Confidential, independent support for everyone handling finance, HR or estates management in schools
Whether you lead the work or deliver it, you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Join a trusted network of CEOs and finance, HR and estates professionals working across schools, academies and MATs throughout the UK.
Gain honest insight into the issues facing your team, or get practical support from peers who understand your role. No consultants. No jargon. No sales pitches dressed up as advice. Just real answers from people who’ve been where you are.
You shouldn’t have to work this out on your own
Every finance director, HR lead, or estates manager in a school has hit the same wall at some point. A question nobody else in the building can answer. A decision that needs to be right, first time. A problem that feels unique – until you find out 200 other people have already solved it.
That’s what The FD Forum is for
It’s the trusted network of Finance, HR and Estates professionals working in schools, academies and MATs across the UK – built by people who do this job, for people who do this job.
No consultants. No jargon. No sales pitch dressed up as advice. Just the real answers, from the people who’ve already been where you are.
WHY JOIN?
You already know the problem. Here’s the fix.
School finance, HR and estates roles are some of the most exposed in any organisation. One person, often making high-stakes calls, with nobody else in the building who really understands the detail.
The FD Forum exists to close that gap.
Ask a question, get an answer from someone who's been through it
Never start from a blank page again
Every discussion is saved in our forum library – years of real questions and real answers on ALL aspects relating to the business running of schools. Chances are, someone’s already asked your question and got a brilliant answer.
Get a straight answer on VAT, free, today
Education VAT is a minefield, and getting it wrong is expensive. Our VAT Forum gives you direct access to an experienced education VAT expert. Ask your question and get an immediate response, included in your membership, no extra charge.
Say the quiet part out loud
Confidentially, without judgement. This is a space to be honest about what’s actually happening in your school – the pressure, the tricky staff issue, the budget that doesn’t add up – and get it off your chest with people who genuinely understand.
Keep up without extra effort
I’m a CEO, is it relevant for me?
WHAT YOU GET
Membership isn’t just a login. It’s a full toolkit for the job:
Unlimited access to our main Forums
Direct access to a real VAT expert, for free
Our VAT Forum puts you straight in touch with a specialist in education VAT; no fee, no waiting, no referral needed. Ask your question and get an immediate response from someone who knows exactly how VAT works in schools.
A searchable library of past discussions
Free Lunch & Learn webinars
The FD Forum Directory
Exclusive member perks
AND THERE’S A BONUS
Membership doesn’t just get you the Forums. It gets you the Directory too.
Every FD Forum member has access to the FD Forum Directory – our curated list of trusted suppliers for schools, at no extra cost.
Here’s what makes it different from any supplier list you’ll find online: the recommendation banner is earned, never bought. Suppliers only get flagged as recommended when real FD Forum members (people doing your job, in schools like yours) vouch for them.
So when you need a new payroll system, an energy broker, an HR consultant, or almost anything else your school buys in, you’re not gambling on a Google search or a slick sales pitch. You’re choosing from suppliers that your peers have already used, trusted, and put their name to. You can also ask for recommendations on the Forums.
No extra sign-up. No extra fee. Just one more reason your membership pays for itself.
MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP
£75 per person, per year (plus VAT)
One login. Unlimited access. Every Forum. Less than the cost of a single training course, for a year of support on tap.
GROUP MEMBERSHIP
£250 per year (plus VAT)
Unlimited users, across your whole team, across every Forum. If more than three people in your school could use this, Group Membership pays for itself.
Compare that to what a single hour with an external consultant costs, and remember, this isn’t one hour. It’s every day, all year, with a whole community behind you.
REMOVING THE DOUBT
Is this actually confidential?
Will I actually get answers?
Our members already do, every day -across finance, HR and estates management. Real people. Real school email addresses. Real experience.
Is it worth the money?
One good answer, at the right moment, can save you hours of research, a costly mistake, or a sleepless night. Most members tell us it’s the most valuable resource they use all year.
Many thanks for all your support over the years – this has been the most invaluable resource to me over the years. Thanks to you and all the team.
Forum Member
I have been a member of the forum for a number of years and have found it an invaluable resource.
Forum Member
The Forum has been a vital tool and resource to many new and old FDs, as well as a vital vehicle for people venting their frustrations.
Forum Member
You've got enough on your plate. You shouldn't have to carry it alone.
Join the network built specifically for people in your role – Finance Directors, HR leads, Business Managers, and Estates teams working in schools across the UK.
Group membership enquiries: admin@thefdforum.co.uk