Finance

The Big Debate is a regular panel discussion published as part of the Tes Magazine Leadership Forum. For this session, senior multi-academy trust leaders debate the pros and cons of the two different funding models used within MATs

Multi-academy trusts must make sure they are aware of the specific rules around VAT to avoid unexpected bills from the taxman, warns accountancy firm

The CEO of a multi-academy trust explains how looking to cut costs on energy led to a major renewables project across its school estates

A headteacher explains why assessing heat loss from his school roof is not only good for saving money and reducing energy waste but offered a few teachable moments, too

Cash-strapped schools might be reluctant to buy expensive new technology right now – but not updating your edtech could be more costly in the long run, says Ed Fairfield

As schools and trusts grapple with spiralling energy bills, the CFO of one trust reveals how he helped reduce costs and improve cash flow simply by double checking how they were being billed

The announcement of ‘unfunded’ staff pay rises, combined with spiralling costs, means that school budgets set before the holidays will have to be torn up – and job cuts are now a very real possibility, warns this academy trust leader

The delayed and unexpected announcement on teacher pay rises has left schools scrambling to change the budgets they had already drawn up – hardly good financial prudence for the sector, says CST deputy CEO Steve Rollett

The latest round of the government’s School Rebuilding Programme allows schools and trusts to receive funding to rebuild or repair crumbling buildings. Here’s what you need to know to apply

A lawyer explains why a small change to procurement and VAT rules could have a big impact on schools and MATs when it comes to sourcing new deals with suppliers

End of year accounts for MATs may appear confusing but, if you know what you’re looking for, they can reveal some fascinating insights, explains the CFO of a large MAT

The historic underfunding of schools and the extra costs they have faced during Covid have brought us to crisis point, with a quarter of schools predicting a budget deficit this year. But what happens if your school goes into the red? What options do you have to keep the gates open? John Morgan investigates