to apply to ISBL directly. However, you can choose to upgrade at any time if this is required and you will just pay the difference, so it is still saving money for members.
Given the busy year everyone has had, we have had few people able to apply for training to our Bursary Scheme. This funding can help support any professional development that you would like to do. Please take a look at the documents area called Bursary Scheme for all the information. The next tranche is open now closing on 20th January 2026. All the dates for the Fund windows are in the calendar on our website, which can be accessed via the Community Menu. Anne-Marie is also holding a drop-in session on 7th January for anyone that would like to know more or who has any questions about the scheme. You can find out more about this on the BASBM members’ homepage.
Just a reminder that you can now benefit even more from your BASBM membership with FundEd and Funding Wall. For those that wish to, you can build longer term campaigns, add PTA, community, or other group pages, set up and sell tickets for events and build ‘thank you’ walls for sponsors and supporters. FundEd will help you set this up and all the information on how to apply is in the Documents Members area on the website
If you are changing roles you can update your title within your profile (settings cog icon) and then we will log the update for you and approve the change in the system. However, if you are changing schools, because the school pays for the membership, you need to notify us and to provide details of who will take on your paid membership at your old school. We can then update your profile for your new school and the invoice will be payable by them for the remaining term.
We have a few members retiring or leaving at the end of this term. I would like to thank them for their fabulous contribution to the group and wish them all the best for the future in their new adventures. They include Marie Perrins, Angela Toy Smith, Anne Bates and Jacqui Archer. All have been exemplary members, Marie for a long time. We also say 'Goodbye' to Louise Christie, Carol Davies and Deborah Dale who have moved to new adventures. Thank you for your valued contribution to BASBM. Sending you the best wishes for the future from all at BASBM as you will be missed.
If you are retiring or leaving the profession, please do let BASBM know ahead of time so we can arrange to transfer membership to your successor and help to support them in their new role, as well as thank you for your valuable contributions to the group.
We would also like to welcome to BASBM (new members)
Leanne Brown
Simon Brooke
Amy Develin
Lisa Howe
Kate Johnson
Louise Taylor
Natalie Ford
Ashley Hewitt
Prunella Johnson
Verdah Hall
Heather Holmes-McClure
Claire Johnson
Lisa Oakley
Smira Mahmood
Theresa Brooks
Meriel Masterson
We have chosen a charity of the year to support and this year it will be the NSPCC. You will see them at our conference and we will share information from them including the event below. We are proud as BASBM to be partnering with them and helping children around the UK.
Join thousands of schools and nurseries across the UK and celebrate the 26th anniversary of NSPCC’s Number Day!
Sign-up to nspcc.org.uk/numberday for free maths resources and NEW number activities.
Get your school or nursery involved with NSPCC Number Day fun this February and every pound raised will help protect more children. It’s maths, but not as you know it!
An all-inclusive maths-inspired fundraising day for children to have fun with numbers.
Organising Number Day is easy with free access to resources including activity sheets, games, challenges, assembly plans and posters.
Plus ‘Dress up for Digits’ and wear a number or get creative and become a human calculator, dice or a domino. Number Day is the perfect way to get pupils involved with number learning and fundraising.
Find out more and sign-up here nspcc.org.uk/numberday
You can approach any of the committee members, except Ruth and Sue who are absent currently.
We are really lucky to be supported by loads of great education based suppliers - many of which have done so for many years.
Below are the most recent to sign up or renew with us:
