The Academy Trust Handbook 2025 has now been published, with an effective date of 1 September 2025. The Handbook should be read by those who have responsibility for governing, managing or auditing an academy trust and must be complied with as a requirement of trusts’ funding agreements with the Secretary of State for Education.
The main changes to this year’s Handbook are outlined below.
Roles and responsibilities
Greater focus is given to ensuring trusts understand how well they are meeting the DfE’s digital and technology standards and that they are making progress towards meeting the six core standards by 2030 – the standards are:
– Broadband internet;
– Network switching;
– Wireless network;
– Cyber security;
– Filtering and monitoring; and
– Digital leadership and governance.
According to the government, despite 72% of IT leads being aware of the six core standards, only 16% currently report meeting them.
There is enhanced guidance on strategic and effective estates management, including maintaining school estates in a safe and operational condition. This includes signposting to key resources such as the School estate management standards, Good estate management for schools, the Condition Data Collection, and the Condition Improvement Fund.
Accounting Officer duties have been refreshed and key definitions refined – regularity, propriety, feasibility, and value for money – to align with Managing Public Money.
Expanded guidance is given on the Accounting Officer’s duty to raise concerns, with the ‘Find out more’ section signposting to Chapter 3 of Managing Public Money, which sets out the Accounting Officer’s role.
Main financial requirements
Enhanced procurement guidance highlights the importance of propriety and value for money in the use of public funds. Trusts are reminded to consult Buying for schools: how to buy what you need and consider DfE opportunities to support informed purchasing decisions.
The process for setting executive pay within trusts is clarified, with a strong emphasis on trustees following a rigorous, evidence-based approach. Boards must ensure their decisions are ‘transparent, proportionate and defensible’ and ‘documented in an agreed pay policy.’ The new guidance states that decisions about executive pay may be challenged by the DfE.
The Handbook makes it clear that academy trusts must ensure senior staff payroll arrangements are fully compliant with tax regulations. Senior leaders with substantial financial responsibilities should be paid exclusively through payroll, with income tax and National Insurance contributions deducted at source via Pay As You Earn (PAYE).
Internal Scrutiny
The guidance clarifies that the income thresholds relevant to internal scrutiny arrangements are determined based on the trust’s last audited accounts.
Delegated authorities
Additional guidance has been included regarding ‘novel, contentious, or repercussive transactions.’ A repercussive transaction may involve a proposal by a trust that leads to additional costs for other parts of government. Such transactions must always be referred to the DfE for approval.
A link to Managing Public Money is included to find out more about novel, contentious and repercussive transactions and consents.
The Regulator and Intevention
There is now an explicit instruction that trusts must not pay cyber ransom demands – a firmer stance than in previous versions of the Handbook. Paying a ransom does not guarantee recovery of data or services and may increase the risk of further attacks.
A helpful link is now included to provided trusts with guidance on financial support and oversight.
Educational performance has been removed as an area where a Notice to Improve may be issued.
There is confirmation that the department may recover funds where there is evidence of irregularity or fraud.
Click here to read the Academy Trust Handbook 2025 in full
For any queries on the handbook and the changes introduced for 2025, please get in touch with us using the contact details below.
