Key takeaways
Updates to the Academy Trust Handbook come into force from 1 October 2026
Trust leaders should consider what changes are required.
A greater push towards DfE led procurement opportunities and frameworks
Trusts must now first consider DfE frameworks and services before looking at other options.
Increasing financial transparency
Trusts must publish a statement alongside annual accounts setting out how funding is distributed to individual academies.
With the start to the new academic year underfoot the Department for Education (DfE) has issued a new update to the Academy Trust Handbook (the Handbook). Changes to the Handbook come into force from 1 October 2026. Trusts will be quite familiar with the annual release, however, there are several key implementations that trusts should be aware of in advance of October in relation to procurement and executive pay and qualifications.
Procurement
Larger multi academy trusts will be well versed in the procurement regime. In particular, working with various frameworks and organisations to secure best value deals to support the trust’s functions and to ensure efficient use of public funds. As part of a wider push to ensure best value for public funds the DfE now requires trusts to consider DfE opportunities for procurement before looking elsewhere. These opportunities are available via the DfE’s new web page: Get help buying for schools
This means that trusts must review and consider DfE procurement frameworks and offers for services before procuring from other frameworks. This does not mean that Trusts are now prevented from procuring from other sources, however, if DfE frameworks are not being utilised, the Handbook now requires trusts to document the reasons for not procuring via DfE frameworks.
More specific requirements exist in relation to procurement for energy and recruitment. From 1 October trusts will be required to use the DfE Energy for Schools service unless an alternative arrangement of an equivalent value for money is available. This obligation to use the service will not bite immediately – the obligation will exist at the point that energy contracts are renewed.
There is also a new requirement to use the DfE’s Commercial Agency, Supply Teachers and Education Recruitment service for supply staffing requirements unless there is an existing compliant agreement in force which does not exceed those available through the DfE’s framework.
In practice, what this means is that central services, procurement teams and hiring managers will need to review their existing procurement arrangements and ensure that workflows around engagement and consideration of the DfE frameworks are factored in.
This push towards DfE led procurement frameworks and offers is supported by wider support from the DfE including free support in running procurement exercises and access to DfE led procurement ‘offers’.
Inclusion and community
Changes to the special education needs and disabilities (SEND) system has been well publicised in the last year through the previous Government’s white paper ‘Every child achieving and thriving’. Whilst these changes have not yet been enacted into law the Handbook provides a further reminded about a trust’s responsibility for inclusion and collaboration. In particular, the Handbook sets out that trusts must ensure that inclusion is embedded across the provision and includes those pupils with SEND and pupils who are known to social care team.
At a strategic level, the Handbook sets out that there should be an established and implemented trust-wide approach to inclusion which includes consistent approaches to identifying and meeting need and effective deployment of expertise. For many trusts, trust wide collaboration, especially in relation to SEND, is baked into wider best practice and collaboration. However, senior leaders and SEND leaders should ensure that the emphasis on cross academy collaboration is factored into practice.
Financial transparency
Alongside the existing requirement to publish annual accounts, the Handbook introduces a new obligation on multi academy trusts to publish an annual summary statement setting out how funds are distributed across the schools. The information in the statement should mirror the figures in the annual accounts, however, the summary statement will allow trusts to set out financial information in a thematic manner (demonstrating top splice and split to individual academies). The statement must be published online by 31 January.
To assist with the implementation the DfE has prepared an example statement to show the type of information it expects trusts to publish.
Next steps
Academy trust leaders should now take steps to ensure that arrangements are in place to support the new requirements of the Handbook. A full breakdown of new changes is included in the Handbook.
We are experienced in supporting academy trusts in advising on procurement, SEND matters and wider regulatory matters. We also offer a full service to our education sector clients, whether you require advice on a transactional or commercial project, such as a school transfer, contract review, negotiation or settlement, or on day-to-day pupil, parent and staffing matters.
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This article was co-authored by Trainee Solicitor, India Hall.
