Partnership between RRC Training and National Bursars Association Boosts Health and Safety in Schools

Health and safety in UK schools is set to benefit from a new partnership between RRC Training, one of the UK’s leading health and safety training providers, and The National Bursars Association, the largest professional organisation for bursars, school business managers and administrators in the United Kingdom.

RRC Training was approached last year by the National Bursars Association (NBA) after a recommendation by the Institute of Administrative Management. The NBA was keen to offer health and safety training for its members as part of an ongoing commitment to promote the advancement of school management, provide professional support to its members and enhance the effectiveness of the schools in which they serve.

They were particularly interested in the renowned NEBOSH National General Certificate programme, which would equip delegates with a basic knowledge and understanding of occupational safety and health.

After discussion with NBA about their requirements, RRC Training developed a blended programme of study which incorporated distance learning with elements of classroom-based training, and is arguably the most effective method of training for organisations whose members or employees are based in different locations and need to fit training around work and other commitments. The structured programme combines the benefits of flexibility, convenience and cost-efficiency associated with distance learning, with the obvious advantages of face-to-face tutor interaction at strategic points during the course and so offers the best of both worlds.

Eleven delegates were booked onto the first cohort which commenced in January 2005, aiming for a July 2005 exam and RRC Training arranged for the NBA to have their distance learning course material ahead of the training so they could start familiarising themselves with the course.

The blended programme RRC Training devised for the NBA included an Induction Day held in January at a hotel in Rugby during which the tutor introduced the course syllabus, an Interim Day, held in Birmingham in April, at which key areas of the syllabus were covered in detailed and an Exam Preparation Workshop, in Coventry in June, during which delegates reviewed past exam papers.

At the end of the month, the Practical Assessment was also held in Coventry, followed by the final examination a week later.

The pilot programme had a high success rate with seven out of the eleven students completing their examinations in July, two students deferring exams to the next cohort and one arranging to sit exams independently.

Since the start of the course NBA have arranged a second and third cohort to develop more of their members, commencing in September 2005 and January 2006 respectively.

‘We are delighted to be involved with the NBA’s extremely worthwhile initiative to offer health and safety training to its members,’ comments RRC Training’s MD Gary Fallaize. ‘In the commercial world we are increasingly seeing health and safety training being given greater priority as it forms an important part of a company’s community liaison or CSR. It demonstrates a company’s credentials as a responsible employer and a valuable member of the local community and there is a growing trend for those with responsibility for health and safety to have a recognised qualification accredited by a national body. There is obviously nowhere that health and safety is more crucial than in our schools and the opportunity the NBA has provided for its members by making this course available to them through us can only benefit the schools in which they work and their own careers.’

‘We’ve had an extremely positive response to this initiative from our members,’ said (NBA spokesperson Mr. William Simmonds). ‘Thanks in no small part to RRC Training, the delegates who’ve taken part in the course so far have found it both informative and enjoyable and we are thrilled that more of our members are taking the chance to gain a very valuable qualification and skills.’

RRC Training can be contacted at Tuition House, 27-37 St George’s Road, London SW19 4DS. Website: E-mail:

National Bursars Association can be contacted at First Floor Offices, 140 Wood Street, Rugby, Warwickshire, CV21 2SP. Website:

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