Staff Absence Protection

SEPTEMBER 2026 – Survey is now OPEN!

Ellie Rischer — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 10:28:10 +0000

The NEW School Business Leader Wellbeing Survey is now LIVE.

For half a decade, we have been listening to the SBL community across the UK, gathering valuable insights into the realities of the profession and tracking how wellbeing is influenced by the evolving demands of education. Whether you’re a School Business Manager, School Business Leader, HR or Admin staff or part of a central trust team, we’d love to hear from you.

The anonymous survey is open from Wednesday 16th September until Friday 16th October 2026. Participants have the option to enter into a prize draw to win 1 x £100 Amazon voucher for their school.

For further information, competition T’s & C’s, and to take part, please click the link here: https://online1.snapsurveys.com/EducationMutual-SBLWI-2027

Thank you for helping us build a stronger understanding of wellbeing across the profession.

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SEPTEMBER 2026 – SBL Wellbeing Index Survey for 2027

Ellie Rischer — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 10:54:36 +0000

As the new academic year begins, Education Mutual will once again be inviting those working within a school business leadership role across England and Wales to participate in our annual survey.

Each year, hundreds of school business professionals share their experiences, providing insight into the challenges, pressures and opportunities facing the profession. Their contributions help us develop a comprehensive understanding of the wellbeing of those working in the role.

The findings are analysed and published as wellbeing reports, with dedicated versions for:

Local Authority and Maintained Schools
Multi-Academy Trusts

These reports offer an important evidence base on the state of mental health and wellbeing within the sector, helping to inform discussions, policy development and support initiatives across education. The insights are shared with key sector stakeholders, including relevant representative organisations and the Department for Education, to help drive meaningful change.

The survey will be open from Wednesday 16th September to Friday 16th October 2026. If you work in a school business leadership role, we encourage you to take part and help shape a clearer understanding of the experiences and wellbeing needs of the profession. The link to complete the survey will be shared in the upcoming weeks.

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JUNE 2026 – Small Supplier of the Year 2026 WINNERS

Ellie Rischer — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 12:54:53 +0000

We are incredibly proud to share that Education Mutual has been named ‘Small Supplier of the Year 2026’ at the Crescent Purchasing Consortium (CPC) Excellence Awards.

This latest achievement also marks an exciting milestone for us as an organisation. Being named Small Supplier of the Year makes us a six-time award-winning provider, reflecting not only consistency in quality, but our continued commitment to supporting the education sector with a non-profit making alternative to traditional staff absence insurance.

From customer service to membership advocacy and renewals, marketing, claims, accounts, and our dedicated Board members, this award belongs to every individual who plays a role in delivering the high standards of staff absence protection we’re known for.

We’re especially pleased that this award will sit alongside our previous CPC success – ‘Customer Service Excellence of the Year 2025’ – a combination that perfectly captures what matters most to us. While we’re proud to celebrate this moment, our focus remains the same. We will continue to listen and evolve our protection to ensure we’re providing the very best for our member schools and trusts.

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JUNE 2026 – Cyber Protection

Ellie Rischer — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 09:14:27 +0000

Education Mutual in partnership with Gallagher Cyber Defence Centre ensures schools can have access to cyber solutions that proactively prevent cyber-attacks to strengthen digital safety across their school communities. Available as an add‑on to an Education Mutual membership or as a standalone service for non‑members, Gallagher Cyber Defence Centre offers flexible support to suit a wide range of organisations.

This is a collection of tools and services for Education Mutual clients who want to take a proactive and continuous approach to managing their cyber risk. It includes access to cyber risk specialists and the automated security technology to help you defend your school against cyber incidents such as:

Vulnerability scanning
Virtual CISO
Support with Cyber Essentials (CE) and IASME accreditations Phishing simulator
AI supported Phishing simulations and educational portal
Data breach scanning
Employee training portal

In addition, this service allows you to utilise notifications through access to a newsletter and monthly discussions via community intelligence about key security concerns and awareness of live threats. Each month, a series of cybersecurity training webinars are also available with topics such as boundary control, email security and phishing, working from home, data protection.

To find out more about this service, please visit: https://www.educationmutual.co.uk/service/cyber-security/

To receive a quote, please send an email to cyber@educationmutual.co.uk

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MAY 2026 – Multi-Academy Trust Edition of the School Business Leader Wellbeing Index 2026

Ellie Rischer — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 11:50:46 +0000

The Multi‑Academy Trust edition of Education Mutual’s School Business Leader Wellbeing Index 2026 is available to download, print and share.

Now in its second year, the MAT-specific edition builds on the 2025 report and provides a valuable comparison of how pressures and priorities within the sector have evolved over the past 12 months. This years edition also offers updated insights into the wellbeing, pressures, and everyday experiences of School Business Leaders. The findings highlight the key challenges facing the SBL community, including excessive workload, funding constraints, and increasing demands around a lack of SEND provision.

Despite these challenges, the research also reflects the resilience and commitment of the SBL community, as well as the critical role key organisations play in amplifying the SBL voice.

We encourage you to explore the new report and share it within your networks to help raise awareness and spark positive conversations about SBL wellbeing.

Read here: www.educationmutual.co.uk/school-business-leader-wellbeing-index-2026/

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MAY 2026 – CPC Excellence Awards 2026 Finalists

Ellie Rischer — Wed, 13 May 2026 08:14:28 +0000

We’re incredibly proud to share that Education Mutual has been named a finalist at the CPC Excellence Awards 2026. To be recognised across multiple categories is a huge honour for our team. It reflects the continued dedication that goes into supporting schools, trusts and the people at the heart of education every single day.

This year, we’ve been shortlisted for:

Product/Service of the Year
Small Supplier of the Year
Innovation within Education of the Year

This recognition feels even more special following our success at last year’s awards, where we were proud winners of the CPC ‘Customer Service Excellence of the Year Award’ 2025. That award celebrated our commitment to delivering a responsive, supportive and people-first service which is something that continues to sit at the core of everything we do! To now be in the running for three further categories is a moment we’re incredibly excited about, and one we hope will see us adding another award to the shelf.

Looking ahead to the awards

This year’s event brings something new too, with the introduction of the “Meet the Supplier” exhibition ahead of the awards ceremony. Education Mutual are delighted to be taking part, with the opportunity to meet partners, connect with others across the sector and showcase how we’re supporting education settings with their staff wellbeing and absence protection.

A huge congratulations to all of this year’s finalists — we’re looking forward to celebrating together.

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APRIL 2026 – Subscribe to our LinkedIn Newsletter

Ellie Rischer — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 10:54:11 +0000

At Education Mutual, staying connected with our members, partners and the wider education community is a priority. That’s why we publish The Termly Bell, our digital newsletter.

Published once each academic term, The Termly Bell brings together key updates from Education Mutual in one easy‑to‑digest place. It’s our way of sharing what’s happening across the organisation, highlighting developments in our services, and celebrating the people behind the work we do with schools and trusts. Subscribing to The Termly Bell is simple. As a LinkedIn newsletter, you can sign up directly via our LinkedIn page and receive notifications each time a new edition is published. It’s a quick, easy way to stay informed.

Click here to subscribe – https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7265008363028070400

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MARCH 2026 – School Business Leader Wellbeing Index 2026 (Maintained Version) – Out Now!

Ellie Rischer — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 09:27:15 +0000

The 2026 edition of the Education Mutual School Business Leader Wellbeing Index is now officially available to download, print, and share.

This updated edition brings together the latest insights, trends, and data surrounding the wellbeing of School Business Leaders across the maintained sector working in England and Wales.

Browse the new findings here.

Education Mutual encourages all school business professionals, senior leadership teams, and sector networks to engage with the report and share it widely.

A separate report focusing on the Multi‑Academy Trust version of the findings will follow in May/June 2026.

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MARCH 2026 – BUSINESS LEADER ROADSHOWS ARE BACK!

Ellie Rischer — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 09:35:05 +0000

The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) and Education Mutual are delighted to announce that the Business Leader Roadshows are officially returning for 2026.

Education is changing fast and business leaders are at the heart of making change work. Whether you’re navigating funding pressures, grappling with new employment legislation, or wondering how AI will reshape your workload, this roadshow is built around what matters most to you.

Strategies and tools for immediate impact:

A clear, up-to-date briefing on the policy changes shaping business leadership in England.
Expert guidance on the Schools Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB), pay, and the Employment Rights Bill.
Practical strategies for strategic financial planning and funding resilience.
Insights from Education Mutual’s School Business Leader Wellbeing Index and tools to strengthen your own wellbeing and grit.
Dedicated reflection time for your personal growth and resilience.
In conversation with Nathan Hines, former British and Irish Lions rugby player on leadership, performance mindset, and resilience under pressure.
Networking and discussion time with fellow business leaders and policy specialists.

Two dates are available. Please click your preferred date to book your tickets:

Wednesday 24th June – Birmingham, England

Wednesday 1st July – Cardiff, Wales

Please note: the event in Cardiff on 1st July is tailored to the distinct policy landscape in Wales, with dedicated time on the Welsh Government’s pilot with ISBL for 2025-26, and a full update on the implications of the May Senedd elections.

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MARCH 2026 – Coming Soon – School Business Leader Wellbeing Index 2026 (Maintained Version)

Ellie Rischer — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 11:46:18 +0000

Education Mutual is pleased to confirm that the 2026 edition of the School Business Leader Wellbeing Index (Maintained Schools Version) will be published on Tuesday 24th March 2026. Now in its fourth year, the Index continues to explore the changing wellbeing needs of School Business Leaders across England and Wales. This year’s report builds on previous findings, allowing comparisons that highlight emerging trends, shifting pressures, and the evolving nature of the SBL role.

The latest edition reveals several important developments within the sector. Notably, School Business Leaders reported:

A continued rise in colleagues lacking understanding of the breadth and complexity of their role.
New challenges relating to issues with parents and growing inspection‑related pressures, both of which are contributing to increased levels of stress and emotional strain.
The escalating impact of managing provision for pupils with special educational needs, which many SBLs now describe as a demanding area of their role.

This year’s report also features valued contributions from sector organisations, including the SBL Support Hub, the Department for Education, and ISBL. The full report will be published via www.educationmutual.co.uk/ on launch day. A separate report focusing on the Multi‑Academy Trust version of the findings will follow in May/June 2026.

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