Budget management in MATs

Setting and managing budgets across the schools in your multi-academy trust (MAT) can be difficult. We look at how to do this effectively, including advice on effective delegation, conducting meetings, and budget forecasting.

Last reviewed on 12 May 2023
School types: AllSchool phases: AllRef: 44135
Contents
  1. Setting budgets
  2. Budget management across schools
  3. Effective budget forecasting

Setting budgets

Your role in budget setting will depend on the context of your schools

For example, a MAT with a number of schools that have had previous financial difficulty may take a more directive approach to budget setting and management than a MAT with schools who have always been on strong financial footing.

However, regardless of context, you will need to budget for the central services that you provide to all of your schools. This may be better included as part of a central budget, or alternatively as part of the budget for individual schools.

If only 1 or 2 schools require certain services, it may be more appropriate for those schools to commission that support themselves from within their