If you are interested in a career in education and feel you have the qualities needed, then you may have considered teaching. Regardless of whether you want to work with younger children or college or university students, teaching can be extremely rewarding. However, a career in education doesn’t have to involve teaching. Education management is a great career option for those who want to work in education but may prefer to get involved in the more strategic side of this sector. Schools, colleges and universities can be complex to run. They have hundreds of students and staff as well as a broad curriculum that needs to be carefully and effectively managed and coordinated. From finance to administration, there are many different facets of education management, some of which are detailed below.

Finance management:

Finance roles are essential in the education management sector as most institutes have to work to strict budgets that need to be monitored and adhered to. Whilst many early learning facilities may be financially managed by local authorities, higher and further education institutions need candidates with exceptional financial acumen to manage, strategize and control the finances. This ensures that funds are being put to their best use and that realistic forecasts and budgets are put in place.

Facilities and Personnel:

Educational institutions need the right facilities in place to function efficiently. Many education management roles involve ensuring that there are an adequate number of teachers or lecturers in place at any given time. Guidelines must be followed in terms of how many students can be taught by one teacher. Staffing budgets also need to be monitored to ensure that they are not exceeded. If a school is being renovated or a new one being built, it is the responsibility of education management teams to liaise with school refurbishment companies. There needs to be detailed and accurate communication regarding the facilities needed and the timescales expected.

Education and Administration:

Many managers are responsible for education procedures and policies. They must ensure that these are rolled out timeously to relevant personnel and training programmes put in place where necessary. It’s not a particularly simple process and so, requires a methodical and structured plan to ensure that the information is communicated correctly.

Managers are also needed for the administrative element of the education process. Each school, college, and university needs a team of people to carry out the day to day running of the schools. It’s an education manager’s job to ensure that this is being facilitated correctly. Timetables are needed for students and lecturers; absences must be recorded and personnel information needs to be collated. That’s only the tip of the iceberg – there are a host of other procedures required to ensure the efficient administration of any educational institution.

So, if you are looking for a demanding but rewarding career that helps structure the education and progression of both children and adults, then education management might be right up your street.