Extended services: ensuring sustainability using the social enterprise model

Schools that have embraced the delivery of extended services through a business model have a number of critical success factors in common:

• A shared vision for extended services and for what could be achieved for communities
• A champion with the passion and drive to lead the enterprise and surmount challenges
• Innovative development of relationships with partners in the community
• Skilled and enterprising staff
• Careful business planning to provide solid foundations for running the social enterprise.

In this report, a six-stage strategic planning and business development process is put forward outlining how to set up a social enterprise to provide extended services within a school.