Managing the school budget

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.

Understand the different ways you can allocate curriculum budgets. Download our curriculum budget formula calculator and see case studies from different types of school.

Download our list of questions to help you analyse your benchmarking data, and find guidance from the DfE.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Take a look at examples of financial procedures manuals from a range of schools and a local authority.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Get advice on how to approach staffing expenditure and which staffing costs you should include in your calculations.

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.

Academy trusts must complete the school resource management self-assessment checklist every year. Find out what it covers, so you know what to expect.

Maintained schools must complete the SFVS every year. Read a rundown of what it covers, so you know what to expect.