Assisting with

Operations

Assisting with

Operations

Here is a summary of how LDBS supports schools in operations.

Additional services are also provided through our partner Grow Education Partners. There is more information below about our services, or view or download the brochure.

Operational support happens behind the scenes. It isn’t glamorous but it is important.
— Andrew Garwood-Watkins, Operations Director

Find out more here about operations services in

Finance

These are challenging times for schools. Lots of schools are finding it difficult to achieve a balanced budget. Strong financial management benefits pupils.
— James Bello, Finance Manager

LDBS is beginning to develop financial support services for schools, in response to current needs. We may be able to support you by:

Buildings & Property

LDBS can support you with land and property issues by:

  • Liaising with Local Authorities over statutory title transfers and land transfers

  • Providing building works insurance

  • Acting as the Responsible Body for VA Church schools

  • Providing project management support for building and maintenance projects

  • Running a Building Maintenance Scheme

  • Researching title deeds and property ownership

  • Keeping you up to date with property and buildings updates at School Business Manager conferences

We work across London to maximise school buildings and the real estate portfolio to meet the needs of LDBS and Church schools. As we plan for the next generation we are developing strategy and applying for grant funds to support schools to achieve Net Zero Carbon.

LDBS holds an insurance policy to cover building works at individual schools up to £250,000 per school and with an overall limit of £5million in any one year. The Building Maintenance Scheme is a fund into which VA school Governing Bodies pay their 10% contribution for building projects. The scheme operates as a collective self-insurance scheme under which the burden of management, administration and financing of all repair, maintenance and minor improvements is removed from individual schools. Schools pay annually, based on pupil numbers in the January census.

In 2022-23 LDBS oversaw 150 school building and maintenance projects with a total value of circa £9million, ranging from small projects of less than £10,000 to a SALIX-funded decarbonisation project with a value of £1.54million.

Most of our school buildings were here long before we were. Our job is to make sure they are still great places for the next generation to learn, and for the generation after that.
—  Andrew Garwood-Watkins, Operations Director

Data protection

Our data protection team supports over 200 schools and trusts across London to meet their statutory duties. The service is provided through our sister company Grow Education Partners and it helps schools to meet their statutory duties by providing data protection and privacy guidance advice and training.

The data protection service offered best value and instilled confidence that they would provide sound, practical advice.
— Headteacher