Teach Secondary Issue 14.2

Harness that energy Let’s face it, your schedule is packed – which is why low-effort, high-impact fundraising ideas tend be treated as easy wins. These can, however, set the tone for a culture of regular giving that risks making some parents feel bad or inadequate for not being able to donate as often as they might like to. For short, sharp cash injections, cake and jumble sales are typically easy to organize, universally enjoyed – and sometimes, surprisingly lucrative. I’ve previously worked at a school that held an annual ‘Wear itWeird’ day, where students were encouraged to arrive at school wearing the most outrageous and unusual outfits they could come up with, in return for a small fee. You should know the kind of thing that engages your school community, so harness some of that energy. Try running a school-wide raffle, with prizes generously donated by local businesses – a simple, yet consistently engaging activity. You could also try seeing if ‘Guess the weight of the teacher’ or ‘Name the teddy’ competitions can generate unexpected funds, whilst getting your community onto the school site and making emotional connections with your cause. Non-uniform days remain an evergreen favourite, but maybe consider organising a few themed days – like ‘Superhero Day’ or ‘Animal Day’ to add an extra layer of excitement. Apply for grants Grant funding can be genuine a game- changer for schools. Begin by identifying potential funders, which you can do by exploring any charities and foundations in your local area that support education initiatives. Remember that local knowledge is key. After this, you can then try researching any national charities that are aligned with your school’s priorities, SURVIVINGTHE SQUEEZE The recently published 2025 Kreston UK Academies Benchmarking Report (see tiny.cc/ts142-HT1 ) shows how the sector’s finances have tightened over the last 12 months. Uncertainty persists, as trusts wait to see what potential reforms the government has in store, against a backdrop of worsening financial results. On average, single academy trusts (SATs) have again incurred deficits this year. That’s now three years in a row for primary SATs, and the first time secondary SATs have hit budget deficits since 2021. Multi Academy Trusts (MATs) fared better, but have still only broke even or achieved small surpluses at best. Among our sample of 260 trusts, nearly 60% incurred an in-year deficit this year. Reserves are also slowly declining, from an average of 9% for larger MATs in 2022/23, to 8% by 2023/24. Given burgeoning estate costs, worrying SEND budget deficit trends and no concrete plans as yet for funding ongoing staff cost rises, academy leaders are rightfully concerned. Academies must be allowed to operate at a surplus if they’re to navigate the choppy waters ahead, yet under the current model, this appears almost impossible. Trusts have had to dig deep to find cost savings in recent years, while funding has failed to keep pace with rising costs. Growth stalled The solution is growth. The larger an academy becomes, the more it can benefit from cost efficiencies through centralisation and economies of scale. 81% of academies are reported to be fully centralised, with MATs on average having grown to include around 12 schools – an increase of 11% from 2022/23. However, more are reporting deficits than not, so how large does a trust now need to be? Government plans to end growth funding through the Trust Capacity Fund (TCAF) and start-up grants are coming at a time when, for some trusts, growth might be the only available option for stabilising their finances. Over 50% of trusts have reported that these announcements had altered their plans and mindset towards growth. Amixed picture Capital funding for all but the larger MATs that receive school condition allocation (SCA) remains a lottery. Trusts must presently bid on a project-by-project basis for even the most essential repairs. Capital funding has risen by just 1.5% since 2021/22, over a period that’s seen inflation sometimes exceed 10%. There is, however, some welcome news. Updated government projections regarding the falling pupil roll have confirmed that the reduction is now expected to be less severe in the short term. There may also be an influx of pupils from private institutions, following the government’s imposition of VAT on school fees accounced in its 2024 Autumn budget. The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which is currently making its way through Parliament, offers a further glimpse of the government’s new approach to education, with its greater emphasis on Local Authority involvement, and shift in attitudes towards forced academisation. According to Leora Cruddas CBE, chief executive of the Confederation of School Trusts, “ School trusts have seen a real tightening of their budgets in recent years, and the gap between the funding received and real costs on the ground is unsustainable. Pupils and teachers are working hard to improve standards, and we need government to meet them by providing the resources to do the job properly. ” What the sector ultimately needs is open, transparent dialogue between school leaders and government, and more certainty beyond short-term funding. This will enable more strategic decision making, and deliver far greater value for money where every pound has to count. Kevin Connor is head of academies at chartered accountants, Bishop Fleming; for more information, visit bishopfleming.co.uk 44 teachwire.net/secondary