Academy Trust Handbook 2025 – The key updates academy trusts need to act on

The main changes to the Handbook are as follows:

• Estates Management:
  • Guidance on estates management has been enhanced so that it supports effective, safe and well-maintained academic environments. Trusts have a duty to implement strategic estate planning, health and safety compliance and regular monitoring of the estates conditions and maintenance needs.
  • This reflects the 2025 updates to the School Estate Management Standards, see our article here which discuss this topic.
• Technology and Sustainability:
  • Trusts must now begin working towards meeting six core digital and technology standards by 2030, covering broadband, network switching, wireless, cybersecurity, filtering/monitoring and digital leadership.
  • An update which reinforces the need for Trusts to keep pupils safe in education, particularly in the continuously evolving digital age. This is reflective of the general increase in safeguarding expectations, with the aim being that guidance and requirements continue to keep pace with the real-life scenarios staff working in the education field have to face, often on a daily basis.
  • Trusts must also appoint a sustainability lead and have a climate action plan in place by 2025. Further guidance on the expectations in this area is provided here.
  • Creating sustainability as a strong expectation within the policy, ensures cohesion with the DfE’s vision to embed sustainability across the education system within the UK.
• Financial Changes:
  • Definitions for regularity, propriety, value for money, and feasibility have been updated to align with Managing Public Money. As well as including a new link in the guidance to specific sections within Managing Public Money. The accounting officer must take personal responsibility for ensuring that the academy trust is complying with both its funding agreement and the requirements of the Academies Handbook. This is not something which can be delegated.
  • Further guidance on financial requirements and support on procurement has also been implemented. Notably, that procurement must be transparent, competitive and aligned with the Procurement Act 2023. Trusts must ensure propriety, value for money, conflict-of-interest checks and due diligence in all procurement activities.
  • Clearer expectations for executive pay decisions and board accountability have been set out to ensure that changes in pay are justified and the rationale is evidenced. This aims to ensure that academy trusts are accountable for these decisions.
• Internal Scrutiny:
  • Income thresholds have been clarified in that the DfE have confirmed they are based on the trust’s last audited accounts.
• Delegated authorities:
  • Guidance has been added to explain how cost could cause a transaction to be repercussive, and a link has been added to the relevant section on Novel, Contentious or Repercussive transactions in Managing Public Money.
• Cyber Ransomware:
  • There has been a clear ban on paying cyber ransomware demands.
• Intervention and Financial Recovery:
  • The DfE have provided trusts with a link to further information on DfE oversight and support, including intervention.
  • The DfE may now recover funds where there is evidence of irregularity or fraud.
  • Educational performance is no longer grounds for issuing a Notice to Improve. These are now limited to financial management and governance concerns. The latter can include safeguarding concerns or failure to manage the school’s estate so that it is in a safe working condition.

These updates are strategic and aim to provider greater clarity and accountability. Given that compliance with the Handbook is essential, academy trusts must ensure they have reviewed their existing policies and implemented any changes required swiftly.

Blake Morgan’s expert Education team has extensive experience of advising schools, academies, free schools, sixth form colleges, and other education institutions on all aspects of the academy conversion or transfer process and on related governance matters for established academies. Find out how we can help academies here.