School pair graduate to a worldwide first

Michael Unsworth Kingfisher School and Sandra Taylor, from Hodgeclough Junior School,

SCHOOL business managers Michael Unsworth and Sandra Taylor are among the first in the world to gain a new degree.

Michael (36), from Kingfisher School, Chadderton, and Sandra Taylor (49), from Hodge Clough Junior School, Oldham, graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University with a degree in school business management.

The degree, the first in the subject worldwide, covers areas such as leadership development, sustainable education and performance management.

The duo completed the course in less than two years while continuing to work.

Sandra described it as the natural progression from the certificate and diploma in the subject and said: “It was extremely difficult. I had to use all my skills to manage my workload.

“The course is keeping up with the ever-changing world of school business management.

“Schools are not run as they used to be and there is scope for business managers to alleviate the workload of head teachers.”