School financial management
Contents
Accounts and tax
7 articles- Cash flow forecasts: guidance for academiesLearn how to manage cash flow as a school business manager (SBM). See what to include in your monthly forecasts to help monitor and report income and expenditure. Download a template from the ISBL and get tips for filling out cash flow templates.
- Charging for school premises: lettingsGenerate income for your school by letting your school premises. Learn how to set your costs and where to turn for advice on VAT.
- Monthly financial management for academiesGet to grips with what you need to prepare and do when it comes to monthly budget monitoring reports for academy trusts.
Charges and voluntary contributions
4 articles- Charging for educational visitsFind out which school trips you can charge for and how much you should charge. Download our handy template to help you calculate your costs. Plus, find out what to do with any money that's left over.
- Charging for residential school tripsUnderstand what you can and can't charge for with respect to residential trips. Read guidance on when parents may be exempt from paying for elements that are normally chargeable.
- Charging for school activitiesFind out what activities and equipment you can and can't charge parents for and how to request payment.
Fundraising and grants
5 articles- Case study: getting the most out of PTA fundraising effortsParent and carer associations are a great way to build a strong sense of community and to help your school get the extra financial support it needs. See how one PTA raised over £20,000 in a term and share their ideas with your own PTA.
- Fundraising ideas for small schoolsSee expert advice and practical ways of fundraising for small or rural schools, to help you combat any challenges in generating income. Find out how one small, rural school raised £50,000 for a new classroom, and how you can too.
- Funds and freebies: monthly highlightsUpdatedFind a selection of the grants available to schools across a range of areas, and details of freebies you can access. Also learn about cost-of-living support available for your school and community.
Managing the school budget
20 articles- Academy Trust Handbook: changes from September 2023Changes to the Academy Trust Handbook 2023 include looser requirements on sharing management accounts with your board, a higher threshold for related party transaction value before ESFA approval is necessary, and a new list of estates guidance to apply.
- Allocating departmental budgetsUnderstand 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 analysisDownload our list of questions to help you analyse your benchmarking data, and find guidance from the DfE.
Marketing
4 articles- How to advertise your MAT and schools when recruitingFind out what to include in your recruitment adverts and where to post them so that you stand out and attract the best candidates. Look at examples of how other multi-academy trusts advertise roles.
- How to advertise your school when recruitingFind out what to include in your recruitment adverts and where to post them so that you stand out and attract the best candidates.
- How to use your school Facebook pageGet the most out of your Facebook page with our top tips. Learn what to post, the settings that will save you a headache, and how to handle negative comments.
Purchasing
6 articles- Academy reviews of value for moneyAcademies must include a review of value for money in their annual accounts. Read about the purpose and structure of the review, and see examples from other academy trusts.
- Achieving value for money: guidance and resourcesRead our advice on getting value for money when paying for goods and services. Find useful links to resources to help you manage your finances effectively.
- Contracts register: templateUse our template contracts register to keep a record of all of your school's contracts and service level agreements in 1 place.