Anthony Degnan, Finance Manager at Ad Astra Academy Trust, tells us what he has gained professionally after undertaking a DfE-supported Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) Procurement Fundamentals course.
Ad Astra Academy Trust is a multi-academy trust in the North East of England, with ten primary schools spread across Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough, and County Durham.
I’ve been with the trust since the very beginning in 2014, and my role covers everything from budget setting to monitoring and staffing.
Procurement has always been part of the picture, but I wouldn’t have called myself an expert, which is why the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) Procurement Fundamentals course was of interest.
Why I signed up
I first heard about the course through the DfE Update bulletin and, although it wasn’t something I was actively looking for, it was very timely. We had a few big projects coming up - one was reviewing our management information system - and I knew procurement would be central to getting those decisions right.
I also knew that in education, procurement isn’t just about picking a supplier you like. There are rules, fairness, and compliance to consider. I wanted reassurance that we were doing things properly and confidence when discussing procurement decisions with colleagues.
The fact it is DfE-backed helped as well. We knew it would be more tailored and a bit more bespoke to our needs rather than being a general or more commercial-based course.
I think I can also sometimes fall into a bit of a trap when it comes to my own continuing professional development (CPD) – I don't always value it as much as I should. So, when this option came forward and was quite well timed, I thought, ‘Right, I'm going to sign up to this.’ I’m glad I did; this has helped me to realise it's quite short-sighted to ignore your CPD. You really should be valuing it.
What the training was like
The course was delivered entirely online. There was some pre-reading in preparation, via the online portal, which I found very valuable. You could do at your own pace and in your own time, but it wasn't excessive or daunting – maybe about 45 minutes just to get a feel for the course so that you weren't going in completely blind. Importantly, it gave you a bit of thinking time as well – you could start to think, ‘Right, what do I want to get out of this course?’.
The training itself was a full day, and it was quite interactive. The facilitator did a very good job at bringing everyone into the conversation. The group was purposely small enough that everyone could be engaged and join the discussion.
What worked well was the breakout rooms where we were split into three or four smaller groups and could share our own experiences and learn from each other. That peer-to-peer element was invaluable - some people had led big procurement projects, others were just starting out, and we all faced similar challenges.
The facilitator did a great job. She kept it practical and focused on real-world issues like confidence, timelines, and planning.
What I learned
One big takeaway for me was understanding how long procurement really takes. If you want to change a supplier in April, for example, you can’t start in February. You need to work backwards, plan consultations, and give fair notice. That sounds obvious, but in your day-to-day role, with lots of other things going on, it’s easy to forget.
I went in looking for reassurance and confidence, and I got both. Procurement delays can frustrate people, especially when things feel urgent. But I now feel better equipped to explain why we are taking these important steps with public money.
The course stresses the need to refine and be very clear about what you want to buy. If you go out to procurement and say, ‘I want 30 computers,’ that's a very vague description and you’re likely to get responses that don’t meet your needs fully, or at all. Think about what you want and be specific.
An unexpected aspect was learning about the ethical side of procurement. We talked about things like modern slavery policies and whether suppliers pay a living wage. It really made me think - if we care about being a good employer, shouldn’t we care about who we buy from too? I’ve already started conversations in the trust about introducing a modern slavery policy, even though we’re not legally required to have one. It’s the right thing to do.
In the future, when purchasing comes up and people are just talking about price or quality, I'll be the voice in the room saying, ‘What about the ethics? Is this a good decision for us? Will it impact our reputation?’. We want to be seen to be doing the right things.
Benefits for me and the trust
Personally, I feel more confident and more proactive about procurement projects having done this training. I’m planning better, thinking about timelines, and asking the right questions. I’m also cascading what I learned to colleagues - I’ve shared resources from the course and spent time explaining key points, especially around ethics and planning.
The benefits of that for the trust will grow over time. Better planning means we won’t just stick with existing suppliers because we know them or we’ve run out of time. That alone should lead to savings. We’ll also be less reliant, as we have been to date, on external consultants for procurement advice, which will save money too.
It’s not just about cost, though. I learned that procurement done well means better quality, better support, and better long-term value. The cheapest option upfront isn’t always the best one. If you buy better, you save in the long run.
Final thoughts
I was fortunate enough to get a DfE-funded place on the course but, having done it, I’d like to think we’d have paid for a place. I’d certainly recommend it to school business professionals or anyone looking to build their procurement knowledge.
It’s practical, relevant, and tailored to education. It builds confidence, reinforces good practice, and even challenges you to think about ethics. For me, it was a day well spent - and for Ad Astra Academy Trust, it’s hopefully the start of doing procurement better.
DfE are now offering more fully-funded places on CIPS Procurement Fundamentals training sessions across 10 dates during the 2026 summer term. Places are limited. Apply for a place using the DfE-funded CIPS Procurement Fundamentals training: application form.
seen at 16:31, 2 March in Buying for Schools.