- Academy Trust Handbook: changes from September 2025
Changes to the Academy Trust Handbook include a ban on paying cyber ransom demands, and educational performance is no longer grounds for issuing a Notice to Improve.
- Academy Trust Handbook: summary of changes from October 2026
New
Changes to the Academy Trust Handbook include a stronger focus on inclusion and new expectations for trustee financial training and CFO qualifications. Tighter controls on procurement, executive pay and severance payments are also introduced.
- Allocating departmental budgets
Understand the different ways you can allocate curriculum budgets. Download our curriculum budget formula calculator and see case studies from different types of school.
- Benchmarking data: questions to generate discussion and analysis
Download our list of questions to help you analyse your benchmarking data, and find guidance from the DfE.
- Budget planning: how-to and templates
Get to grips with school budget planning. Use our template 5-year budget plan spreadsheets to help you model a range of scenarios and then cost your chosen one in detail.
- Calculating the cost of lessons and courses
See how to calculate the cost of lessons and courses to help budget for your curriculum. You'll find variables to take into account and suggested methods to use.
- Calculating the cost of your whole-school SEN provision
Understand how to calculate staffing costs for SEN provision so you can better estimate how much money you're spending on your overall SEN provision. Download our tools to help keep track of how much each intervention costs and whether it offers value for money.
- Consistent financial reporting (CFR)
Understand the purpose of the CFR framework for maintained schools and pupil referral units (PRUs), and how to use COLLECT to submit a data return. Plus, see what's changed for 2026-27.
- Financial benchmarking: how-to guide
See how you can identify schools similar to yours and make comparisons using the financial benchmarking tool from the DfE. Get to grips with both the benefits and limitations of benchmarking.
- Financial procedures manuals: examples
Take a look at examples of financial procedures manuals from a range of schools and a local authority.
- Financial support and oversight from the DfE's Regions Group: summary of guidance
Be clear on how the DfE will work with trusts to identify any financial issues, put support in place and take action if there are concerns.
- Integrated curriculum and financial planning (ICFP): checklist and guidance
Find out more about integrated curriculum and financial planning (ICFP), which can help you improve your school's financial efficiency and maximise resources. Download and use our checklist to guide you through the process.
- Presenting your budget to governors/trustees: templates
Keep your governors/trustees fully informed about your school budget planning and decision-making with our downloadable templates. You'll find a detailed budget planner, and a planning report that will help you explain your budget planning decisions.
- Request form for curriculum funds: template and guidance
Use our curriculum budget template to make it easy for your heads of department to bid for departmental funds. Plus download our request form to submit budgets for one-off projects.
- Schemes of financial delegation for multi-academy trusts (MATs)
You must have a scheme of financial delegation, but what that looks like depends on how your trust manages its finances. Read expert advice, see an example of how to delegate to different roles, and view examples from other schools.
- School budget: expenditure on staffing
Get advice on how to approach staffing expenditure and which staffing costs you should include in your calculations.
- School budget monitoring: questions to discuss
With finances squeezed, use this guide to help you make the most of your school budget monitoring meetings. See what to cover and use our questions to help you spot issues and identify next steps.
- School resource management self-assessment: summary
Academy trusts must complete the school resource management self-assessment checklist every year. Find out what it covers, so you know what to expect.
- Schools Financial Value Standard (SFVS): summary
Maintained schools must complete the SFVS every year. Read a rundown of what it covers, so you know what to expect.